Contract Specialist Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. CFO-12588888-25-AE Department National Transportation Safety Board
Salary $139,395.00 to $181,216.00 Grade 14 to 14
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/25/2024 Close Date 11/11/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

This position is in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Acquisition Division in Washington, DC. The incumbent will perform assignments in support of procurement activities, including pre and post award functions, and develop, revise and implement acquisition and federal procurement related program policies and regulations.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent employees (career or career-conditional) of the National Transportation Safety Board, Current permanent Federal employees eligible for transfer, former federal employees eligible for Reinstatement, veterans eligible for consideration under VEOA, certain Military Spouses, Peace Corps/VISTA, disabled individuals eligible under Schedule A, Land Management employees eligible under Public Law 114-47) and those eligible under current Interchange Agreements.

Duties

As a Contract Specialist, GS-1102-14, you will perform the following major duties:

Advising technical personnel on acquisition strategy and market research; performing procurement planning; developing procurement objectives; preparing acquisition plans; providing technical personnel support with the development of Statements of Work (SOW), Justifications of Other than Full and Open Competition (JOFOCs), and Proposal Evaluation Plans.

Development of Requests for Quotes (RFQ) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for supplies and services; development and coordination of pre-award documentation and activities as required by the FAR.

Performing cost/price analysis of a variety of pre-award and post-award procurement actions.

Negotiation with vendors; contract administration, contract closeout; and other acquisition related tasks and activities.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Resume and supporting documents (see "How to Apply" section.)
  • Suitability for Federal employment
  • Financial Interest in transportation enterprises will be evaluated on a case-by-case-basis.
  • Bargaining Unit Position: Yes - Bargaining unit represented by NTSB-AFGE Local 2211.
  • Direct Deposit is required.
  • A Probationary period may be required.
  • Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level) by the closing date of this announcement. Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
  • You may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, upon entering the position and annually.
  • THIS POSITION IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REMOTE TELEWORK.
  • Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

You must meet the basic requirement(s) for this position. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Individual Occupational Requirements (IORs) for the Contracting, 1102 series are as follows
:

(A) You must complete all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS-13 or higher-level contracting positions, including at least 4 years of experience in contracting or related positions. At least 1 year of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level of the position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position.

-AND-

(B)
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.

(C) Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. This also applies to positions at the same grade in the same agency if the specialized experience requirements are met. However, they will have to meet the basic requirements and specialized experience requirements in order to qualify for promotion to a higher grade, unless granted a waiver under Paragraph D.

(D) Waiver: When filling a specific vacant position, the senior procurement executive of the selecting agency, at his or her discretion, may waive any or all of the requirements of Paragraphs A and B above if the senior procurement executive certifies that the applicant possesses significant potential for advancement to levels of greater responsibility and authority, based on demonstrated analytical and decision-making capabilities, job performance, and qualifying experience. With respect to each waiver granted under this Paragraph D, the senior procurement executive must document for the record the basis of waiver. If an individual is placed in a position in an agency on the basis of a waiver, the agency may later reassign that individual to another position at the same grade level within that agency without additional waiver action.

-AND-

Certification requirement:
This position requires Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) Professional.

IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE ABOVE BASIC EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS, APPLICANTS MUST ALSO MEET THE FOLLOWING MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE GS-14 LEVEL: You must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-13 level) that may have been obtained in the private, or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors. Specialized experience is defined as: Applying contracting principles, laws, regulations, and procedures sufficient to plan, develop, implement, execute, and administer contracts through the full contracting lifecycle; applying knowledge of contracting principles sufficient to provide expert contracting guidance to program officials, staff coordination, and consultation; formulating guidelines, implementing new developments, and providing policy interpretation; performing in-depth evaluations of the financial and technical capabilities or the performance of the contractor; and anticipating problems and providing advice to project personnel on effective implementation and time frames required.

For more information see link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1100/contracting-series-1102/

NOTE: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your resume must clearly show the specialized experience and competencies related to this position. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the education, specialized experience and/or competencies will result in an "Ineligible" rating.

Education

Please see Basic Requirements under Qualifications.

GENERAL EDUCATION: All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at an institution that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for it to be credited towards qualifications. For a list of schools that meet these criteria, see https://www.ed.gov/accreditation?src=rn. Applications submitted without the required supporting documents will not be accepted. An unofficial transcript; statement from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official; or equivalent documentation is acceptable at the time of application. Education submitted must be appropriately accredited by an accredited body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. For additional information, refer to the U.S. Department of Education web site at: http://www.ed.gov

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

  • The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays and various benefits as well as work life amenities such as alternate work schedules, telework, flextime, fitness and transit benefits.
  • Moving expenses associated with permanent change of station (PCS) ARE NOT authorized for this position.
  • NTSB may authorize Recruitment Incentives currently offered by the Federal Government for highly qualified candidates who possess unique skills and abilities.
  • If you left Federal Employment and received a buy out and you are selected for this position, you may be required to repay the full amount of the payment.
  • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, you must be a preference eligible or a Veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. For more information on VEOA please visit https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/special-hiring-authorities/#veoa
  • Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements identified below please visit https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/special-hiring-authorities/
    • - Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A
    • - Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
    • - Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses
    • - Other Special Appointment Authorities
  • Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) meet the basic qualification standards (including minimum educational and experience requirements; (3) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 90 and above on the rating criteria for this position; and, (4) submit the appropriate documentation ( to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp
  • Note: ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice; a "Notice of Personnel Action" (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456.
  • All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on OPM's web site at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/
  • Telework may be authorized on a case-by-case basis.
  • Multiple and subsequent vacancies may be filled from this announcement.
  • NTSB uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.

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.

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 resume and supporting documentation to determine your qualifications. Experience must be clearly reflected in your resume. Applicants must first meet any mandatory education and/or licensure requirements before experience is evaluated. Failure to meet any mandatory requirement as outlined in the qualifications section will disqualify you from further consideration. If education and/or licensure requirements are met, your application will be further evaluated based on training, experience and other factors critical to successful job performance such as:

  • Communication
  • Contracting/Procurement
  • Influencing/Negotiating
  • Problem Solving
  • Reasoning


If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Required Documents

You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

You are required to provide documentation that supports the eligibility and qualification claims made in your resume and assessment questionnaire. You must submit the applicable documents listed here and those listed with the eligibilities you select in the announcement questionnaire with your application package. Applicants who do not provide supporting documentation that fully support their claims will not be referred to the hiring manager. Cover letter is optional.

The following documents are required for a COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE:

  • A Complete Resume is required: Your resume must show relevant experience, job title, duties and accomplishments. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications. The following information should be provided in your resume: employer's name, starting and end dates (Mo/Yr), hours per week, and pay plan, series and grade level (e.g. GS-0201-09) for relevant federal experience. Please see OPM's video on Resume Writing Tips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoF
  • Responses to the questionnaire.
  • College transcripts (Unofficial or Official), if qualifying based on education or as a basic requirement.
  • ALL CURRENT AND FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES MUST SUBMIT THE MOST RECENT COPY OF THEIR SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing competitive status, listing your Position Title, Series and Grade and Step, Tenure (Block 24 -1 or 2) and Position Occupied (Block 34 -1). Additionally, applicants should also submit a SF-50 reflecting the highest grade held on a permanent basis in the competitive service or the full performance level of your current position, whichever is higher. (Do not submit your Award SF-50).
  • A copy of your most recent performance appraisal, or a statement as to why you do not have this document.
  • DD-214 (member copy 4), SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities.
  • Certain Military Souse (EO 13473, 5 CFR 315.612), if applying as a spouse of a service member, you must provide submit a copy of service member's current orders or Statement of Service letter. Additionally, if you are a current federal employee, you must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50. If applying as a spouse of a service member who incurred a 100% disability because of service member's active-duty service, you must submit a copy of your spouses' DD-214 and a copy of documentation from the Department of Veteran's Affairs or the Department of Defense indicating the service member has a disability rating of 100% due to a service-connected disability. If applying as a spouse of a service member who was killed while on active duty, you must submit a copy of your spouse's DD-1300 documenting the service member was killed while on active duty and a statement certifying that you have not remarried.
  • Noncompetitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable.
  • Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation: (1) Proof of Eligibility; (2) Your latest performance rating showing a rating of at least "fully successful" (level 3); AND (3) Your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50), or equivalent personnel action, showing your tenure, position occupied, and duty station. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp
  • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) Eligibles: For more information on LMWFA, visit: https://chcoc.gov/content/implementing-policy-guidance-land-management-workforce-flexibility-act

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 the required documents section).The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 11/11/2024.
  • To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.
  • To view or print occupational questionnaire click here https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12588888.
  • To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status, and click on the More Information link under the application status for this position.
NOTE: If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Applications: https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information at least 1 business day before the closing date.

Agency contact information

Human Resources Division
Address
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
490 L'Enfant Plaza East SW
Washington, DC 20594
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed in the announcement. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.


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