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Ascension is seeking an experienced IT Cost Estimator / Pricing and Quality Assurance Analyst to support federal information technology acquisition initiatives by developing accurate, defensible cost estimates and ensuring the quality, completeness, and traceability of acquisition documentation.

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented federal acquisition professional with demonstrated experience translating complex IT requirements into lifecycle cost models, Independent Government Cost Estimates (IGCEs), Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analyses, pricing structures, and acquisition-ready documentation.

This role is critical to helping federal customers make informed investment decisions by ensuring proposed technology solutions are financially viable, acquisition-ready, compliant with federal requirements, and supported by transparent cost analysis.

The successful candidate should have expertise in federal IT acquisitions, cost estimating methodologies, procurement documentation review, and quality assurance processes. The candidate should be comfortable working independently, analyzing ambiguous technical requirements, identifying cost drivers, and developing recommendations that support mission-critical technology modernization efforts.

Summary of Contractor Role

The IT Cost Estimator / Pricing and Quality Assurance Analyst will provide specialized acquisition, financial analysis, and quality assurance support for federal IT modernization initiatives.

The contractor will support the development of procurement-ready documentation by performing lifecycle cost analysis, developing IGCEs, evaluating licensing and hosting costs, analyzing migration and implementation expenses, recommending Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) structures, and validating acquisition documentation for accuracy, completeness, and consistency.

This role supports federal customers transitioning from legacy/manual processes toward modern technology capabilities by ensuring acquisition strategies are supported by realistic cost assumptions and defensible financial models.

The successful candidate will:

• Analyze technical requirements and translate them into cost estimates.
• Develop cost models supporting COTS, SaaS, cloud, and enterprise technology solutions.
• Assess acquisition documentation for completeness and consistency.
• Support requirements traceability and quality reviews.
• Identify cost risks, assumptions, dependencies, and potential acquisition challenges.
• Provide recommendations to improve procurement outcomes.

The candidate should demonstrate strong analytical judgment, excellent written communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with acquisition professionals, program managers, technical stakeholders, and government leadership.

Position Responsibilities / Expected Activities

The contractor will:

• Develop lifecycle cost estimates, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) models, and cost comparison analyses for federal IT modernization initiatives.
• Prepare and validate Independent Government Cost Estimates (IGCEs) supporting acquisition planning and procurement activities.
• Analyze software licensing, subscription models, cloud hosting costs, infrastructure requirements, implementation costs, and sustainment costs.
• Evaluate Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS), Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and hybrid technology solutions to identify lifecycle financial impacts.
• Develop cost assumptions, estimating methodologies, pricing models, and supporting documentation.
• Recommend Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) structures aligned with acquisition strategy and anticipated vendor pricing models.
• Review acquisition documentation including:
  • Statements of Work (SOWs)
  • Performance Work Statements (PWS)
  • Requirements documents
  • Evaluation criteria
  • Acquisition strategies
  • Market research reports
• Perform quality assurance reviews to validate:
  • Requirement traceability
  • Documentation completeness
  • Internal consistency
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Accuracy of cost assumptions
• Support Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM) reviews by validating alignment between requirements, deliverables, and estimated costs.
• Identify cost risks, pricing uncertainties, and acquisition challenges.
• Provide recommendations to improve affordability, procurement strategy, and contract structure.
• Support program managers and acquisition teams during technical reviews, stakeholder discussions, and acquisition planning sessions.
• Prepare executive-level briefings, cost analysis summaries, and decision-support materials.