Opportunity overview
We are sourcing 4 consultants (2 Data Program Manager/Specialists, 2 Data Analysts) for a Louisiana Works cost allocation and federal claiming engagement running 12/14/2026 to 12/31/2028.
What the engagement delivers
The team will build a compliant administrative cost allocation methodology and Public Assistance Cost Allocation Plan (PACAP) for all Louisiana Works federal funds: all USDOL grants, all Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) grants, SNAP E&T, TANF, and any other federal awards.
Key dates
Send complete candidate packages to us by the internal deadline below; the State's proposal deadline is October 22, 2026 at 3:00 PM CT.
Job description: Data Program Manager/Specialist (2 positions)
Senior cost allocation professionals who will lead the engagement, author the methodology and PACAP, and represent Louisiana Works in federal reviews.
Role summary
One of the two will serve as Project Lead; the other as Senior Cost Allocation Specialist or Federal Claiming SME. At least one should be a licensed CPA (see team qualifications). They work in structured sessions with Louisiana Works Fiscal leadership and program staff, not in isolation.
Responsibilities
- Lead project governance: run working sessions with LW fiscal and program staff, keep the project timeline, and track milestones and dependencies.
- Assess the current administrative cost structure for USDOL, VR, SNAP E&T, TANF and other federal funds, including cost pools, allocation bases, WBS, cost centers, internal orders and claiming flows.
- Evaluate LW's interim time coding controls and identify noncompliance, unsupported allocations and undocumented assumptions.
- Design shared cost pools, allocation bases and distribution formulas for eligibility operations, integrated IT and system development, policy and oversight, fiscal and administrative support, and management functions.
- Write justification showing each method is necessary, reasonable, allocable and consistently applied, citing specific regulatory authority for every cost pool and base.
- Author the Draft and Final Public Assistance Cost Allocation Plan submission packages, including narratives and schedules.
- Prepare written responses to federal reviewers and take part in technical meetings with USDOL, RSA, FNS, HHS/ACF and other sponsors through resolution.
- Produce the implementation roadmap for 7/1/2027, operational procedures, time reporting and coding changes, and internal control recommendations.
- Prepare the Federal Claiming Optimization Memorandum and Executive Summary for LW leadership, including impact of FFY 2028 participation rate changes.
- Train LW staff on ongoing use of the methodology.
- Submit weekly status reports and timesheets as required.
Mandatory qualifications (per RFR)
- Cost allocation plan generation experience.
- Experience needed to meet all deliverables, qualifications and requirements in the scope of services.
- Data analysis experience.
Strongly preferred (needed to be competitive)
- Licensed CPA, with governmental cost allocation and federal claiming experience.
- Authored or materially revised at least 3 PACAPs in the past 5 years.
- Experience supporting states through federal review, negotiation or approval of PACAPs or cost allocation methodologies (USDOL, DHHS, USDOE, FNS).
- Hands-on expertise in: federal grant claiming (50% and enhanced match), SNAP E&T funding and claiming (100% grant and 50% administrative), TANF funding structures, VR match and maintenance-of-effort, integrated workforce and eligibility systems cost allocation, and inclusion of state-funded programs in PACAPs.
- Deep working knowledge of 2 CFR Part 200 and 45 CFR Part 95 Subpart E.
- Prior project lead or engagement manager role on a state agency cost allocation project.
- Additional data analysis experience beyond the scope requirement (listed as desirable in the RFR).