Clarification from the agency

You may apply if you are a Status Candidate (Merit Promotion, VEOA, Land Management Eligible) and/or a Non-Competitive Hiring Authority Eligible (VRA-If GS-11 or below position, 30% Disabled Veteran, Certain Military Spouse, Schedule A, Certain Peace Corps/VISTA Employee/Volunteer, Certain Former Overseas Employee, Foreign Service Employee, CTAP/ICTAP, Interchange Agreement Employee, or if you are employed under a Miscellaneous Authority not regulated by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.)

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Reviewing requests for procurement of equipment, services, and/or construction that require the use of fixed-price, cost-reimbursement, or a combination of contract methods and types to procure where little or no contractual precedent exists.
• Conducting extensive negotiations during all phases of the procurement process.
• Preparing recommendations for award, documenting reasons for decisions including justifying basis for not recommending award to the lowest quote, bid, or offer.
• Monitoring contract performance, isolating contract performance problems, negotiating supplemental of follow-on agreements (partial terminations, prices increases or decreases, specification changes, furnishing of Governmnet property, etc.).

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• You must complete a background investigation, credit check, and drug test.
• Selective Service Registration is required, as applicable.
• A one year probationary period may be required, if not already met.
• Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
• Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for the Contract Specialist position, you must meet the following time in grade requirements and minimum qualifications:

Basic Requirements for GS-9-11 Level:

1. A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field; OR
2. 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. Held a position in the GS-1102 series since January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy GS-1102 positions at grades 5 through 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified at GS-12. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade 12. However, employees must meet specialized experience requirements when seeking another position.

1. Providing technical and advisory services in a variety of contracting methods and types;
2. Reviewing requisition and determining the method of procurement required (e.g. Request for Quote (RFQ). Invitation for Bid (CFB), Request for Proposal (RFP), award via bidding or negotiations);
3. Participating in pre-performance conferences with contractors to clarify issues in contractual requirements;
4. Preparing reports and correspondence to answer or provide input for congressional inquiries, resolving complaints and protests, attending meetings, and providing expediting services; and
5. Reviewing past performance information, conducting pre-award surveys, and ascertaining price reasonableness by performing cost and price analysis.

1. Reviewing requests for procurement of equipment, services, and/or construction that require the use of fixed-price, cost-reimbursement, or a combination of contract methods and types to procure where little or no contractual precedent exists.
2. Developing source files of responsible contractors by analyzing industries' technical and financial ability to satisfy requirements;
3. Participating in extensive negotiations during all phases of the procurement process;
4. Assisting with monitoring contracts to ensure timely completion of required actions, such as the exercise of contract options; and
5. Reviewing all post-award actions taken to ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and Executive Orders.

How you will be evaluated

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

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.

In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. You must meet all qualifications, including meeting or exceeding the cut score on the required assessments.

Your USAHIRE assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.

The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Applicants with a score of 80 or higher will be referred to the Hiring Manager for review.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

Resume - All Applicants: You must submit a resume (a two page or less) containing the following pieces of information for each job entry listed in your employment history:

• Official position title,
• Employer name and contact information,
• Start and end dates (including month and year),
• Indicate full-time or number of hours worked per week if part-time, and
• A list of duties performed and accomplishments.

1. You must submit your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) or equivalent agency form. Your SF-50 should list the full position title, series, grade and step,organization, duty location, service computation date, effective date, and your service type and tenure status.
2. Submit a copy of your most recent performance evaluation or appraisal, signed, showing your final rating. If a performance appraisal is not available submit a statement explaining why one is not available. Note: See USAJOBS Current & Former Employees for more information.

1. You must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal, and
2. A list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. Due weight for performance applies to federal and non-federal work. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available.

1. When claiming a Veteran's Preference, you must submit your last DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) form, specifically the Member #4 Copy, indicating dates and character of service and discharge type.
2. If you are a Veteran with a service-connected disability rating, you will need to additionally submit the SF-15 (Application for 10-point Veterans Preference) and a copy of your VA Letter stating your disability rating.
3. If you are the qualifying parent or spouse of a disabled, deceased, or deployed Veteran, and are seeking a derived preference eligibility, you must submit appropriate supporting documentation such as the Veterans DD-214, SF-15, VA Letter, and/or Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders. See Veteran Family Preference for more information.
4. For more information see FedsHireVets.

1. Spouse of a member of the armed forces on active duty: documentation showing 1) your spouse's active-duty status and 2) your marriage to the member of the armed forces (i.e., a marriage certificate or other legal documentation verifying marriage).
2. Spouse of service members who incurred a 100% disability because of the service member's active-duty service: documentation showing 1) the member of the armed forces retired, or was released or discharged from active duty, with a disability rating of 100 percent; and 2) documentation of marriage to the member of the armed forces (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage).
3. Spouse of service members killed while on active duty: documentation showing a) the member was released or discharged from active duty due to his or her death while on active duty; b) the member of the armed forces was killed while serving on active duty; c) proof of the widow or widower's marriage to the member of the armed forces (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage); and d) a statement certifying that the individual seeking to use the authority is the un-remarried widow or widower of the service member.

1. You must submit "proof of a disability" documentation from your doctor, a licensed medical professional, a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist, or any Federal, state, or local agency that issues or provides disability benefits ("Proof of a disability" is a letter stating that you have an intellectual disability, severe physical disability or psychiatric disability).
2. For more information about Schedule A and verification requirements, please see OPM's Schedule A site.

1. You must submit your separation notice or agency RIF letter from your agency OR if you have not yet been separated, you can provide the letter of intent to separate you from the agency because of reduction-in-force.
2. Submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal and SF-50 showing current/former position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location OR Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.

Next steps