Contract Specialist

Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Office of Administration (OA)

Summary

This position is located in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of Administration (OA), Acquisition Management Division (AMD). OJP provides federal leadership, funding, and other critical resources to directly support law enforcement, combat violent crime, protect American children, provide services to American crime victims, and address public safety challenges, including human trafficking and the opioid crisis.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Clarification from the agency

This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority.

Duties

The duties and responsibilities for a GS- 1102-13 generally include, but are not limited to, the following:

Serves as a Contracting Officer/Contract Specialist in the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of Administration (OA), Acquisition Management Division (AMD).
Analyzes requirements and recommends revisions to statements of work and the specifications they contain.
Provides assistance to requestors by aiding in the definition, preparation and submission of required documents and forms for the Government's need.
Surveys the market to determine the availability of items and services with specialized requirements.
Assists the customer with development of acquisition documents (Acquisition Plan, D&F, Sole Source Documentation, etc)
Identifies appropriate contract types such as labor hour, time and material, or firm fixed price.
Determines procurement strategy, including any, small business set-aside decisions and terms.
Leads technical evaluations as Source Selection Decision Authority and awards contract vehicles within warrant authority
Negotiates price, contract specifications, delivery dates, incentives, and other terms and conditions.
Prepares and coordinates case files on appeals, protests, or mistakes in the bidding procedures of assigned contracts.
Procures acquisition supplies/services utilizing NASA SEWP, GSA Schedule, NITAAC, etc

Requirements

Conditions of employment

You must be a United States Citizen.
You will be required to complete a pre-employment security investigation and background check which includes a drug screening.
Selective Service registration is required for males born on, or after, December 31, 1959. Those not registered should have an approved exemption on file.
You must meet all eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement and continue to meet these requirements throughout the hiring process. Offers can be rescinded if requirements are not met.
Financial Disclosure: If selected, you may be required to disclose financial information in accordance with DOJ and Federal ethics guidelines.
Security Requirements: Non-Sensitive/Moderate Risk
A USA Hire assessment is required. An email will be sent with additional information after you submit your application. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement to complete the assessment.
Requires maintenance of a FAC-C (Professional) certification.

Qualifications

To qualify for the position of Contract Specialist, at GS-1102-13, you must meet the qualification requirements listed below.

Basic Entry Requirements:
A. (1) Successful completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the Federal Acquisition Certification-Contracting which led to a FAC-C (Professional) certificate or equivalent certification which can be found at Contracting (FAC-C) | FAI.GOV.

AND

(2) Have at least 4 years of experience in contracting or related positions.

AND

B. Successful completion of a full four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field, that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester/36 quarter 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. (Note: You must submit supporting documentation.)

OR

D. WAIVER: Requirements of paragraphs A and B above may be waived if the agency's 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 (Current Department of Justice (DOJ) employees only).

Specialized Experience:

Applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is experience which is in or related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Examples of specialized experience include:

Manages pre-award and post-award functions for the broad field of procurement to determine procurement strategy and to develop and manage the procurement and contract administration program.
Develops innovative contractual language, terms, and conditions.
Develops pre-negotiation for the acquisition of a system.
Performing post-award negotiations involving contract changes or modifications.
Analyzing and/or evaluating cost and pricing data to determine cost or price reasonableness.
Developing acquisition packages that include assisting program offices with developing scopes of work, source selection plans, and crafting technical evaluation factors; conducting research related to acquisitions; and presenting findings on contracting approaches and methodologies used in federal acquisition regulations.

Online Assessment:
This position requires an online assessment. After you submit this application, you will receive an e-mail informing you that a USA Hire assessment is required of you. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement 07/13/2026 to complete the assessment as this assessment is part of your application.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

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

You MUST meet all qualification requirements, including time-in-grade, by the closing date of this announcement, 07/13/2026.

Your resume must support your responses to the online questionnaire and the qualification requirements. Failure to do so may result in an ineligible rating.See the Required Documents section for important notes about what must be included in your resume.

After you submit your application, you will receive notification indicated whether or not the USA Hire assessment is required. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement 07/13/2026 to complete the assessment which is part of your application.

Education

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements, please see the statements below.

Education must be reviewed and certified by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, in order for it to be creditable towards your qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from accredited institution.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Additional information

OJP offers opportunities for flexible work schedules.
Additional selections may be made from this announcement.
Probationary Period: You may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether continued employment advances the public interest. We may consider: 1) performance and conduct; 2) agency needs and interests; 3) advancement of agency/Government organizational goals; and 4) Federal service efficiency. Upon completion, employment terminates unless you receive written certification that your continued employment advances the public interest.
EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline.
DOJ Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. The DOJ Reasonable Accommodation policy can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/reasonable-accommodation#policy
Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs: The Fair Chance Act prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOJ employee or Federal contractor acting on its behalf has violated your rights under this Act, you may submit a written complaint within 30 days of the date of the alleged non-compliance directly to human.resources@usdoj.gov. Note: In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201(b) certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

Once the job opportunity announcement closes (at 11:59 p.m. ET on 07/13/2026), a review of your resume, supporting documentation and results of the required online assessments will be conducted. The information will be compared against your responses to the application questionnaire to determine your eligibility for Federal employment and whether you meet the qualifications for this position.

In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires completion of an online assessment administered through USAHire. Your complete application package (resume/supporting documentation, online questionnaire, and USA Hire Competency Based Assessment) will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement.

The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. 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. 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. If you would like to preview the application questionnaire, please see: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12994207

Per Direct-Hire Authority requirements, all qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring office for consideration. The hiring office may select any qualified candidate without regard to special eligibility considerations. Veterans' preference does not apply to this vacancy.

For Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)/Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) applicants: If you have CTAP/ICTAP eligibility and are found well-qualified for this vacancy, you will receive selection priority over other candidates. To be found well qualified, you must meet and exceed all qualification requirements and score 85 or better on established ranking criteria.

Technical Qualifications:
Applicants identified for interview, will be further evaluated on the following technical qualification:

Pre-Award and Post-Award Functions

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials, application questionnaire, or during an interview may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Required Documents

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Resume (Maximum 2 pages):
Include for each job:

Official position title
Employer name and contact information
Start and end dates (month and year)
Full-time or part-time hours per week
Duties performed and accomplishments

See How do I write a resume for more information

CTAP/ICTAP (Career Transition Programs):

Separation notice, agency RIF letter, OR letter of intent to separate
Most recent performance appraisal
SF-50 showing current/former position details

See Career Transition Programs for more information

Education Documents:

Unofficial or official transcripts (official transcripts will be required if selected)

See USAJobs Education for more information

Certification:

FAC-C (Professional) certificate or equivalent certification

See FAC-C (Professional) Certification Requirements for more information

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 complete the online application questionnaire and submit your supporting documentation. Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 07/13/2026 to receive consideration.

The application process is as follows:

Click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59PM (ET) on07/13/2026.
After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you via email notification. The email may be routed to your "Spam" or "Junk" folder.
If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments.
Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found on the Additional Application Information page that can be located in the application record in your USAJOBS account.

Essay Questions:
The following four narrative questions provide an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question (see the application questionnaire). You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot.

How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.

Need Help?
If you need help with USAJOBs or the application process, please see the USAJOBS Help website which includes information on managing your account, creating an application, uploading documents, etc.

Reasonable Accommodation:
To request reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the hiring agency contact directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Agency contact information

Jessica Harman

Phone: 202-856-8521
Email: jessica.harman@usdoj.gov

Address: Office of Administration
DO NOT MAIL
Washington, DC 20531
US

Next steps

Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

You will receive e-mail notifications as your application status is updated by DOJ. However, you can also see your application status any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account and looking on the "Applications" page. Click the position title to expand the display for each application in the list.

We strive to extend a final offer of employment within 90 days from the close of this announcement. Additional selections may be made from this announcement within 90 days.

Contract Specialist Job in Washington, DC