Contract Specialist Job in Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)

Vacancy No. QF-2025-0004 Department Federal Acquisition Service
Salary $72,553.00 to $140,713.00 Grade 11 to 12
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/23/2024 Close Date 10/29/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)


Summary

As a Contract Specialist, you will provide support for pre-award and/or post-award functions.

Location of position: The position will be within the Federal Acquisition Service (FAS), Assisted Acquisition Services (AAS) organization and will reside within one of the Regions specified in the Major Duties section of the announcement.

We are currently filling multiple vacancies, and additional vacancies may be filled as needed.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

This public notice is issued under the Direct Hire Authority (DHA) for Scientific, Technical, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) positions for which there is a critical hiring need. This means that we can hire any qualified candidate from this notice or any other source. -Current civil service employees will receive new appointments if selected under this DHA. -For information on DHA, please visit https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/

Duties

These positions have job functions that must be executed within specific geographic locations. The official duty station is a federal facility, leased space, or an alternative worksite (typically the employee’s home) within a specified geographic Region listed below. Although you must reside and perform the job functions in one of the specific geographic Regions, it will not require you to report to the agency worksite on a regular and recurring basis.

Each position filled through this announcement will reside within one of the 11 regions designated here. When completing your application, you must select at least one region for which you wish to be considered for AND will report to as your official duty station. 

You will be responsible for performing the following Major Duties:

  • Assists in tracking/monitoring contract actions to ensure compliance with policy, administrative procedures, regulations, and statutes.
  • Pre-award and/or post-award functions involving procurements of Government-wide importance.
  • Provides support in negotiations, which includes planning and documenting a negotiation strategy, coordinating the negotiation team, and participating in negotiations to develop the contract prices and terms.
  • Provides guidance and direction on contract policies, program objectives, priorities, and procedures.
  • Assists in developing acquisition documents including use of pricing arrangements, subcontracting, set-asides, negotiation objectives, content and outcome of discussions, award recommendations and similar considerations.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
  • Meet all eligibility requirements 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.
  • Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 1 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-11 and GS-12 salary range will be determined based on the duty location for which selected. For more information on GS locality pay scales, please visit the OPM Salaries & Wages webpage. 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. 

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.  

In order to qualify for either the GS-11 or GS-12 grade level you must meet the 1102 BASIC REQUIREMENT in option A or B, or meet the exception as follows:

A. A 4-year course of study leading to a Bachelor's degree with a major in any field; OR
B. 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.
EXCEPTION: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupied on January 1, 2000.

In addition to the 1102 BASIC REQUIREMENT above, you must have one year of specialized experience or an education substitution below:

GS-11:

  • SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 in the Federal service. Specialized experience must include: utilizing a variety of contract types, methods, and techniques needed to negotiate, award, and/or administering contracts; and interpreting and/or applying relevant laws, regulations, policies, and procedures governing procurement and contract administration.
  • EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION (GS-11 Level ONLY): If you do not have the specialized experience described above, you may qualify if you have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR three full years of progressively higher level related graduate level education leading to such a degree; OR a LL.M. in one or a combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.

GS-12:

  • SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience must include: Performing a wide range of pre- and/or post-award contract activities such as soliciting, negotiating, awarding, monitoring, and/or closing out contracts; and interpreting and applying federal acquisition regulations, agency policies, and contract law principles to ensure compliance.

Education

Note: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:  https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/ 

Additional information

Bargaining Unit Status: This position may be eligible for the bargaining unit.
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 or visit GSA's webpage.
If you are selected at a grade lower than the full performance level, you may be promoted up to that grade level without having to re-apply or compete against other applicants.
Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility.  
Additional vacancies may be filled through this announcement in this or other GSA organizations within the same commuting area as needed; through other means; or not at all.
GSA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility that goes beyond our compliance with EEO regulations including: 
  • Valuing and embracing diversity, promoting equity, inclusion and accessibility, and expecting cultural competence; and
  • Fostering a work environment where all employees, customers and stakeholders feel respected and valued.
Our commitment is: 
  • Reflected in our policies, procedures and work environment;
  • Recognized by our employees, customers and stakeholders; and
  • Drives our efforts to recruit, attract, retain and engage the diverse workforce needed to achieve our mission.

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.

Applications will be evaluated against the basic qualifications. Qualified candidates will be considered in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management Direct Hire Guidelines. Applications will not be rated or ranked. Veterans’ Preference does not apply to the direct hire recruitment procedures.

You may not be considered for the position, if any part of the application is incomplete or missing the required supporting documentation. Falsifying your background, education and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or dismissing you if hired. 

ICTAP/CTAP Candidates: The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found “well-qualified" for this vacancy. In addition to meeting the basic qualifications stated in the qualification section of this announcement, well qualified is defined as: experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, demonstrated by meeting at least 51% or more of the competencies/KSA’s listed below (i.e. 3 out of 5, or 4 out of 6, or 5 out of 8, etc.) 

The competencies/KSAs required for the position are:

  • Knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations, source selection regulations, other applicable laws, guidelines, and procedures to negotiate, award, administer, and if necessary, terminate contracts
  • Knowledge of contract types, methods, and techniques
  • Knowledge of negotiation techniques
  • Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing

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 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.

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 job.
  • 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? 

  • Questions or issues completing an application and/or submitting documentation - contact mgshelp@monster.com or 1-866-656-6831 Monday-Friday 7AM - 7PM EST, except for Federal holidays
  • Specific questions on the position - contact the HR representative (Monday-Friday during normal business hours) listed on the announcement, prior to the application deadline

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.

Agency contact information

KayLynn Howard-Morrow
Phone
563-381-7419
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
kaylynn.howard-morrow@gsa.gov
Address
GSA, Federal Acquisition Service
General Services Administration (GSA)
Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM)
1800 F Street NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20405
United States
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

After the closing date/deadline:

  1. ELIGIBILITY/QUALIFICATIONS: Your application will be reviewed for all requirements.
  2. REFERRAL TO MANAGEMENT: If you meet all the requirements, you may be referred to management for review and a possible interview.  
  3. SELECTION/TENTATIVE JOB OFFER: If you are selected, you will receive a tentative offer and start the suitability and/or security background investigation process.
  4. FINAL JOB OFFER: Once our security office determines you can come on board, you will be given a final offer, which is typically 40 days after the announcement closes
  5. FINAL COMMUNICATION: 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!


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


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