Summer Intern-Contracts and Procurement

Save Real Money Through Strategic Procurement Analysis 

Find Savings, Negotiate Deals, Drive Impact 

Here's your pitch: analyze DMV's purchasing patterns, identify savings opportunities, negotiate with vendors, and implement pricing models that save taxpayer dollars. This isn't theoretical case study work—you'll conduct real vendor negotiations and create cost savings the agency will actually use. 

The Challenge 

DMV makes thousands of purchases annually through Virginia's eVA procurement system. But are we getting the best prices? Are there better vendors? Could we negotiate volume discounts? That's what you'll find out—and then do something about it. 

The Project: Contracts & Procurement Cost Optimization 

Analyze purchasing data, source alternative vendors, and negotiate better pricing for frequently purchased items. 

You'll work through the entire procurement optimization cycle: data analysis, vendor research, negotiation strategy development, and actual price negotiations with suppliers. 

What You'll Do: 

Spend Analysis: 

• Review all purchases made through eVA and FMAS 201/202 processes 

• Identify the most frequently purchased items 

• Analyze the highest-cost expenditures 

• Track purchase quantities, frequencies, and pricing trends 

• Build comprehensive purchasing dataset 

Vendor Research & Sourcing: 

• Research alternative vendors for high-volume/high-cost items 

• Compare pricing across multiple suppliers 

• Evaluate vendor capabilities and reliability 

• Identify opportunities for consolidation or switching 

Negotiation Strategy: 

• Develop negotiation plans for targeted items 

• Build business cases for volume discounts 

• Create pricing models and savings projections 

• Prepare vendor negotiation approaches 

Vendor Negotiation (The Real Deal): 

• Conduct actual negotiations with current vendors for better pricing 

• Engage with new vendors to establish competitive rates 

• Implement negotiated pricing agreements 

• Document cost savings achieved 

Your Deliverables: 

Comprehensive Purchasing Analysis: 

• Complete inventory of items purchased (frequencies, quantities, prices) 

• High-priority targets for cost reduction 

• Spending pattern analysis and insights 

Vendor Database: 

• List of alternative vendors for key purchases 

• Comparative pricing analysis 

• Capability assessments 

Negotiation Plans: 

• Strategic negotiation approaches for targeted items 

• Pricing models and savings projections 

• Business justification for vendor changes 

Implemented Cost Savings: 

• Completed vendor negotiations with new pricing 

• Documented savings achieved 

• Implementation roadmap for procurement team 

What You'll Learn: 

Procurement & Supply Chain: 

• Government procurement processes (eVA, FMAS systems) 

• Spend analysis and category management 

• Vendor sourcing and evaluation 

• Strategic sourcing methodology 

Business Negotiation: 

• How to prepare for vendor negotiations 

• Negotiation tactics and strategies 

• Building leverage through data and competitive analysis 

• Professional vendor relationship management 

Data Analysis: 

• Purchasing pattern analysis 

• Cost modeling and savings projection 

• Excel-based spend analysis 

• Identifying optimization opportunities 

Real-World Impact: 

• Your work will directly save taxpayer money 

• Negotiations you complete will be implemented 

• Savings you identify will benefit the agency long-term 

Why This Experience Matters: 

Every organization needs people who can analyze spending, find savings, and negotiate effectively. Whether you're interested in procurement, supply chain, finance, or general business management, this experience demonstrates you can deliver measurable financial impact—exactly what employers want to see. 

Resume Translation: "Conducted procurement spend analysis and vendor negotiations, identifying and implementing cost savings opportunities across agency purchasing operations" 

The Reality: 

This is a years-long project that hasn't been completed due to lack of resources. You'll be tackling real work that matters—work the department actually needs done. The negotiation skills alone are invaluable, and you'll leave with concrete examples of savings you achieved. 

Who Should Apply 

Requirements: 

• 18+ years old 

• Completed at least 2 semesters (24 credit hours) by May 2026 and currently enrolled  

• OR graduated December 2025/May 2026 

• 3.0 GPA minimum 

• Strong communication and presentation skills (you'll negotiate with vendors) 

• Excellent interpersonal abilities 

• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 (especially Excel for data analysis) 

• Analytical and critical thinking skills 

• Available 40 hours/week on-site 

Additional Qualifications

Ideal Candidates: 

• Completed 4+ semesters (48+ credit hours) 

• Majoring in Supply Chain, Business, Procurement, Finance, or Economics 

• Recent graduates (Dec 2025 or May 2026) 

• Strong Excel and data analysis skills 

• Confident communicators comfortable with vendor interactions 

• Interest in procurement, negotiations, or cost optimization 

You'll Excel If You: 

• Like finding inefficiencies and solving them 

• Are comfortable talking to vendors and external stakeholders 

• Enjoy data analysis with tangible business impact 

• Want to develop negotiation skills 

• Get satisfaction from delivering measurable cost savings 

• Are persuasive and can build business cases 

Special Instructions

Required Documents: 

• Resume (emphasize analytical and communication skills) 

• Unofficial transcript (official required upon hire) 

Important Details: 

• Part-time hourly position (no state benefits) 

• No housing or relocation assistance 

• On-site only (no remote work) 

• No visa sponsorship 

• Background and driver history checks required