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

Vacancy No. 101-OMS-12597545-25-JR-BU Department Veterans Benefits Administration
Salary $88,520.00 to $115,079.00 Grade 13 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/1/2024 Close Date 11/12/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)


Summary

This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Acquisition Division (AD), Office of Mission Support (OMS), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). The incumbent serves as a Contract Specialist within the AD and reports to a Supervisory Contract Specialist and serves as a member of an operational contracting team. The Contract Specialist is responsible for pre-award and post-award acquisition in support of VBA's mission.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

ALL U.S. CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY

Duties

Specific duties include:

  • Performs all pre-award and post award acquisition functions for complex acquisitions spanning multiple functional areas to include services, professional services, minor construction, architect/engineering and contracts that may involve unique or novel services
  • Provides guidance to less experienced staff, technical and program personnel involved in the development of the SOW or data requirements.
  • Reviews requests for acquisition to ensure that each request is complete and adequate funding, description of supplies or services required; provides advice and guidance to less experienced contracting staff.
  • Promotes competition and approves or recommends approvals of noncompetitive justifications when competition is impractical.
  • Ensures the compliance of acquisition products, including compliance with FAR, VAAR, use of ECMS, and FPDS.
  • Determines price reasonableness for all awards and contractor responsibility where applicable.
  • Communicates workload status to customers and supervisor. Achieves Procurement Action Lead Times (PALT) for awards.
  • Masters all VA and federal electronic acquisition systems, including but not limited to SAM, eCMS, FPDS, PPIRS/CPARS and ensures all systems are properly used for every acquisition.
  • Chooses contract type and ensure the solicitation is properly structured to define requirement and basis for selection.
  • Incorporates new or changed contract requirements with appropriate modifications, or settles issues that develop after contract award.
  • Works with program customer, supervisor and legal counsel to resolve protest and disputes as necessary.
Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: Not applicable, this is a remote position
Virtual: Not applicable, this is a remote position
Position Description/PD#: Contract Specialist; GS-1102-13 PD# 37361-A
Financial Disclosure Report: Required.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:11/08/2024.

TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Applicants who are current Federal employees, former Federal employees applying for reinstatement, or a current federal employee applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment must meet time in grade requirements. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

NOTE: This does not apply to Non-Federal Applicants, or applicants applying for consideration under Non-Competitive Authority (i.e.... "30% or more Disability", VRA, and/or Schedule A).

To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50 that indicates proof of status, and shows Time in Grade (for example, you were a career or career-conditional employee) and identifies your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must also submit your most recent promotion or within-grade increase in addition to your recent SF-50. If you previously held a higher grade, you must also submit any SF-50 showing that grade. DO NOT submit Award SF-50's and/or General Adjustment SF-50's as they cannot be used to prove time-in-grade.
  • For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level.
BASIC INDIVIDUAL REQUIREMENTS: You must meet one of the following basic requirements:

Individual Occupational Requirements

Contracting Series, 1102 (opm.gov)

This is an individual qualification standard developed by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 433. It does not apply to Department of Defense positions.

Basic Requirements for GS-13 and Above:

  1. Completion of 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 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

  2. 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.

  3. 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 or other agencies 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.

  4. 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 the 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 within that agency without additional waiver action.


MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below:
GS-13 Grade Level:
  • Specialized Experience: 1 year equivalent to at least next lower grade level.
    • This position is considered a senior level contracting position, as defined by the Federal Acquisition Institute, and therefore carries a requirement for specialized experience. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service specifically related to federal procurement. In federal procurement most activities performed by a contract specialist are inherently governmental. While not all inclusive, illustrative examples include:
      • Functioning as the source selection authority in source selection activities, approving contractual documents, including documents that define requirements, incentive plans and evaluation criteria, determining prices fair and reasonable, determining contractor responsibility, awarding contracts, administering contracts (including modifying contracts), terminating contracts, and determining whether costs are reasonable, allocable and allowable (Federal Register Policy Letter 11-01.)
      • In accordance with VA policy the incumbent is required to have a FAC-C Professional Certification at the time of assuming the position. The FAC-C Professional applies to all executive civilian agencies and this certification program is accepted by all agencies as evidence that an employee meets readiness requirements to perform contracting functions. The specialized position requirements are in accordance with the Office of Federal Procurement Policy memorandum for the FAC-C workforce as outlined in OFPP Memorandum https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/FAC-C-Modernization-Memorandum-19-Jan-2023.pdf and implemented by the Office of Personnel Management standards for 1102s https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1100/contracting-series-1102/.
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; religions; 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.

Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.

Physical Requirements: Position is sedentary.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA 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 (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Click here for more information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

This is a bargaining unit position.

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.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants who do not fully address the specialized experience needed for the position (as described above in the job announcement) in their resume will not be referred for consideration.

After you have met the minimum qualifications, you will be rated on the following competencies based on your application for this position:

  • Problem Solving - Analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; evaluates alternatives and implements solutions.
  • Customer Service - Anticipates and meets the needs of customers. Delivers quality products and services; committed to improvement.
  • Communication (oral) - Oral communications are clear/convincing and organized for audience. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed; listens to challenges with procurements and offers solutions.
  • Flexibility - Prioritizes work effectively and is able to asses task importance and urgency.
  • Interpersonal Skills - Treats others with respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs of complex situations. Provides meaningful advice and mentorship to less experienced staff.
  • Technical Competence - Applies principles, procedures, regulations, and policies related to acquisition expertise; assists less experienced staff in interpreting policies, procedures and or processes to help them meet mission requirements.
  • Communication (written) - Written communications are clear/convincing and organized for audience. Listens effectively; clarifies info as needed; written guidance to less experienced staff is concise and accurate.
Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or an interview.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package to include the documents detailed below. Your resume and supporting documentation will be verified; errors, omissions, or failure to submit the documents as specified will affect your rating or result in loss of consideration for employment.

  • Resume detailing specialized experience and competencies as they relate to this position
    • For each position in your resume, you must specify the start and end dates (month/year) and a description of duties. If the position was Federal, you must also indicate the grade level. Resumes containing a general summary of all positions held, not specifying start/end dates, and/or not including Federal grade level(s) are insufficient to determine basic qualifications.
  • Veterans: Member-4 DD-214 and disability rating letter (if applicable)
    • If you are currently on active duty to be released within 120 days, you may submit an armed forces certification in lieu of a Member-4 DD-214.
  • Current Federal Employees: A copy of your most recent NON-AWARD SF-50. The SF-50 must indicate proof of status (for example, you are a career or career-conditional employee) and should identify your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).
    • To verify you meet Time-in-Grade requirements, also submit a SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade held (e.g. Promotion, Appointment, etc.).
  • Military Spouse of Active Duty Military Member: A copy of your marriage license AND your spouse's active duty orders
  • Military Spouse of Separated Veteran: A copy of your marriage license, Member-4 DD-214 AND either your spouse's 1) 100% disability rating, or 2) documentation of death during active duty.
  • Other Status Candidates: Evidence of eligibility to apply (e.g. Peace Corps verification letter, Schedule A letter, PS-50, etc.).
  • Land Management Eligibles: SF-50 that shows your initial time limited appointment in the competitive service; Most recent SF-50 and/or separation SF-50 from a Land Management agency; and Performance appraisals for each period of service with a Land Management Agency. **NOTE: If you have received more than one time-limited appointment please provide appointment SF-50's and extension and/or termination SF-50's for each period of service.
  • CTAP documentation: RIF notice, SF-50 showing VA employee, and performance appraisal

Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

How to Apply

Complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/08/2024 to receive consideration. It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12597545.

  1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
  2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
Click here for instructions on viewing your application status.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Agency contact information

Jacob Rolon
Address
VBA Human Resources Center - Central Office
810 Vermont Ave NW
Washington, DC 20420
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.


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