Contract Management

I. Description

Contract Management encompasses the process of assisting an internal client in identifying, qualifying and selecting sources for contract activity. This process includes preparing, negotiating, execution and administering all contractual arrangements and adhering to corporate instructions, directives and procedures.

II. Functions to be performed

1. Source identification, measuring, qualifying, managing and on-going evaluation of vendor performance, continual monitoring of vendor performance through quality evaluation surveys and amount of vendor contracts versus vendor revenues.
2. RFI/RFP/RFQ development for requests that identify functional and technical requirements, proper documentation creation, establishing concise evaluation parameters for competitive proposals, creation of a fair and equitable bid process, cost identification by creation of firm pricing and vendor notification process.
3. Negotiating and developing complex agreements such as hardware agreements, software licenses, software development agreements, statements of work, application service provider agreements and leasing agreements; managing the change process for all such agreements and the continual monitoring of vendor performance.
4. On-going oversight of vendor performance and delivery of the negotiated contract terms for adherence to timelines, payment schedules, escalation and information sharing with internal clients. Control and tracking methods are utilized to ensure all vendor deliverables are secured, on-time and at negotiated costs.
5. Closure or termination of the contractual agreement that could include contract management, the internal client and the vendor discussing the highs and lows of the arrangement.

III. Skills required

1. Leadership
2. Project Management
3. Computer literacy
4. Financial analysis
5. Effective oral and written communication skills, which includes the ability to present your ideas/guidance to others and the writing of clear and concise special contractual terms and conditions
6. Effective internal and external negotiation skills and complex problem solving;
7. Competitive analysis
8. Thorough knowledge and application of contracting legal and business principles and understanding of the business implications of the situation
9. Contractual literacy, i.e., understanding the flow of the contract and understanding the elements found within the contract

IV. Instructional topics

1. Contract types
2. Statements of work
3. Contract law
4. Project Management
5. Negotiations
6. Financial analysis