Contract Specialist

Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is being posted under the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Under Direct Hire Authority, veterans preference and time-in-grade restrictions do not apply. This position is open to all United States Citizens and Nationals. More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.

The Office of Administration-Procurement and Contracts (APC) provides pre-and post-award functions for a variety of supply, service and construction contracts. 

Duties for this position include: 

• Negotiating contract modifications and the terms and costs of contract changes.  In addition, negotiating the termination settlement with the contractor which may include equitable adjustments, change orders, change proposals, costs, profit, or other related matters.  Reviewing termination notices for extent of action (partial or complete), and for compliance with the terms and conditions of the contract. 
• Providing acquisition services by planning and negotiating complex purchases in supplies, information technology systems, services, equipment, and/or construction. 
• Preparing acquisition plans, which may include Statement of Work, risks, source selection strategy, inherently governmental functions, budgeting and funding, competition, socio-economic considerations, contract type, contract vehicle, appropriate milestone charts, related schedules and/or other relevant elements of acquisition planning.  Serving as a liaison to program officials in acquisition planning. 
• Providing guidance to a technical evaluation team concerning the proper evaluation techniques pertinent to the respective acquisition. 
• Evaluating contractor claims, supporting the writing of the Contracting Officer determinations, and resolving contractor disputes when necessary.  Interpreting contract provisions for contractors and for Gallery officials and providing appropriate advice and guidance. 

Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation.
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on OPM Website. It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit appropriate documentation prior to the closing date. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant experience as it relates to this job announcement. Be clear and specific when describing your work history since human resources cannot make assumptions regarding your 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; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Your resume must include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week.

Qualifications

Individual Occupational Requirements

Basic Requirements for GS-5 through GS-12

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.

   Applicants who meet the criteria for Superior Academic Achievement qualify for positions at the GS-7 level.

Specialized Experience Statement for GS-11: Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in responsibility to the GS-09 level in the Federal service or private sector, assisting with administering contracts using formal advertising/negotiation procedures; conducting price/cost analysis; reviewing the soundness of proposals submitted by vendors; applying knowledge of statutory/regulatory requirements when making procurement decisions; AND developing materials using Microsoft Office Suite to support conferences, seminars, and meetings for pre-award/post-award acquisition matters. 

Specialized Experience Statement for GS-12: Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in responsibility to the GS-11 level in the Federal service or private sector, administering contracts using formal advertising/negotiation procedures; conducting price/cost analysis techniques for procurement actions; identifying, analyzing the soundness of proposals submitted by vendors; applying knowledge of statutory/regulatory requirements when making procurement decisions; AND developing materials using Microsoft Office Suite to support meetings, presentations and seminars for pre-award/post-award acquisition matters. 

You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows at the GS-11 level. 

• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; or a LL.M., if related; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. -OR-
• Combination of education and experience as described above. Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first two years of full-time study may be credited). One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours the graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. If the graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study is not available, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) is used. When crediting education that requires specific course work the number of hours of related courses required, as a proportion of the total education, is prorated.

Other Relevant Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must possess or be eligible for a FAC-C (Professional) certification in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) FAC-C Certification Standards or equivalent Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification standards or can achieve certification according to FAI or DAWIA standards within twelve months from the date of appointment to this position.  Please indicate in your resume your level and source (FAI, DAWIA) of certification or eligibility for consideration. 

How you will be evaluated

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

Your resume will be used to evaluate your experience, education, and/or training that address the competencies below: 

• Knowledge of various types of contracts, techniques or requirements. 
• Knowledge of the principles and methods for developing an integrated acquisition management plan that describes the business, technical, and support strategies. 
• Skill in expressing information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information. 
• Skill in writing in a clear, concise, organized and convincing manner for the intended audience. 
• Skill in identifying problems; determining accuracy and relevance of information; using sound judgement to generate and evaluate alternatives, and making recommendations. 

A Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to determine if your qualifications meet the criteria for referral to the selecting official. 

Note: Applicants who are referred to the hiring office for selection consideration may be required to submit writing and/or work samples as part of the interview/selection process. If the hiring office decides to request a writing and/or work sample as part of its selection process, the vacancy contact will reach out to you by email to: (1) inform you of this requirement; and (2) provide further instructions.

• Your resume should include relevant work experience, applicable education and your contact information. For current or previous federal employees, include the pay plan, series and grade.
• Transcripts may support your qualifications for a federal job and can include high school, college or other schools.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your Resume (no more than 2 pages) showing the applicant's name, email address, work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed to include pay plan, series, and grade level for relevant federal experience. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications.

• Do not include the following types of information in your resume:
  • Classified or government sensitive information
  • Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Photos of yourself
  • Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
  • Encrypted and digitally signed documents

2. Other supporting documents:
   • Cover Letter, optional
   • Most recent Performance Appraisal, optional
   • Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.) If you are a veteran and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility.
     If you are a veteran and you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference click here.
   • Unofficial school transcripts, if the position has an education requirement or if you are using education to qualify. If selected for the position, you must provide an official transcript before appointment. Proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable.
   • FAC-C (Professional) certification, please include a copy of your certification with your application. 

Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. 

Next steps