Summary
As a Contract Specialist, will serve as a Contracting Officer for pre-award/post-award functions for the most complex procurements at the prospectus level and above with unlimited signatory authority for projects in the Northwest (and Canada).
Location of position: GSA, Public Buildings Service, Northwest/Arctic Region, in Anchorage, AK; Boise, ID; Portland, OR; Spokane, WA; Seattle, WA or Tacoma, WA.
We are currently filling two vacancies, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.
Duties
- Devises procurement strategies required to support major acquisitions that are strategically vital to customers in their mission accomplishment and substantively impact the local business community and the general public as well. In this capacity, develops, prepares, negotiates, awards, administers and terminates assigned contractual vehicles and/or task orders for highly complex construction, professional services, Architecture/Engineering (A/E) services, construction management services, design-build, design-bid-build, Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc), and other types of projects, and/or a variety of highly complex service type contracts, and/or other highly specialized procurements of significant importance to customer agencies involving national contracts and/or other specialized acquisition projects.
- Serves as a lead negotiator, exercises responsibility for the resolution of highly complex issues including the requirement for detailed contract modifications designed to clarify questions and/or issues involving specification changes, resolution of language ambiguities and clarification or applicability of specific clauses. Negotiates changes with both the customer agency and vendor personnel and, as required, may also negotiate the incorporation of various change orders into a modified agreement.
- Oversees and monitors the most complex, large, or politically sensitive national/regional service, construction and/or supply projects. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, ensuring appropriate acquisition project design and tracking, timely processing of awards and modifications, and overall, ensuring that projects are completed within contractually mandated budgetary scope and schedule.
- Advises and coaches other journeymen for acquisitions and develops innovative contracting methods and devises new acquisition approaches. Previews work statements and prepares or oversees the preparation of solicitation documents. Advises and coaches negotiation teams.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- US Citizens and National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
- Meet all eligibility criteria within 30 days of the closing date
- Register with Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959
If selected, you must meet the following conditions:
- Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or NonCareer SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
- Serve a one year probationary period, if required.
- Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 4 investigation level).
- Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee. We will use the Department of Homeland Security’s e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.
- Complete a financial disclosure report to verify that no conflict, or an appearance of conflict, exists between your financial interest and this position.
Qualifications
For each job on your resume, provide:
- the exact dates you held each job (from month/year to month/year)
- number of hours per week you worked (if part time).
If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.
For a brief video on creating a Federal resume, click here.
The GS-13 salary range starts at $ $116,811 for Anchorage, AK; $103,409 for Boise, ID; $111,234 for Portland, OR; $103,728 for Spokane, WA; and $115,793 for Seattle and Tacoma, WA per year.
If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected.
You must meet the requirements in 1, 2, or 3 below:
1. All of a, b, and c below:
(a) Completion of Training/Certification: FAC-C (Professional) or DoD Contracting Professional Certification.
(b) At least 4years of experience in contracting or related positions including 1 year of specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the level described below; and
(c) Completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree that included or was supplemented by 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.
2. Exception: If you were in a GS-1102 position on January 1, 2000, you will be exempt from meeting the educational requirements for the grade level of that position. However, to be promoted you will have to meet Option 1 or 3.
3. Waiver: GSA's senior procurement executive has the discretion to waive any or all of the requirements in 1 above. Note: Candidates that are missing either the 24 hours of business credit and/or the mandatory training certification, but are determined to be otherwise eligible, can be placed on a waiver certification by the HR staffing specialist.
To qualify, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level or higher in the Federal service. Specialized experience is having a comprehensive knowledge of Federal contracting and acquisition programs and experience in the procurement and contract administration of large, complex contracts with the ability to apply advanced contracting concepts & methodologies to manage and oversee various construction, small purchases and/or services. This experience must include performing the full range of pre-award, award, and post-award procurement actions and leading diverse teams in the accomplishing the following:
• Performing the full range of highly complex pre-award and post-award activities on various contract types such as fixed price, fixed price economic price adjustment, various cost type contracts, requirements contracts; performance based acquisitions, and multiple award schedules;
• Performing delivery/task order placement and administration against multiple award contracts and blanket purchase agreements;
• Defending pre-award and/or post-award protests, contract claims, and contract disputes;
• Leading or working as part of an integrated acquisition and procurement project teams;
• Analyzing difficult contracting issues to identify alternative courses of action.
This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcript(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcements to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.
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.
You will have access to many benefits including:
- Health insurance (choose from a wide range of plans)
- Life insurance coverage with several options
- Sick leave and vacation time, including 11 paid holidays per year
- Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k) plan)
- Flexible work schedules
- Transit and child care subsidies
- Flexible spending accounts
- Long-term care insurance
- Training and development
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 use a method called Category Rating to assess your application. Here’s how it will work:
You will be scored on the questions you answer during the application process, which will measure your possession of the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities:
- Knowledge of statutory, regulatory, and agency laws/guidelines/policies/requirements/procedures, in relation to the incumbent’s procurements assignments, specifically contractual vehicles or contracts for highly complex construction, A/E services, construction management services and/or other highly specialized procurements of significant importance involving national contracts or other specialized projects.
- Knowledge of contract administration techniques sufficient to monitor contractors’ performance throughout all phases of project development and execution of construction and A/E contract vehicles; skill in negotiation techniques required to participate in complex or extended contract negotiations, require the monitoring of the performance of the prime contractor and a large number of subcontractors, negotiation of forward pricing rates and claims, complex changes and terminations or contract close out, and to meet and deal with varying levels of vendor, client agency and/or other Government officials.
- Knowledge and skill sufficient to plan and procure A/E design services and construction, to include indefinite delivery vehicles(IDV), for all types of federal and leased facilities. This involves preparing, soliciting, negotiating, and awarding contracts and IDVs, for highly complex construction, A/E services, construction management services and/or other highly specialized procurements of significant importance involving national contracts or other specialized projects.
- Knowledge of price/cost analysis, negotiation, and contract administration and termination techniques required to exercise the full range of delegated procurement authority; ability to provide technical guidance and advise and assist specialists and program officials involved in the procurement process.
Your answers to the questions will be used to place you in one of the following categories and standard score ranges:
- Best Qualified = Candidates scoring between 95 - 100
- Well Qualified = Candidates scoring between 85 - 94 (Well Qualified for CTAP/ICTAP)
- Qualified = Candidates scoring between 70 - 84
We will verify your answers to the questions in your resume. If your resume doesn’t support your answers, we may lower your score, which could place you in a lower category.
Within each category, veterans will receive selection priority over non-veterans.
Additional hurdle assessments, such as narrative responses or other assessments, may be administered to applicants who meet the requirements of the first hurdle, e.g., the minimum qualification requirements. If additional assessments are used, you will be provided with further instructions.
If you are eligible under Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan or GSA’s Career Transition Assistance Plan(ICTAP/CTAP), you must receive a score of 85 or higher to receive priority. You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Required Documents
ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date. Review the following list to determine what you need to submit.
Your resume showing applicant's name, email address, work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
If you are claiming veterans’ preference:
(a) Copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD-214 that shows your type of discharge and the dates of your active duty service.
(b) If you are claiming 10-point preference or derived preference (a spouse, widow or widower, or parent of a deceased or disabled veteran), submit both of the following in addition to the DD-214: (1) completed SF-15 form; and (2) proof of your entitlement (refer to SF-15 for complete list).
If you are active duty military - Certification on a letterhead from your military branch that includes your rank, character of service (must be under honorable conditions) & military service dates including discharge/release date (must be no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted).
If you are ICTAP/CTAP eligible - submit a, b, and c: (a) proof of eligibility including agency notice; (b) SF-50, and (c) most recent performance appraisal.
Current or Former Political Appointees: Submit SF-50.
College transcripts: If you are using some or all of your college education to meet qualification requirements for this position, you must submit a photocopy of your college transcript(s). Transcripts MUST show: name of the institution, student's name, course work/degree(s) completed/conferred and dates. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.
For education completed outside the United States, also submit a valid foreign credential evaluation that substantiates possession of the required education.
Submit proof of contracting certification: FAC-C (Professional) or DoD Contracting Professional Certification.
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
Submit a complete online application including any required documents prior to 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement. You can modify or complete your application any time before the deadline. Simply return to USAJOBS, select the vacancy, and update your application. For more detailed instructions on how to apply, click here: Apply for a GSA Job.
If you are having issues applying to this announcement, you should switch to a different browser, network or device. Note: Your firewall may block your transfer from USAJOBS to your GSA application.
To begin, click the Apply Online button on the vacancy announcement.
- Sign in or register on USAJobs and select a resume and documents to include in your application.
- Once you have clicked Apply for this position now, you will be taken to the GSA site to complete the application process.
- Click the Apply To This Vacancy and complete all steps in the application process until the Confirmation indicates your application is complete. If you click Return to USAJobs or get timed out prior to receiving confirmation, your application will not be submitted and cannot be considered for this vacancy.
- Note: Review the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section of this announcement to determine which apply to you and must be submitted online. You may choose one or more of the following options to submit your document(s): Upload (from your computer) or USAJOBS (click the "USAJOBS" link to complete the transfer process).
Need Assistance in Applying? Contact the HR representative listed on the announcement prior to the application deadline. We are available to assist you Monday-Friday during normal business hours. You must receive HR approval before deviating from these instructions. Be sure to APPLY EARLY as most assessments must be completed fully and submitted before the announcement closing.
Next steps
After the closing date/deadline:
- ELIGIBILITY/QUALIFICATIONS: Applicant eligibility and qualifications are reviewed.
- REFERRAL TO MANAGEMENT: Eligible/Qualified applicants are referred to management for review and possible interview.
- SELECTION/TENTATIVE JOB OFFER: If a selection is made, a Tentative Offer is extended to the selectee and suitability and/or security background investigation is conducted.
- FINAL JOB OFFER: A final job offer is made (typically within 40 days after the closing date/deadline for applications).
- FINAL COMMUNICATION TO APPLICANTS: Once the position is filled, we will notify you of your status. You may also check your application status by logging into USAJOBS and clicking “Track this Application” on the Applicant Dashboard.
Thank you for your interest in working for U.S. General Services Administration!
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