Public Procurement Policy Subject Matter Expert (Pennsylvania)
Job Type: Contract (independent contractor engaged directly by 3N)
Location:
Remote, with occasional travel to Harrisburg, PAAbout Us3N Consulting is a forward-thinking consulting firm specializing in organizational design, data-driven strategy, public sector innovation, and applied AI. We work with commercial clients, state and local governments, educational institutions, and mission-driven organizations to turn data into insights that drive impact.
The Role:
We're seeking a Public Procurement Policy SME with deep Pennsylvania procurement knowledge for a 12-month state procurement modernization engagement. The engagement modernizes procurement guidance, solicitation and evaluation playbooks, decision tools, forms, and handbook content. You'll make sure every product reflects Pennsylvania law, policy, and practice. This is a project-based, part-time role (about 190 hours, mostly in months 4-11).
Responsibilities:- Map modernized guidance, playbooks, and tools to the Commonwealth Procurement Code and Procurement Handbook
- Help separate law, policy, procedure, guidance, examples, and tools in the new content framework
- Advise on responsiveness, responsibility, fatal-error, clarification, escalation, and protest-risk guidance
- Provide input on the Small Diverse Business (SDB) and Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE) participation program
- Review revised handbook chapters, forms, templates, and job aids for accuracy against current Pennsylvania practice
- Take part in stakeholder working sessions and validation reviews
- Flag issues that need a Commonwealth legal, policy, or fiscal decision; this role does not give legal opinions
- Return revisions within 5 business days of receiving client comments
Required Qualifications:- 10+ years of Pennsylvania public procurement experience with the Department of General Services, Bureau of Procurement, or a Commonwealth agency procurement office
- Hands-on working knowledge of the Commonwealth Procurement Code (62 Pa.C.S.) and the Pennsylvania Procurement Handbook
- Experience developing and evaluating IFBs, RFPs, and RFQs, including award documentation
- Working knowledge of Pennsylvania's SDB/VBE participation program and bid protest process
- Availability for the full 12-month engagement (about 190 hours)
- Not currently a Commonwealth employee, and eligible under Pennsylvania post-employment ethics rules (see Eligibility)
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Preferred Qualifications:- Has written or revised Procurement Handbook content, procurement forms, or templates
- Experience with JAGGAER or Commonwealth eProcurement processes
- Experience with complex solicitations that include IT components
- Public procurement credential (CPPO, CPPB, NIGP-CPP, or similar)
- Experience training procurement staff
- Prior consulting or advisory experience
Candidates who left Commonwealth service must confirm their post-employment eligibility. Pennsylvania's State Ethics Act, Section 1103(g), bars former public employees from representing a person before the governmental body they were associated with for one year after leaving it. Advisory guidance applying that section has treated having one's name appear on a bid or contract proposal submitted to the former body as falling under it.
