Contract Specialist/Contracting Officer Representative (COR) Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. DE-12546968-24JR-HRC0847527 Department Department of State - Agency Wide
Salary $99,200.00 to $153,354.00 Grade 12 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/23/2024 Close Date 11/5/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

This position is located in the Bureau of Consular Affairs (CA), Office of the Executive Director, General Services Division (CA/EX/GSD), Washington DC.

As a Contract Specialist you will provide contract administration, procurement planning, competitive market analysis, and other contracting services in support of CA programs and operations. You will define deliverables in terms of quality and quantity and review
work products for compliance with requirements.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. This public notice is to gather applications that may or may not result in a referral or selection.

Duties

  • Contract Oversight and Management: Oversee the technical and financial performance of contractors supporting the Global Support Strategy (GSS) IDIQ contract.
  • Contract Oversight and Management: Ensure compliance with contract terms and conditions, including the review and approval of contractor invoices, deliverables, and performance metrics.
  • Pre-Award and Post-Award Contract Support: Collaborate with the Contracting Officer to develop pre-award documentation, including Statements of Work (SOW), technical evaluation criteria, and cost estimates.
  • Pre-Award and Post-Award Contract Support: Participate in the source selection process, providing expertise to ensure the selection of the most capable contractor.
  • Problem Resolution: Identify, address, and resolve any challenges related to contractor performance. This includes issuing stop-work orders, contract modifications, and managing corrective actions as needed to ensure seamless contract execution.
  • Training and Mentorship: Monitor and provide oversight to CA CORs across the organization. Ensure that all CORs are appropriately trained and maintain the required certifications to manage assigned contracts effectively.
  • Market Analysis: Perform market research and analysis to identify potential contractors and assess market trends. Advise on innovative procurement approaches to support the dynamic needs of the Bureau.
  • Global Coordination: Work closely with embassies, consulates, and program managers to ensure smooth operations of GSS and related projects across global locations.
  • Performance Reporting: Develop and implement tracking systems for contractor performance and provide regular updates to senior management regarding contract status and any emerging risks or issues.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
  • Maintain or able to obtain COR Level lll Certification within 12 months of appointment.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.

Qualifications

This announcement will close at 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/05/2024, or 11:59 PM (ET) the day when 50 applications are received, which may be sooner than the closing date. Applicants must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

All applicants must meet one of the following basic requirements:

GS-12 BASIC REQUIREMENT: To be considered for this position, you must demonstrate that you meet the basic requirement:
A. Successful completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field. (You must submit transcripts.)
OR
B. Successful completion of 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. (You must submit transcripts.)
OR
C. 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. (You must submit SF-50(s) as documentation.)

GS-13 BASIC REQUIREMENT: To be considered for this position, you must demonstrate that you meet the basic requirement:
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 successful completion of 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. (You must submit transcripts.)
OR
B. Held a position in the GS-1102 series since January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy GS-1102 positions at grade 13 or higher will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions classified at GS-13 or higher. Applicants must have continually held this occupational series since January 1, 2000. (You must submit SF-50(s) as documentation.)

In addition to meeting one of the Basic Requirements listed above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications Requirement in order to be considered:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience for the grade level to which you are applying:

GS-12
Specialized Experience: Must have at least one full-time year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (or comparable level of experience from outside the Federal service) performing ALL of the following duties:
  1. Conducting market or price analysis to determine availability of products, producers, or reasonable of prices;
  2. Performing contracting activities such as bid scheduling, preparing the solicitation, determining sources to be solicited, negotiating terms, or awarding or terminating contracts;
  3. Monitoring contractor performance in relation to compliance with contract terms; and
  4. Assisting with preparing briefings and reports for high-level business leaders and Government officials.
GS-13
Specialized Experience: Must have at least one full-time year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (or comparable level of experience from outside the Federal service) performing ALL of the following duties:
  1. Conducting market or price analysis to determine availability of products, producers, or reasonable of prices;
  2. Performing contracting activities such as bid scheduling, preparing the solicitation, determining sources to be solicited, making recommendations for vendors, negotiating terms, reallocating resources, or awarding or terminating contracts;
  3. Developing procurement objectives in terms of competition and price range and appropriate contractual vehicle;
  4. Developing systems and milestones for evaluating performance of contractors for compliance with terms and conditions of contracts; and
  5. Preparing and presenting briefings and reports to high-level business leaders, industry leaders, and Government officials.
There is no education substitute for specialized experience at the GS-12 or GS-13 levels.

Your resume must CLEARLY demonstrate this experience. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work performed through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

It is your responsibility to provide documentation that you meet the education qualification(s) you claim. If you do not submit transcripts we will not use your claimed education when determining if you are qualified for the position. If a relevant course is not clearly qualifying (e.g. special topic, seminar, research, thesis, obscure or misleading course title, etc.), please submit an official course syllabi and/or detailed course description from the university/college for that particular course to ensure you are properly evaluated. Please note that qualifications determinations are based solely on the information submitted for each particular vacancy announcement.

Transcripts: You may submit official or unofficial transcripts as part of the application process. If selected, an official/sealed college transcript(s) will be required to verify education prior to employment. A transcript is a copy of your permanent academic record and includes:

  • Your full name.
  • The name of the college, university, or other educational institution.
  • Your major and degree.
  • The date your degree was awarded/conferred.
  • Your cumulative grade point average (GPA).
  • Any honors you received.
  • The dates you attended the school.
  • A list of the courses you took, to include the total number of credits completed.
Academic degrees must be granted from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. To determine if a school or program is accredited, refer to the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in 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 interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For more information, click here. There are private organizations that specialize in this evaluation and a fee is normally associated with this service. For a list of private organizations that evaluate education, visit the NACES website. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation and list the specific courses taken as part of the foreign education program to be considered complete.

Additional information

If eligible, telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. Employee participation is at the discretion of the supervisor.

If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed.

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) / Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) provides eligible surplus and/or 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 surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP/ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP/ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and have a final assessment score of 85 or better. You must provide proof of eligibility with your application. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of CTAP/ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility click here.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, non-career SES, or Presidential appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Veterans' Preference does not apply when selecting individuals under a Direct-Hire Authority (DHA). When agencies select individuals under DHA, the law allows agencies to hire them without regard to sections 5 U.S.C. 3309-3318, which eliminates the requirement for applying veterans' preference. Qualified candidates with veterans' preference can be selected as they are found, just as any qualified non-preference eligible candidate would be.

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.

Your application package will be evaluated under a Direct-Hire Authority (DHA). DHA enables an agency to hire, after public notice is given, any qualified applicant without regard to 5 U.S.C 3309-3318, 5 CFR part 211, or 5 CFR part 337, subpart A. A DHA expedites hiring by eliminating competitive rating and ranking, veterans' preference, and "rule of three" procedures. DHA must comply with public notice requirements under 5 U.S.C. 3327 and 3330, career transition requirements (CTAP/ICTAP) under 5 CFR part 330, and basic qualification requirements for the position under 5 CFR part 338. For more information about Direct-Hire Authority click here.

Once the announcement closes, a review of your resume will be conducted and compared against your responses to the assessment questions to determine if you are qualified for this job. Note: Responses to questions that are not fully supported by the information in your resume may result in adjustments to your rating. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

Your resume, transcripts (if applicable), and all supporting documentation you submit, to include your responses to the questionnaire, will be used to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications (specialized experience) listed in this announcement. If you rate yourself higher than what is supported by the documentation you submit, you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If it is determined you meet the minimum qualification (specialized experience) requirements, you will be referred to the selecting officials. Under the provisions of the Direct Hire Authority, category rating and veterans' preference do not apply; therefore, your responses to the questionnaire will not be used to determine a scored rating. Instead, all applicants who are determined to meet the minimum qualifications (specialized experience), as defined by this announcement, will be referred to the selecting officials for consideration.

To preview the Application Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12546968.

Required Documents

This announcement will close at 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/05/2024, or 11:59 PM (ET) the day when 50 applications are received, which may be sooner than the closing date. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration.

You must submit a complete Application Package including:

  • Resume showing relevant work/volunteer experience, education and training. Include the following for each position: Company or agency name, Start and end dates (from month/year to month/year), total hours worked per week, position title, duties performed, and if the position is/was Federal, include the pay plan-series-grade level. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must support your answers to the completed online assessment questions.
  • A complete Assessment Questionnaire.
  • Other Supporting Documents/Certifications, if applicable to you:
  • Transcripts: If qualifying based on education and you do not submit transcripts, as outlined in the Education section, we will not use your claimed education when determining if you are qualified for the position. If selected, an official/sealed college transcript(s) will be required to verify education prior to employment.
  • SF-50s: If you are claiming the exception to the 1102 series due to a position you occupied on January 1, 2000: You must submit a copy of your SF-50(s) to support your claim. (See Qualifications section above for more detail.)
  • Although veterans' preference does not apply under Direct Hire Authority, applicants are encouraged to provide documentation of their eligibility. Veterans' Preference Documentation:
    • If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Parent or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF-15, and if applicable, a completed SF-15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans' Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability.
    • If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement date from active duty, 2) your discharge will be under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, and 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.
    • If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF-15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives.
  • CTAP/CTAP documentation, if applicable (e.g., reduction-in-force (RIF) separation notice, RIF separation SF-50 personnel action, certification of expected separation, etc.). Visit our agency's ICTAP and CTAP eligibility information sites for more information and required application documentation.
Carefully read and follow the instructions outlined in this announcement. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility to be considered for this announcement and/or qualifications for the position. Failure to submit a complete Application Package may result in an ineligible rating.

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

Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin your application. To apply for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the Required Documents section. You must submit a complete Application Package by 11:59 PM (ET) on 11/05/2024 or earlier to be considered. (This announcement will close at 11:59 PM (ET) the day when 50applications are received, which may be sooner than the closing date.) The application process is as follows:

STEP 1: Select the "Apply" button and follow the instructions to register or sign into USAJOBS.

STEP 2: Submit your resume. Please see the Required Documents section for specific information that should be outlined in your resume.

STEP 3: Complete the online assessment questions.

STEP 4: Submit all required documentation applicable to you, as listed in the Required Documents section.

STEP 5: Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement 11/05/2024, or earlier since this announcement will close at 11:59 PM (ET) the day when 50 applications are received, which may be sooner than the closing date.

To learn how to view the status of your submitted supporting documentation and application, visit the Application Instructions section of our agency's Civil Service selection process site.

To verify your application is complete: Log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To see your application and job status: After you apply for the job, return to your USAJOBS account where you can check your application status by clicking the Track this application link. Your application status page is where you can view your application status and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. USAJOBS shows the job status on your Dashboard.

It is applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and uploaded, (i.e., resume, veteran's documentation, completed assessment, and SF-50's) is received and accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. If a document is not in legible format, applicant will not be able to view it in Application Manager which means applicant must again upload by the closing date of this announcement.

NOTE: If a document is resubmitted, it replaces the previous submission, which means the previous document is no longer available to the Human Resources Office. If you are adding to, rather than replacing a previous submission, you must upload both the old document and the new document. You must verify that uploaded documents from USAJOBS transfer into the Agency's staffing system as there is a limitation to the number of documents that can be transferred. However, once in the Agency's staffing system, you will have the opportunity to upload additional documents. Applicants may combine all like required documents (e.g. SF-50s or veteran docs) into one or more files and scan for uploading into the application. Each file must not exceed 5MB. Grouping like documents into files will simplify the application process. Documents must be in one of the following formats: GIF, JPEG, JPG, PDF, PNG, RTF, or Word (DOC or DOCX). Uploaded documents may not require a password, digital signature, or other encryption to open.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, please contact Midwest Services Branch. You must submit a complete application by the close of the announcement.

Agency contact information

Midwest Services Branch
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

After all application packages are received, we will review applications and evaluate applicants' qualifications. Your application will be reviewed to verify that you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements for the position as described in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted. Log in to your USAJOBS to check your application status.

Your application status will be updated up to four times during the following hiring phases:

  1. After applications are received.
  2. After applications are assessed to determine qualifications.
  3. After candidates are referred to the hiring manager.
  4. After a selection is made.
For the selected candidates who receive a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability review and/or security background investigation that generally takes an average of at least two to six months.

Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions (same series and grade) in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.


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


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