Episodes

  • Strategic Sourcing discussion with Ms. Luwanda F. Jones
    Sep 14 2022
    In this episode of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Technology Acquisition Center’s (TAC) podcast, TAC Talks, we discuss Strategic Sourcing with Ms. Luwanda F. Jones. Ms. Jones is a retired U.S. Army Colonel who served for 28 years in various senior acquisition and information technology positions. Ms. Jones has been serving as the Deputy Chief Information Officer (DCIO) for the Office of Strategic Sourcing in the Office of Information and Technology (OIT) since August 2018.
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    33 mins
  • Enterprise Cloud Fax Service (ECFax) discussion with Mr. Frank Joy Jr., and Mr. Robert Kately
    Sep 14 2022
    In this episode of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Technology Acquisition Center’s (TAC) podcast, TAC Talks, we discuss the Enterprise Cloud Fax Service (ECFax), a highly secure Cloud-based electronic faxing service. It is designed to increase efficiency and decrease time from a slow and costly manual/semi-automated faxing process to a more universal electronic faxing service. To address these topics and more, host Chuck Ross is joined by a fantastic panel of VA Office of Information and Technology and TAC Contracting personnel who collectively have decades of experience. This panel includes: Mr. Frank Joy Jr., Sr. Enterprise Infrastructure Architect for the Office of Information and Technology Mr. Robert Kately, VA Technology Acquisition Center, Contracting Officer
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    23 mins
  • Customer Experience, Development Operations and Agile Releases (CEDAR)
    Sep 14 2022
    Our guest speakers will further describe how viewpoints of Veterans are kept front and center throughout the lifecycle of a product by recruiting Veterans for user experience studies to help the VA make its digital tools more user-friendly.
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    28 mins
  • Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) discussion with Ms. Sharon Ridley
    Sep 14 2022
    In our second episode of this season of the VA Technology Acquisition Center’s (TAC) podcast, TAC Talks, host Chuck Ross is joined by Ms. Sharon Ridley to discuss OSDBU’s role in promoting small business efforts within VA.
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    17 mins
  • Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM) website breakdown
    Sep 14 2022
    Host Chuck Ross is joined by a fantastic panel of VA Office of Information and Technology and TAC Contracting personnel who collectively have decades of experience. This panel includes: Mr. Michael Ouslander, Product Line Manager for the Office of Information Technology, Development Security and Operations, Benefits and Memorial Services portfolio Ms. Cara Varricchio, VA Technology Acquisition Center, Contracting Officer
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    16 mins
  • Program Management in Acquisition
    Oct 19 2021

    The application of program management best practices within the acquisition framework increases transparency, empowers business owners and stakeholders to drive key decisions, and enhances VA’s efforts to efficiently and effectively acquire goods and services within the established cost, schedule and scope of the procurement. Not only does this support VA in effectively meetings its mission, it enhances the Veteran experience through successful execution and delivery of products and services that support delivery of care and benefits.

    In this episode, we are joined by Mr. Michael Parrish, who was appointed Principal Executive Director for the VA’s, Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction (OALC) on March 1, 2021. Mr. Parrish also serves as Chief Acquisition Officer, and senior most advisor to the Secretary, managing and overseeing all acquisition activities for the Department. Mr. Parrish has over 35 years of senior leadership experience in military, government, corporate, and non-profit organizations. A retired Colonel, Mr. Parrish served for 14 years on active duty and 21 years in the U.S. Army Reserves as a Senior Army Aviator and Army Acquisition Corps Officer, serving as an Air Operations Officer during Desert Storm.

    Joining Mr. Parrish on this episode’s panel is his Deputy, Mr. Phillip Christy, the Deputy Executive Director for the VA’s, Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction. Mr. Christy serves as an advisor to Mr. Parrish on acquisition, logistics, and construction issues. He has served in multiple senior acquisition, construction, and logistics positions during his 20-year career. He is responsible for the day to day operational management of OALC’s Office of Procurement, Acquisition and Logistics which is made up of the Technology Acquisition Center, the National Acquisition Center and the Strategic Acquisition Center. In addition, Mr. Christy is a retired U.S. Army Medical Service Corps Officer.

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    35 mins
  • Innovation in Acquisition
    Oct 19 2021

    In 2014, the Federal Government acknowledged that simplifying the Federal contracting space was critical to driving greater innovation, creativity, and improved performance. Efforts were launched with the goal of improving the economy and efficiency of the Federal acquisition system by increasing opportunities for businesses to participate in the Federal marketplace whereby realizing costs savings and providing the best solution for the taxpayer.

    Transformation and modernization didn’t happen overnight. Achieving a more innovative, efficient and effective acquisition system that supports the needs of a 21st century Government takes initiative, adaptability, buy-in and the proper tools to implement an actionable plan. To that end, the Government implemented a number of policies and guidance to agencies that identified the actions necessary to address industry concerns and strengthen and improve Federal acquisition practices. In our last episode, we focused on one approach to improve efficiency and achieve greater cost savings by managing spend through category management. In this episode, we continue to drill down into the Federal Government’s initiative to transform Federal acquisition by driving innovation through various tools, training, and more flexible and innovative acquisition practices.

    This episode’s panel includes:

    • Robert Kirzow, Director, Procurement Service A, VA TAC
    • Matthew Ginty, Director, Procurement Service D, VA TAC
    • Joshua Cohen, Contracting Officer, VA TAC
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    33 mins
  • Category Management
    Oct 19 2021

    Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum M-19-13 entitled, “Category Management: Making Smarter Use of Common Contract Solutions and Practices” defines category management as the “business practice of buying common goods and services as an enterprise to eliminate redundancies, increase efficiency, and deliver more value and savings from the Government’s acquisition programs.”

    In this episode, we speak with Dr. Ernest Reed, Director of VA’s Category Management Support Office within the Office of Procurement, Acquisition and Logistics, Mr. Randy Padal, Acting Executive Director of Acquisition and Category Management within the Office of Information and Technology’s Office of Strategic Sourcing and Ms. Lateefah Parker, Director of IT Services Category Management within the Office of Information and Technology’s Office of Strategic Sourcing. Our panel discusses the steps VA has taken to implement category management, as well as the achievements and challenges faced along the way.

    This episode’s panel includes:

    • Dr. Ernest Reed, Director, Category Management Support Office, Office of Procurement, Acquisition and Logistics
    • Randy Padal, Acting Executive Director, Acquisition and Category Management, Office of Information and Technology, Office of Strategic Sourcing
    • Lateefah Parker, Director, IT Services Category Management, Office of Information and Technology, Office of Strategic Sourcing
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    31 mins