Bob Dickson, a vice president at Acquisition Solutions, is forming his own consulting firm and will work closely with Guerra, Kiviat, Flyzik and Associates. Dickson, a 17-year veteran of the State Department, has worked at Acquisition Solutions for more than three years as vice president of client relations.

Now he is forming his own firm, Maxim Associates, and Guerra, Kiviat, Flyzik and Associates will be a client.

Dickson's expertise is in performance-based contracting, said Bob Guerra, founding partner of the consulting firm.

Dickson said he saw a need for acquisition training that Acquisition Solutions was not meeting. Acquisition Solutions is a leader in the government space, but "there's a need on the business side," he said. He will provide that training to businesses, some in conjunction with Guerra's firm, and some on his own.

Dickson was State's director of acquisitions for 10 years then became executive director of administration before retiring and joining Acquisition Solutions, he said.

"Nobody knows the State Department like Bob," Guerra said. "He knows it inside and out."

Dickson said he is awaiting final approval of his application to form his corporation and plans to formally launch it in August.