Mission

The Office of Acquisition and Assistance is a business line organization that supports its customers by managing the policy, planning, general support, and direction for the acquisition and financial assistance mission of the Chicago Office (CH) (exclusive of laboratory management contracts). Procures goods and services, by acquisition and financial assistance actions, for CH, Headquarters Program Offices, and other customers in a timely, effective and efficient manner.

Functions

• Supports the customers throughout the acquisition and assistance process.
  
  
• Develops and implements acquisition and assistance plans, policies, and procedures.
  
  
• Analyzes and provides comments on proposed regulations, DOE Orders, etc., that relate to acquisition and assistance.
  
  
• Provides functional oversight for the CH acquisition and assistance process.
  
  
• Advises and assists the Manager, as Head of the Contracting Activity (HCA), in acquistion, assistance, and related matters, and in delegation of HCA authorities, including Contracting Officers and Competition Advocate.
  
  
• Provides complete acquisition plan to closeout services.
  
  
• Provides staff expertise for the Small and Disadvantaged Business Program, Women's Business Program, Minority colleges and universities programs, and other related CH initiated activities.
  
  
• Ensures that acquisition and assistance activities are conducted in accordance with applicable DOE Orders and other regulations pertaining to environmental protection, health and safety, quality assurance, and other requirements.
  
  
• Performs internal self-assessment to assure the quality of acquisition and assistance actions and support documentation. * Develops, publishes, and maintains CH handbooks for acquisition and assistance.
  
  
• Ensures that correct acquisition and assistance data is entered into Procurement Assistance Data System (PADS) in a timely manner.
  
  
• Supports CH elements by reviewing financial aspects of contract actions, provides assistance audits and analysis services to CH customers, and performs cost/price analysis of contractor's cost proposals.
  
  
• Conducts an ongoing cusomer outreach and business development program.
  
  
• Operates a quality based continuous improvement program including performance measures.
  
• Works as part of an integrated CH acquisition process team to assure customer satisfaction.