CONTRACT SPECIALIST Job in Vaihingen, Germany

Vacancy No. DISA-12768019-25-DJB Department Defense Information Systems Agency
Salary $75,706.00 to $98,422.00 Grade 11 to 12
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 7/24/2025 Close Date 7/30/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Vaihingen, Germany


Summary

If you want to do interesting and challenging work and to make a contribution to national defense, DISA is a great place for you!

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current Competitive Service DISA employees; Current DISA VRA Employees, and DoD PPP Military Spouse preference applicants

Duties

  • Serves as a contract specialist but may be required to obtain a warrant based on mission needs.
  • Primary responsibilities include solicitation preparation, proposal evaluation, cost/price analysis, negotiation, contract preparation, source selection, contract award, and contract administration.
  • Serves as an advisor to customer and project management personnel in procurement planning meetings.
  • Prepares and/or reviews solicitations for Inquiry/Quote/Order (IQO), Request For Proposal (RFP), and Request For Quotation (RFQ) procurements.
  • Conducts pre-solicitation/pre-proposal/pre-award meetings with telecommunication providers and foreign government telecommunication agencies to ensure a clear understanding of contract requirements is presented to all prospective contractors.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • This national security position, which may require access to classified information, requires a favorable suitability review and security clearance as a condition of employment. Failure to maintain security eligibility may result in termination.
  • OGE-450 Financial Disclosure Statement Required.
  • Contracting Official position.
  • This position is required to obtain and maintain a SECRET security clearance.

Qualifications

Time in Grade:

For entry at the GS-11 level, status applicants must have served 52 weeks as a GS-09 or higher grade in the Federal Service.
For entry at the GS-12 level, status applicants must have served 52 weeks as a GS-11 or higher grade in the Federal Service.

Basic Education Standards for positions in the 1102 series:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited education institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees

All applicants must provide a copy of your transcripts. Failure to provide this information will result in disqualification.

Education Exemptions: The education requirements listed above apply only to individuals entering DoD 1102 positions on or after October 1, 2000. Current DoD employees or Armed Forces members, who occupied GS-1102 positions or contracting positions with authority to award or administer contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold in an Executive Department on or before September 30, 2000, are exempt from meeting this requirement. Failure to provide SF-50 or career brief (for Armed Forces members) dated prior to October 1, 2000 will result in disqualification (this includes DISA employees).

Basic Qualification Requirements for Contracting Officer Positions: In addition to meeting the basic educational requirement as well as the requirements in the table above, applicants must have:
  • Have at least two years of experience in contracting positions; and
  • Have completed all contracting courses required for a contracting officer for positions at the level and grade at which the person is serving. Certification at this level is sufficient to meet this standard.
Specialized Experience:

For the GS-11, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable in difficulty and responsibility to GS-09 if outside the Federal service, is required.

Specialized experience is defined as experience negotiating, awarding and modifying contracts, and administering Inquiry/Quote/Order (IQO), Request For Proposal (RFP), and Request For Quotation (RFQ) contracts to acquire telecommunication services and IT products and services.

For the GS-12
, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, or comparable in difficulty and responsibility to GS-11 if outside the Federal service, is required.

Specialized experience is defined as experience negotiating, awarding and modifying contracts, and administering Inquiry/Quote/Order (IQO), Request For Proposal (RFP), contracts to acquire telecommunication services and IT products and services.

Education

Basic Education Standards for positions in the 1102 series:
A. Bachelor's degree from an accredited education institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees

All applicants must provide a copy of your transcripts. Failure to provide this information will result in disqualification.

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE AT GS-11 LEVEL: Three full years of progressively higher level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level

Graduate Education: To qualify for GS-1102 positions on the basis of graduate education, graduate education in one or a combination of the following fields is required: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.

To be creditable, education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. You must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services at the time of application. National Association of Credential Evaluation Services .

Additional information

  • TDY Travel: OCCASIONAL
  • Telework availability will be based upon the mission requirements and supervisory determination.
  • Current Federal employees within CONUS who are selected through a formal competitive recruitment process for a lower graded position overseas may be afforded pay retention if their pay would otherwise be reduced. Pay retention may be granted to employees already in the overseas area if the recruitment efforts had been extended outside the overseas command involved and the individual selected will have to PCS. Locality rates of pay will not be used for pay setting when transferring to the overseas area.
  • Eligibility for foreign-are allowances such as Foreign Post Allowance and Living Quarter Allowance will be determined at the time of hire.
  • Military Spouse Preference (MSP)/Family Member Preference (FMP) - Candidates claiming MSP/FMP must include a copy of sponsor's orders authorizing movement of spouse to the overseas command or other appropriated documentation that support the preference. Additional documentation may be required prior to granting the preference. Family members of locally hired DoD civilian employees are not eligible for FMP.
  • The DoD policy on overseas employment for civilian employees limits overseas tours to 5 years. Extensions beyond 5 years are designed to provide management flexibility to meet defined mission requirements that otherwise cannot be made.
  • U.S. citizens in Germany under ordinary resident status are not eligible to apply for appointment under Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).
  • A one year probationary/trial period may be required.
  • Management has the prerogative to select at either grade level.
  • Current DoD employees who accept this position will have statutory return rights to the same grade they held prior to accepting this position.
  • We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of the closing date.
  • Moving costs MAY be paid. They MUST be paid if a DISA employee is selected for the position.
  • Recruitment, relocation, or retention incentives MAY be authorized. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 makes certain reimbursements/payments taxable. For information on these changes and the Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA), for which some appointees are eligible, click here.
  • Contracting Foundational/Professional: Selectee must have their Contracting Professional Certification (or be eligible for certification within 36 months of appointment) in the DAWIA Contracting Functional Area. Acquisition workforce employees must achieve 80 hours of Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) every two years, in accordance with DoDI 5000.66. Obtaining certification within the allotted grace period and maintaining CLPs before and after achieving certification are conditions of employment. If certification is not received within 36 months of appointment as defined by DAWIA, and training not completed within the established guidelines, the incumbent might be removed from this position.
  • No-fee passport required. US Government civilian personnel who have not received their no-fee passport prior to departing CONUS may enter Germany using a tourist passport. The passport must be valid for at least six (6) months beyond the date of arrival in Germany.
  • For more information on veterans' preference click here.
  • You may submit a cover letter which will be forwarded to the selecting official with your resume. Cover letters will not be used to verify your qualifications or eligibility.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

Review our benefits

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.

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. The numeric rating you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire. The score is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the competencies required for this position. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

The Assessment Questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and collects information on your education, training and experience related to the following critical competencies:

  • Contracting/Procurement
  • Cost Estimation and Analysis
  • Customer Service
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Proposal Evaluation


You can preview the Assessment Questionnaire here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12768019

Criminal History Inquiries- If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency @ dfas.indianapolis-in.zh.mbx.ssc-cc@mail.mil

Required Documents

FOR THIS JOB ANNOUNCEMENT THE FOLLOWING SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED AS THEY APPLY STATED BELOW AND MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE CLOSE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT. NOT ALL DOCUMENTS WILL APPLY TO EVERYONE.

  1. Transcripts (Required) - This position has positive education requirements; you must submit all of your transcripts. The absence of this will result in an ineligible rating.
  2. SF-50 - (if applicable) Notification of Personnel Action for current or former federal employees-All applicants to include current agency employees must provide your most recent SF50 or the SF50 reflecting Career/Career-Conditional tenure and the highest grade held on a permanent basis.
  3. Veterans Preference Documentation:
  • You must submit a copy of your DD Form-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty", showing the dates of active duty service, type of discharge and the character of service. If you are a current military member in active duty service and do not have a copy of your DD-214, you must submit a written documentation (certification) from your branch of service certifying that you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application for this position. The certification should also include your rank, dates of active duty service and what they condition of discharge is thought to be.
  • If claiming 10-point preference and/or are a 30% or more Disabled Veteran, you must submit both a DD-214 or expected discharge documentation as described above AND a copy of a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or your branch of service certifying the presence of service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of disability.
  • If you are claiming eligibility based on 10-point derived veterans' preference you must also submit a Standard Form 15 (SF-15) "Application for 10-Point Veteran's Preference" and any required documents indicated on the SF-15 to substantiate the claimed preference.
  • ICTAP Eligible (if applicable) - A copy of the RIF separation notice and SF50 if available.
4. Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, must be selected and placed at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified up to and including the full performance level. You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. To download the checklist, select "Save" or "Save As" instead of "Open." Save, then open it as a PDF. Once the form is opened, select "Enable All Features" and the form will populate for completion. https://www.esd.whs.mil/Directives/forms/dd3000_3499/DD3145-4/


5. Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for MR and NG Technician preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the MR and NG Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist.

6. Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians Receiving Disability Retirement PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians receiving disability retirement PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the MR and NG Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for MR and NG Technician Disability preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the MR and NG Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist.

7. Retained Grade PPP Eligible: Retained Grade PPP applicants, must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for Retained Grade preference. Click here to obtain a copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
Your complete Application Package (containing the above required documents) must be received no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time on 07/30/2025.


WARNING: Failure to submit a complete application package including any required documentation by 11:59 PM (EST) on 07/30/2025, or at the time of application for announcements with an extended closing date, may result in an ineligible rating and loss of consideration. To verify that your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account/Application Status/More Information. The Details page will display the status of your application. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded is received, legible and accurate. HR will not modify answers submitted by an applicant.

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

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents below.

  1. Your Resume
  • Your resume MUST include the following information for each job listed: Job title; duties (be as detailed as possible); month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008); and full- time or part-time status (include hours worked per week). Read more about what should I include in my federal resume? at USAJOBS.
  • DO NOT include the following information: Classified or government sensitive information; Social Security Number; Photos of yourself; Personal information, such as age, sex, religious affiliation, etc.; or encrypted and digitally signed documents. Read more about what should I leave out of my resume? at USAJOBS.
  1. A complete Assessment Questionnaire
  2. Other required supporting documents: (SEE BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS)
Click 'Apply Online' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
  1. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents.
  2. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application.
  3. Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, clicking Application Status, then More Information for this position. Return to an incomplete application by logging into your USAJOBS account and clicking Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Agency contact information

HR Customer Care Center
Address
DISA - MSO/PROCUREMENT SERVICES DIRECTORATE
2300 East Drive Bldg 3600
Scott AFB, IL 62225
US

Next steps

Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. The occupational questionnaire and the resume that you submit will be used to assess your qualifications for the job, and to identify the best qualified applicants to be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interviews. We will notify you of the outcome after each of these steps has been completed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

(317) 212-0454

dfas.indianapolis-in.zh.mbx.dfasmeritcc@mail.mil


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.