Requirements
Conditions of employment
- This announcement serves as public notice. Applications will be placed into a pool and will remain on file for selection as positions become available.
- Vacancies may be filled up to 6 months after the closing date of this announcement. You may not receive notification of referral status until the full 6-month eligibility period has elapsed.
- STEM position(s) are being filled through the Office of Personnel Management's delegated Direct Hire Authority and are open to all U.S. citizens.
- Selections made under this bulletin will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees selected under this bulletin will be processed as new appointments to the civil service.
- Under the provisions of the Direct Hire Authority, Veterans Preference and the "Rule of Many" do not apply.
- U.S. Citizenship is required. Selective Service Registration is required, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
- Fingerprinting and background and/or security investigation may be required. Job offers are contingent on fingerprinting and background / security investigation results.
- See QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED and REQUIRED DOCUMENTS for other important information.
- You must submit a resume (2 page maximum) that shows your name and contact information and includes full TO and FROM dates (month/day/year) for each position you describe. Include your grade if your position is federal.
Qualifications
To meet Minimum Qualifications for this Contract Specialist position you must demonstrate:
(1) the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) for the federal GS-1102 series AND
(2) at least 52 weeks of *Specialized Experience
For GS-11 ONLY: you may substitute a Ph.D. (or equivalent doctoral degree) OR at least 3 academic years of successfully completed progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. (or equivalent doctoral degree) in a course of study that directly reflects the job-related competencies for this position for Specialized Experience. (See GS-11 requirements below.)
(1) INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT (IOR) (All Applicants)
A. Successful completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field
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
Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on 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.
AND
(2) SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE (by grade)
FOR GS-11: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE must have been gained in a federal position at or above GS-09 OR (if your position is on another federal pay scale OR outside of federal service) by performing duties at a level of responsibility and difficulty equivalent to GS-09 or above.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is work that primarily consists of performing pre- and post-award contract functions, including procurement planning, negotiation strategies and contract administration.
**If you have this experience, your resume must describe, in your own words, the specific duties you perform that demonstrate it. If your experience was gained in the federal government, you must upload an SF-50 documenting your grade at the time experience was gained.**
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE can be demonstrated by:
· Soliciting and evaluating competitive proposals, including reviewing prices and costs;
· Managing contract administration functions such as partial/progress payments, deliverables management, contract modifications, and contract closeouts;
· Planning and carrying out pre-award and post-award contract functions;
· Applying federal and agency acquisition regulations, procedures, and precedent decisions to ensure compliance;
· Negotiating prices, terms and conditions, and contract modifications;
· Awarding cost reimbursement and performance-based contracts for materials, systems, services, or equipment.
In lieu of Specialized Experience, you may qualify for GS-11 with a Ph.D. in a course of study that directly reflects the job-related competencies necessary for this position. This education must be separate from and in addition to education used to support the IOR.
In lieu of Specialized Experience or a Ph.D. you may qualify for GS-11 with at least 3 academic years of successfully completed progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. (or equivalent degree) in a course of study that directly reflects the job-related competencies for this position. This education must be separate from and in addition to education used to support the IOR.
In lieu of the full amount of Specialized Experience or the full amount of Optional Education, you may qualify for GS-11 with a portion of each that can be combined to meet the full requirement. Only successfully completed education beyond the second year of graduate studies can be used for this option and it must be separate from and in addition to the education used to meet the IOR. Experience used in combination with education must also be in addition to the experience used in IOR Option B. (HR will determine if the combination of experience and education is sufficient to meet the requirements.)
*************************************************
FOR GS-12: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE must have been gained in a federal position at or above GS-11 OR (if your position is on another federal pay scale OR outside of federal service) by performing duties at a level of responsibility and difficulty equivalent to GS-11 or above.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is work that primarily consists of performing pre- and post-award contract functions for complex or high-value procurements, including procurement planning, negotiation strategies and contract administration, with responsibility for independently managing the full acquisition lifecycle and resolving complex contracting issues.
**If you have this experience, your resume must describe, in your own words, the specific duties you perform that demonstrate it. If your experience was gained in the federal government, you must upload an SF-50 documenting your grade at the time experience was gained.**
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE can be demonstrated by:
· Planning and carrying out pre-award and post-award contract functions for a variety of acquisitions;
· Reviewing acquisition requests and recommending contracting strategies to meet program needs and ensure cost effectiveness;
· Applying federal and agency acquisition regulations, procedures, and precedent decisions to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;
· Negotiating prices, terms and conditions, and contract modifications for moderately complex contracts;
· Administering contracts, including managing payments, deliverables, modifications, and contract closeouts;
· Awarding cost reimbursement, performance-based, or fixed-price contracts for materials, systems, services, or equipment
Education cannot be substituted for Specialized Experience at this grade.
Since Specialized Experience also has a time component, it must be evident that the duties you describe are at the required level for at least 52 weeks.
Reviewers cannot assume you perform duties you don't describe.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (IOR and Specialized Experience for GS-12 / IOR and Specialized Experience and/or Optional Education for GS-11) must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
SEE EDUCATION AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Information on this job series can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1100/contracting-series-1102/
Education
This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) that must be met and demonstrated by all applicants (see QUALIFICATIONS).
To satisfy the IOR, submit a copy of your full transcript(s), even if you already hold a federal 1102 series position.
Your transcript(s) must show your name, the name of the school, the program in which you were enrolled and your degree (or completion of *creditable courses). If you attended more than one college or university, submit transcripts for all schools attended.
*Since course titles do not always indicate that a course pertains to a creditable curriculum you are advised to highlight qualifying courses on your transcript to ensure that consideration is given.*
Transcripts that do not show that a Degree was conferred cannot be considered to have resulted in a Degree. Check your transcript to be sure this information is shown.
Unofficial transcripts or screenshots of electronic/web transcripts with the required information will be accepted at the time of application. CHECK YOUR UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT TO CONFIRM IT SHOWS THE REQUIRED INFORMATION. You must upload your transcripts as part of your application. Documents will not be accepted via email or regular mail.
APPLICANTS FOR GS-11: Note that education used in lieu of (or in addition to) Specialized Experience must be separate from and in addition to education used to support the IOR. (See QUALIFICATIONS)
Graduate Education. To qualify for GS-1102 positions on the basis of graduate education, graduate education in one or a combination of the following fields is required: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods or organization and management.
One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours the school has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours will be considered an academic year of graduate study.
Foreign Education: If your transcripts show education completed in foreign colleges or universities, you must also provide documentation 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 a conventional/accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.
If selected, you may be required to provide your official college transcripts prior to the effective date of your appointment.
Additional information
STEM position(s) are being filled through the Office of Personnel Management's delegated Direct Hire Authority and are open to all U.S. citizens. Selections made under this Direct Hire Authority will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current federal employees will be given a new appointment to the civil service, if selected. Under the provisions of the Direct Hire Authority, Veterans Preference and the "Rule of Many" do not apply.
Additional selections may be made for this vacancy six months from the closing date of this announcement.
If you are a male born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov .
If you are a federal contractor, do not identify yourself as a federal employee.
OTHER NOTES:
See QUALIFICATIONS and EDUCATION for information on qualifying for this position.
See REQUIRED DOCUMENTS and HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED for information on applying for this position.
This is a non-bargaining unit position.
This position is not authorized to be filled virtually or through outstationing. The Official Duty Stations (ODS) for this position is Woodlawn, Maryland.
This position is on a full-time, flex-time schedule; Alternate Work Schedules (AWS) may be authorized.
Telework may be approved after all conditions for telework have been met. To participate in telework, when authorized, you must reside within a 2-hour commute to the assigned ODS.
Relocation expenses will not be paid; salary will be set in accordance with locality pay provisions.
Successful performance of work in this position and adherence to conditions of the position will be assessed during the 1-year probationary period that may be served by new appointees (e.g., new to SSA and/or new to this series).
This is a high-risk public trust position. You may be required to complete SF-85P, Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions to have the appropriate investigation conducted.
Location of position:
SSA-HQ / Woodlawn, Maryland
Office of the Commissioner
Strategic Sourcing
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.
*You will be evaluated on the experience you describe in your resume* as well as the education supported by the transcripts you submit.
Do not simply list projects on which you worked or describe your experience in terms of accomplishments or achievements. You must describe specific duties you perform that pertain to the requirements for this position.
If your resume doesn't clearly describe the duties you perform that demonstrate the required Specialized Experience, you may lose consideration for this position.
The experience you claim is subject to verification by the selecting official.
SEE QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR RESUME AND TRANSCRIPT MUST DEMONSTRATE.
Preview Questions Here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13020029
Information not specifically stated in your resume cannot be assumed. Information copied or restated from the announcement will not be considered. If this occurs, you may be found ineligible.
Applicants who demonstrate the IOR and Specialized Experience will be referred to the hiring manager following *Priority Selection procedures and applicable documents will be forwarded for further review.
Your claimed knowledge, skills and abilities are subject to verification by the selecting official. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation or to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed experience.
PRIORITY SELECTION:
Well-Qualified ICTAP eligibles will receive first consideration IF appropriate supporting documents are provided (see Career Transition Guide AND Required Documents below).
Veterans' Preference is not considered under Direct Hire.
See Required Documents for information on how to support these claims.
Required Documents
Resume -- all applicants
Transcript -- all applicants (may need to submit more than one to demonstrate required courses and/or degree)
SF-50 -- recommended for all current and former federal employees (to assist in proper pay setting, if selected);
required to support grade at the time experience was gained
ICTAP documents -- if claimed (read the information below)
DOCUMENTS PREVIOUSLY UPLOADED TO YOUR USAJOBS ACCOUNT MAY BE OUTDATED AND CAN CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONSIDERATION.
RESUME: You must submit a resume (2-page maximum) that shows
-- your name and contact information
-- relevant education
-- employer name and position held
-- full start and stop dates (month/day/year) for each position
-- full-time or part-time hours worked per week
-- your grade and pay scale (for federal positions) and
- a clear description of the duties you perform that relate to the experience required for this position.
If you no longer hold a position, it must show an ending date.
Since Specialized Experience has a time component, it must be evident that the duties you describe are at the required level for at least 52 weeks.
Do not simply list projects on which you worked or describe experience in terms of accomplishments or achievements. You must describe specific duties you perform that pertain to the requirements for this position.
Information not specifically stated in your resume cannot be assumed.
Information copied or restated from the announcement or rating criteria will not be considered. If this occurs, you may be found ineligible.
If your qualifying experience is part of a federal career-ladder, separate your grade-relevant experience from duties performed at lower grades. Career-ladders described as a single position (even if dates are shown for each grade level) may not satisfy the requirement to demonstrate 52 weeks performing specific work at the required level.
See QUALIFICATIONS for information on what your resume must demonstrate.
TRANSCRIPT -- see QUALIFICATIONS and EDUCATION sections for information on what you must demonstrate. **Since course titles do not always indicate that a course pertains to a creditable curriculum you are advised to highlight qualifying courses on your transcript to ensure that consideration is given.**
SF-50 - recommended for all current or former federal employees
ICTAP (Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan) -- only applies to competitive service employees who have been RIF'd from another federal agency. The duty station from which you were RIF'd must be in the local commuting area (i.e., 30-mile radius) of the duty station to which you are applying
To demonstrate eligibility, ICTAP-applicants must provide:
-- RIF NOTICE* (see below) AND
-- RIF SF-50**
*If your RIF NOTICE does not include Performance Appraisal information, you must also submit your most recent Performance Appraisal.
*If your RIF NOTICE is for an upcoming date, also submit a current SF-50 showing your grade, tenure, type of service and duty station for the position you currently hold.
**If your RIF NOTICE is for a previous date, also submit your RIF / Final SF-50 showing the date the RIF was effective and your grade, tenure, type of service and duty station at the time of the RIF.
For more information see Career Transition (opm.gov)
Priority placement will be granted based on the documents received.