Summary
This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard, Surface Forces Logistics Center, Contracting and Procurement Division, Norfolk, VA.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
This vacancy is open to all U.S. citizens and is being advertised under Expedited Hiring Authority procedures.
Duties
Serves as Contract Specialist responsible for all aspects of contracting transactions from initiation to recommendation of award to procurement of items or services.
Being a CG civilian makes you a valuable member of the CG team. Typical work assignments include:
-Conducting advertised procurements: providing guidance to technical personnel; deciding contracting approach to be taken; preparing solicitation; determining sources to be solicited; conducting pre/post award conferences; determining proposal responsiveness based upon Policy and Regulation; and awarding or recommending award based on award criteria.
- Participating in the development of procurements, plans the procurement action, provides guidance for the statement of work; determining most suitable type of contract; develops special clauses; determining sources to be solicited; preparing determinations and findings.
- Drafting documents including contract modifications, cure or show-cause notices and other administrative documentation characteristic of the contract administration phase either independently or based on specific detailed information provided by senior contract specialists/supervisor.
- Interpreting and implementing the Federal Acquisition Regulation, and applicable agency directives.
- Creating and maintaining effective communications with customers.
- Responsible for pre-award and post-award activities to include contract closeout.
Selectee(s) for this position who are newly appointed to a permanent position are authorized to receive a one-time recruitment incentive of 10% of the salary, including locality for this position. Receipt of the bonus will require a 12 month service agreement.
"Newly appointed" refers to the first appointment (regardless of tenure) as an employee of the Federal Government, an appointment following a break in service of at least 90 days from a previous appointment as an employee of the Federal Government, or, in certain cases, an appointment following a break in service of less than 90 days from a previous appointment as an employee of the Federal Government.
Selectee(s) for this position who are current federal employees on permanent appointments who would be moving outside of the current commuting area of their current position to accept this position are authorized to receive a one-time relocation bonus of 10% of the salary including locality for this position. Receipt of the bonus will require a 12 month service agreement. The employee must establish a residence in the new geographic area prior to payment.
Selectee(s) for this position who are newly appointed to a permanent or term position may be eligible for student loan repayment up to $10,000 (pre-tax) for one calendar year. More than one loan may be repaid if the combined repayments do not exceed $10,000. Receipt of this incentive will require a three year service agreement.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship is required.
- You MUST submit transcripts to receive consideration.
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet the following basic requirements: Completed a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field; OR Completed at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. NOTE: Applicants who have been in a GS-1102 position at a GS-12 or lower grade level since January 1, 2000 without a break in service only need to meet the additional requirements in order to qualify. IN ADDITION to meeting the basic education requirements above,
Applicants for the GS-9 grade level must possess at least one full year of experience (equivalent to at least the GS-7 level in the Federal Service) serving as a contract specialist responsible for all aspects of contracting transactions from initiation to recommendation of award for off-the-shelf items or services; reviewing requisitions and determining the appropriate method of procurement; developing procurement plans reviewing previous history, market conditions, and specifications or technical data packages; recommending actions when the contractor is not in compliance with contract provisions; and conducting contract reviews to evaluate contractor performance. OR, or 2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education, or a masters or equivalent graduate degree in accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.
Applicants at the GS-11 level must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: performing the full range of acquisition functions (i.e., pre-award, award, post-award) to procure a variety of supplies, equipment and/or services. Duties include: analyzing procurement requests to determine requirements, recommending changes to statements of work or specifications, and determining appropriate type of contract and procurement plan; coordinating procurement plan and other contractual/procurement aspects with requestor(s), technical representative, and finance; developing procurement/contractual documents inclusive of determining terms and conditions; conducting pre-bid/proposal conferences and negotiations; analyzing bids/proposals, cost and pricing data and contractor responsibility, and recommending award; and, carrying out post-award functions (i.e., monitoring contract, evaluating performance, interpreting provisions, providing advice/guidance, negotiating contract modifications, processing terminations, conducting close-outs). Candidates at the GS-11 level may also meet the additional requirement through substitution of education for experience as follows: 3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or Ph.D, or equivalent doctoral degree is required. Graduate education must be in one or a combination of the following fields: acquisition management, business administration, contracting or procurement, economics, finance, industrial management, law, management and organization, marketing, public administration, purchasing, quantitative methods, or other fields directly related to this position. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. NOTE: The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) does not grant Academic degrees; therefore courses completed at the DAU are not creditable towards meeting the 24 semester hour requirement, unless the coursework has been evaluated by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and appears on a college or university transcript. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. IN ADDITION to meeting the basic education requirements above.
Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.
National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education
This position does have a positive education requirement. You MUST provide transcripts in order to receive consideration. If you are including education on your resume, report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Required Documents section for detail.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications click here
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(K)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include: flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and development opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select “Benefits”. Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
We will review your résumé and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated using the on-line self assessment questions that are based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform this job:
We will review your résumé and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be referred for consideration. The following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities are needed to perform this job:
1. Knowledge of contracting principles, laws, statues, Executive Orders, regulations and procedures applicable to pre-award and/or post award actions.
2. Knowledge of price and cost analysis of contractor price/cost proposals for new procurements, changes, follow-up procurements, price redetermination, etc.
3. Ability to independently monitor contract performance on contract, regulatory, and statutory provisions.
4. Ability to conduct complex, multi-aspect negotiations on both technical and cost issues. You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Required Documents
1. Your resume
2. Your responses to the online questionnaire
3. If qualifying based on education, submit a legible copy of your unofficial college transcript from an accredited college/university. The transcript copy must reflect the college/university name and/or logo. Applicants are highly encouraged to proactively order a copy of their official transcripts to be delivered to their home address so transcripts will be readily available if selected. If selected, you will be required to provide official transcripts prior to establishing your start date. Foreign education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited institutions in the U.S. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications click here.
4. If you are claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), submit a copy of your agency notice, most recent performance rating and most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level and duty location. If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. To be considered eligible, you must be placed in the well-qualified category for this position. Please see ICTAP eligibility.
5. If you are a current active duty military member who does not have a DD214 and is claiming eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating you will be discharged/released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days from the date you submit your certification as part of your application for this announcement. See the “How to Apply” section of this announcement for information on specific requirements for VOW certifications.
6. OPM must authorize employment offers for former or current Political Appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information. Submit proof of your former or current status, such as your SF-50. Please see here.
All documentation as outlined above must be received by the closing date of the announcement. If you are unable to submit your documents electronically, you may fax or mail the documents. A fax cover sheet will be provided to you from the system, with fax number and instructions to transmit the requested documents. The required documents will also be accepted by mail and must be received by the closing date of the announcement. The mailing address is United States Coast Guard, 2401 Hawkins Point Road, Building 1, Mailstop 4, Baltimore, MD 21226.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Complete applications for this vacancy must be received on-line by 11:59p.m ET on the closing date of the announcement. To begin your online application, click the Apply Online button and follow the prompts to register or sign in to USAJOBS, take the online questionnaire and submit the required documents to provide proof of qualifications. If you are claiming veterans’ preference, you will be required to submit proof. See Required Documents section for more detail regarding a complete application package.
High self-assessment in the vacancy questions that is not supported by information in your resume and/or supporting documents may impact you or eliminate you from consideration.
If claiming eligibility under the VOW Act: The VOW Act requires Federal agencies to treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligibles, when they submit, at the time they apply for a Federal job, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD214. In order to be considered under the VOW Act, the certification must specify that the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application package for this job announcement. The certification must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information: military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, character of service, military rank, type of discharge, and date when terminal leave will begin. Certifications must be signed by, or by direction of military members’ military personnel offices, unit commanders or higher headquarters. Agencies are required to verify a qualifying separation from military service prior to appointment, through the DD214 or other appropriate documentation. Your preference and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment.
If applying on-line poses a hardship to you, the Help Desk listed on the announcement will provide assistance to ensure that applications are submitted on-line by the closing date. You must contact the Help Desk prior to the closing date of this announcement to receive assistance. Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET, excluding Federal holidays.
Next steps
If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging the receipt of your application. USAJOBS no longer provides application status updates automatically. To check the status of your application, log on to your USAJOBS account, click on "Track this Application".
NOTE: Selectee(s) must be available to report to duty within 120 calendar days of the closing date of the announcement.
For more information on applying for federal employment click here.
Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
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