Summary
This position will be filled through use of TSA's Direct Hire Authority pursuant to TSA MD 1100.30-26. Under the Direct-Hire Authority, category grouping and Veterans' Preference does not apply.
Securing Travel, Protecting People - At the Transportation Security Administration, you will serve in a high-stakes environment to safeguard the American way of life.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Open to All U.S. Citizens and U.S. Nationals
Duties
This Contract Specialist position is located Enterprise Support (ES) Contracting & Procurement (C&P), Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Duties include but are not limited to:
- Independently plans, negotiates, leads, and/or administers complex contracts/procurements of goods, systems or services with specialized, state-of-the-art, critical, or scarce requirements. These are characterized by a lack of any previous cost data, use of a wide variety of cost and fixed-price contracts, multi-year contracts and extensive use of subcontractors, frequent changes in terms conditions or funding arrangements, and similar difficulties. Resolves most problems and work issues without the assistance of others.
- Develops and/or reviews complex contractual pricing arrangements and incentives characterized by multiple incentives requiring sophisticated contracting techniques and sharing arrangements such as cost-plus-incentive-fees or fixed-price-incentive-fees, where the agency and the contractor share cost risk, or economic price adjustment clauses for adjusting labor and material costs where price cannot be reasonably predicted at the time of negotiation. Established policies/procedures provide guidance for most assignments, but allow considerable discretion for employee to select the most appropriate approach(es) or develop new approaches.
- Manages all contractual aspects of a major program requiring long-range procurement planning and administers complex contracts which require day-to-day negotiations of significant contract changes, monitoring numerous special provisions, coordinating extensive subcontracting involvement, and observing rigid time frames. Audits or reviews major acquisitions of similar complexity and presents findings, recommends corrective actions as well as policy or procedure improvements. Contacts are internal and external; however, the incumbent may act as a point of contact to provide advice and guidance on the applications of policies and procedures.
- Monitors contractor performance and a large number of subcontractors while negotiating forward pricing rates and claims, complex changes, and terminations or contract close outs. Serves as termination contracting officer in connection with a major project in which several years of work have been expended. Reviews, advises on, develops and recommends operating unit-wide or agency-wide procurement processes and systems, procedures and policies, or equivalent assignments. Work is reviewed rarely, typically though status reports and at project completion, to ensure policy compliance and alignment with the requirements of projects and/or other work activities.
TSA is seeking highly motivated and experienced Contract Specialists to join our team at the I-Band (GS-13 equivalent) level. In this role at the full Contract Specialist performance level, you will perform the following duties:
- Pre-award, solicitation, administration, and termination of contract awards;
- Acquiring a wide variety of supplies such as systems, IT equipment, commodities, credentials and human capital solutions;
- Purchasing and/or managing a variety of service contracts such as IT support services, financial management services, security equipment services, human capital services, and credential services;
- Developing, implementing and reviewing contracting plans for pre-award, post-award, price/cost analysis and a wide variety of procurement activities;
- Providing technical advice, guidance and legal interpretation in all areas of contracting.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National.
- You must have reached the minimum age (18) at the time of application.
- You must complete a favorable Background Investigation (BI).
- Selective Service registration is required.
- Financial Disclosure required.
- You must comply with education and training requirements for this position.
- See additional "Conditions of Employment" and "Other Information" section.
Conditions of Employment (If applicable): You must comply with education and training requirements for this position see below:
For all 1102 positions at I and Above:
Applicants seeking to meet the training requirements for GS-13 and above in accordance with the OPM 1102 Hiring Qualifications are required to provide the following required documents:
- FAC-C (Professional) certification or equivalent.
FAC-C (Professional) Requirements:
- DHS is adopting a single level of certification with foundational training and an examination, Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) Professional. New hires without certification shall follow the FAC-C (Professional) requirements. Detailed information on core curricula courses is available at Contracting Certification Course Web Series - Defense Acquisition University (dau.edu).
- Federal Acquisition Certification for Contracting Officer's Representative (FAC-COR): A valid, current FAC-C (Professional) is considered to have met the FAC-COR requirements for all levels, however, an individual with FAC-COR certification does not meet the requirements for the FAC-C (Professional).
- DoD Contracting Professional Certification: A valid, current DoD Contracting Professional Certification is equivalent to a FAC-C (Professional).
- Current federal employees certified at Levels I, II, or III of the legacy FAC-C programs will automatically be certified in the FAC-C (Professional).
If you fail to meet the conditions of employment or any other pre-employment requirements, such as missing any of the scheduled appointments, the hiring agency may rescind their tentative offer of employment.
Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.
Qualifications
Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for TSA to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
In addition to the Basic Education Requirements, to qualify for the SV-I Pay Band (equivalent to GS-13), you must have four years of progressively more responsible experience in contracting or related positions. At least 1 year of that experience must have been specialized experience equivalent to at least the SV-H Pay Band or GS-12 Pay Band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private sector. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position to be filled. Specialist experience is defined as:
- Performing a range of contract specializations such as negotiation, cost and price analysis, and administration; and
- Demonstrated experience in contracting principles, techniques, and a knowledge of a variety of contract types; and
- Experience in soliciting, awarding and administering contracts with multiple instances.
Exceptions to Qualification Requirements (Applicable to Internal or Status Applicants Only): As of January 1, 2000, all GS-1102 employees who had continuously encumbered GS-1102 positions are considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy GS-1102 positions at grades GS-5 through GS-12 or equivalent will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified at GS- 12 or SV-H. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade GS-12 or SV-H. However, employees must meet specialized experience requirements when seeking another position.
SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR for the SV-I: Must possess a Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Professional (FAC-C).
Credit for experience is given based on a 40-hour workweek. Part-time experience is credited on a part-time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime.
National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer 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). 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.
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.
Resumes must include the following:
- Narrative description of duties with start and end dates (including the month and year) for work experience.
- State the number of hours worked in a position (i.e. full-time or part-time). If part-time, state the total number of hours worked per week.
- Performance level (i.e. band or grade)
Utilizing the USAJOBS Resume Builder and completing all available fields is strongly encouraged.
You must meet the qualification requirements for this position no later than the closing date of the vacancy announcement.
Education
In addition to the minimum qualifications described above, you must meet the following requirement(s) to be considered qualified for the position:
You must meet all requirements listed below (A, B, C and D), unless you are covered by an exception or an individual training waiver is necessary:
A. Experience: Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS-13 equivalent (or higher) level contracting positions, including at least 4-years' 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. (see section D for specifics).
B. Education: 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.
C. Training Requirements: Applicants seeking to meet the training requirements for GS-13 and Above in accordance with the OPM 1102 Hiring Qualifications are required to provide the following required verification documents: FAC-C (Professional) certification or equivalent.
D. Specialized Experience: Is defined as experience which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.
For positions requiring positive education requirements, or if you are using education to meet all or part of the qualification requirements, you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or an itemized list of college courses from an accredited college or university, which includes equivalent information from the transcript (course title, semester/quarter hours, and grade/degree earned) in your resume. The information must be provided with the application by the closing date of the announcement. If selected, the applicant must supply a transcript or certification of degree.
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.
You will be evaluated based on a comparison of the position requirements against the quality and extent of the experience and/or related education as reflected in your resume and supporting documentation. You are encouraged to ensure work experiences clearly show possession of the competencies required for this position. If, after reviewing your resume and any supporting documentation, a determination is made.
Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. (This position is not considered scientific/professional.) Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on Veterans' Preference.
Required Documents
In addition to a resume and the assessment questions, you must submit copies of any of the following documents if you are applying based on current or former Federal Government Status, Veterans' Preference or eligible Veterans' Service (a veteran who was honorably discharged from the armed forces after completing at least three (3) years of continuous active duty service), or education or a combination of education and experience:
DD-214 - If you are claiming Veterans' Preference or eligible Veterans' Service, provide a copy of your DD-214 (Member Copy 4), Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other appropriate documentation to prove your entitlement and to provide verification of an Honorable Discharge.
SF-15 and VA Letter - If you are claiming Veterans' Preference based upon a Compensable Disability, Widow or Spouse Entitlement, or as a Purple Heart recipient, you must submit your DD-214 or other proof of entitlement; an SF-15, and the required proof of disability, i.e., Department of Veterans Affairs letter dated 1991 or later.
SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action - Current TSA employees are strongly encouraged to submit the most recent non-Award SF-50, at the time of application, to support eligibility for Status consideration. TSA employees who do not submit the SF-50 with the application must document their current TSA position in their resume and may be required to provide the SF-50 document during the selection process. TSA employees may obtain a copy of their most recent non-Award SF-50 at https://eopf.opm.gov/dhs/.
Transcripts - If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed under the Qualifications and Evaluations section, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript(s) with your application. If selected, an official/sealed college transcript(s) will be required to verify education prior to employment.
If you do not submit required documentation described in this job opportunity announcement, your application will be deemed incomplete and you will be ineligible for further consideration for this vacancy.
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
All of the following must be received in our office by 11:59 PM EST (Eastern Standard time) on the closing date of this announcement. If we do not receive all required information by the closing date, your application may not be considered.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. Your application must include:
- Resume
- Self-Assessment Questionnaire for this position
- Applicable supporting documents (see Required Documents Section)
To begin, 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. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
- It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
- Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center.
- We encourage you to apply online. If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, please contact HC-ServeU@tsa.dhs.gov .
Veterans and Persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the documentation that is required, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
Next steps
We will notify you of the outcome of these steps when they have been completed.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
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