David Parrish: Befriending small biz on behalf of the IRS

Name: David Parrish

Age: 29

Organization: Internal Revenue Service's Office of Procurement

Title: Contracting Officer, Acting Section Chief

Nominated for: Improving the acquisition process that supports some of the IRS’ most critical information technology projects, including the Cyber Security and Health Coverage Tax Credit programs. As part of his work, Parrish has made a special effort to identify small and disadvantaged businesses that can meet the agency's requirements, doubling the work awarded to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses between 2008 and 2009.

First IT mentor: Joel Signor, section chief, TIPSS Program Branch, IRS Procurement. He has taught me how to look at IT contracts and requirements in a way that gets past the fat and goes right after the meat of the issue. He also showed me how to break through a contractor’s cost/price proposal to find exactly where the unnecessary profit is hiding. I truly thank him for the valuable wisdom he has given me over the years.

Latest accomplishment on the job: Treasury Department 2009 Contract Specialist of the Year nominee. Promotion to a GS-14 and acting section chief.

Career highlight: Awarding $70 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act [funds] for the Health Coverage Tax Credit. Legislation required [making the awards] within 60 days of [the law's] passage.

Favorite job-related bookmark: Federal Computer Week.

Favorite app: Microsoft Excel.

Dream non-IT-related job: Head coach of the University of Miami Hurricanes' football team.

Read more about David Parrish on GCN.com.

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