Contract Specialist Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. FRTIB-25-DH-026-12724350 Department Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
Salary $120,579.00 to $156,755.00 Grade 13 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 4/24/2025 Close Date 5/3/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) is looking for a highly qualified and motivated individual to serve as a Contract Specialist.

This Job Opportunity Announcement (JOA) may be used to fill other Contract Specialist, GS -1102- 13 positions within the FRTIB in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

ALL U.S. CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Duties

The major duties of the position are:

  • Conduct negotiations before contract award. Formulates negotiation strategies, consults with Agency staff concerning data submitted by proposers and conducts the negotiations.
  • Determine responsibility in the areas of capability to perform and fiscal soundness with responsive contractors. When necessary, conducts a pre-award survey on the contractor's past performance to ascertain the capability to perform the contract.
  • Prepare detailed pre-negotiation and price negotiation memorandums, outlining in writing the details of negotiations with contractors in competitive and noncompetitive negotiations.
  • Oversee contractor's performance throughout the period of performance to ensure quality deliverables are produced within the established timeframes.
  • When requested by the Contracting Officer, negotiates contract performance plan modifications and/or additional time required for performance.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

U.S. Citizenship is required.

All qualification requirements must be met by 05/03/2025. Your application package will not be considered if it is missing any of the required documents listed under the "Required Documents" tab.

Probationary Period. One-year probationary period may be required.

Selective Service. If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.

This position requires the incumbent to submit a confidential financial disclosure statement.

Background Suitability Investigation. Continued employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background investigation and the granting of a federal suitability or security clearance. If selected, you may be offered tentative employment until the background investigation has been fully adjudicated.

If selected for this position, you will be required to provide documentation of your current, unexpired Contracting certification prior to appointment.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position applicants must meet the Basic Experience, the mandatory training requirement, and the Specialized Experience as described below.

Basic Experience:

Basic Requirements for GS-13 and Above
A. 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 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.
Or
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 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.

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 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.

Mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS-13 or higher level:
FAC-C or Department of Defense certification in Contracting at any level, or Certified Federal Contract Manager from the National Contract Management Association. More information about FAC-C certification can be found here.

Specialized Experience:
In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement and the mandatory training, applicants must also have at least one year of full-time specialized work experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the next lower level (equivalent to the GS-12) in the federal government.

Specialized experience is defined as: (1) planning, negotiating, leading, and administering complex procurements of goods, systems or services, using a wide variety of cost and fixed-price contracts, multi-year contracts and extensive use of subcontractors; (2) developing contractual pricing arrangements and incentives; (3) auditing or reviewing major acquisitions, and then presenting findings, and (4) recommending corrective actions and policy or procedure improvement.

*Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations. 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. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Education

You must provide your transcripts to support your educational claims (Bachelor's degree and any additional transcripts containing required coursework listed in the Basic Requirements above). Transcripts may be unofficial copies, but they must come from an accredited college or university, and they also must include course names and the number of credit / semester hours. Click here to search the database of accredited institutions.

Foreign Education. If you are using education completed at foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign education programs. Foreign education must be deemed equivalent to that gained at an accredited U.S. education program. For further information visit the U.S. Department of Education's website concerning foreign qualifications.

Education may not be substituted for experience for this series and grade combination.

Additional information

The FRTIB offers wonderful benefits and work/life-balance flexibilities to help empower and reflect respect for our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes paid time off*, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in the federal retirement system. We offer, as applicable, flexible work hours, annual and sick leave, transit and childcare subsidies, free and confidential employee assistance and occupational health referral services, free on-site fitness center, and off-site fitness membership reimbursement.

Further benefits and flexibility details are located here: FRTIB Employee Benefits.

The FRTIB offices are conveniently located within a few blocks of the Union Station metro station. In addition, private parking is available in the building at the posted daily and monthly rates. Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position; however, other recruitment incentives may be authorized.

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.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

To preview the occupational questionnaire, click on the following link https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12724350.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the above qualifications.

Once the application process is complete, a review of the 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. 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 eligibility.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

Contracting/Procurement: Knowledge of various types of contracts, techniques for contracting or procurement, and contract negotiation and administration.

Technical Competence: Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on the job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.

Writing: Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material that is appropriate for the intended audience.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). The ICTAP provides eligible displaced federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility, you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and you are found Well Qualified for this vacancy. Well Qualified means you must meet all the minimum qualification standards listed above and be assessed and assigned the rating of at least 85% to receive special selection priority. Well Qualified is further defined as possessing the Basic Qualifications and meeting the specialized experience noted above.

You must provide proof of eligibility with your application to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition website.

When a sufficient pool of candidates has been determined only members of that group will be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

Required Documents

Please be advised the following documents are required even if you are already a current federal employee or employee of the FRTIB:

1. Resume (please include on your resume the experience you wish to be considered for the review of your qualifications, the dates of employment with month, day and year, and hours worked per week). Resumes that do not contain all of the necessary information to determine qualifications may be marked as insufficient and applicants may not receive consideration for this position. Your latest resume submission is the one that will be used to determine your qualifications.

2. Responses to the occupational questionnaire.

3. You must submit supporting documents verifying your selection priority eligibility along with your application package. Omitting these documents may result in no preference being adjudicated for you. These documents may include, but are not limited to:

  • ICTAP documentation (a copy of a separation notice or other proof of eligibilityfor priority selection; a copy of an SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing current position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location; AND a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.
4. College transcripts. Transcripts must be legible and possess the school name imprinted on the transcript or be on school letterhead; you may be asked to submit official transcripts upon selection. Your transcripts must include your Bachelor's degree and any additional transcripts for education received that shows 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. Failure to submit transcripts will result in elimination from further consideration for this position.

5. Proof of mandatory training certification. You must submit certification showing you have completed the mandatory training for FAC-C or Department of Defense certification in Contracting at any level, or as a Certified Federal Contract Manager from the National Contract Management Association.

6. Exception waiver. If you are qualifying based on the exception waiver you must submit a SF-50 showing you occupied a position in the 1102 job series at the 13 level as of 01/01/2000.

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

You must apply through the USAJOBS online job application system. It is your responsibility to ensure the complete application package is submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 05/03/2025 to receive consideration.

For details on applying through USAJOBS, please locate the "Apply" section at: USAJOBS Help Center | How to
FRTIB will only consider the last copy of the document uploaded/faxed when determining your eligibility and qualifications. For example, if you upload/fax two or more resumes only the last resume uploaded/faxed and submitted will be considered.

Note to applicants: To expedite the application review, please ONLY submit the documentation that is requested in the announcement. Do not submit:

  • Diplomas of any type (NOTE: A diploma certifies completion of a course of study. A transcript is record of courses taken and grades achieved.)
  • Letters of recommendation, reference, or congratulations, etc.
  • Any documents with a picture of the applicant
  • Awards documentation, including SF-50's for awards
  • Performance appraisals (only ICTAP eligible applicants need to submit their latest performance appraisal)
  • Evaluations of any type

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). The ICTAP provides eligible displaced federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility, you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and you are found Well Qualified for this vacancy. Well Qualified means you must meet all the minimum qualification standards listed above and be assessed and assigned the rating of at least 85% to receive special selection priority. Well Qualified is further defined as possessing the Basic Qualifications and meeting the specialized experience noted above.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Paper applications and information sent by mail will not be accepted.

Agency contact information

HR Operations
Address
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
77 K Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
US

Next steps

Once your application package is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. If your final rating places you among the top candidates, your application will be referred to the selecting official for further review. If your name is referred to the selecting official, you may be contacted directly by the office for a possible interview. You may also check the status of your application through your USAJOBS profile.

When the entire vacancy announcement process has been completed you will receive notice via email (or by mail if no email address was provided during the application process). Please allow at least 4-6 weeks after the vacancy has closed to inquire about the status of your application.


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


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