Summary
This open continuous public notice may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across NNSA as needed. Therefore, applicants must meet the qualifications at the time the applications are submitted. This public notice may or may not result in a referral or selection.
Note: The salary range listed reflects base pay only. The actual salary will be based on the geographic location (to include locality pay) and pay band for which selected.
Clarification from the agency
This position is announced under Direct Hire Authority for Contract Specialist positions. Veteran's Preference, category rating, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply under the Direct Hire process.
Duties
As a Contract Specialist (Open Continuous), you will contribute contracting expertise on assigned tasks, projects, and program management efforts related to NNSA programs.
Complexity of duties increase with experience and grade level. Major duties may include:
- Determining the contractual policy and procedural approach, including type of contract, fee application, required contractor qualifications and experience, solicitation, available funding, and approval and final authorization. Analyzing requirements for contractor selection and negotiation processes, and prepares actions for establishment of Source Evaluation Teams, Negotiation Teams or Boards. Preparing Request for Proposals and other required solicitation documents.
- Developing special terms and conditions for solicitation documents and contracts and provides guidance to NNSA staff in their use. Receiving contractor proposals and, in conjunction with the Source Evaluation Team/Board, evaluates contractor proposals on the basis of experience, capabilities, efficiency of operations, etc. Preparing Team/Board selection findings for submission to the selecting official.
- Conducting negotiations on complex, large-scale, long-term multi-million-dollar contracts. Developing contracts, modifications, MOUs, IAs, or other types of contractual arrangements.
- Preparing, as required, the termination of contracts for the convenience of the government or default by the contractor.
- Other duties as assigned.
Vacancies filled under this public notice may have varying levels of promotion potential, if any. Positions may be filled at varying levels of leadership (i.e., Team Lead, Manager, Supervisor).
Conditions of Employment
- Subject to Random Drug Testing
- Must pass a pre-employment drug test.
- Subject to satisfactory security and suitability requirements.
- Financial Disclosure is required.
- The vacancies filled through these appointments have varying levels of background investigative requirements, up to a Top Secret -DOE "Q" clearance.
- You must be a United States Citizen.
- This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
- All males born after December 31st, 1959, must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.
- Compliance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12) governing personal identity which will require that you provide two forms of identification.
- If you are a current federal employee, appointed under the direct-hire authority, you will be given a new appointment.
- You will be required to serve a mandatory one (1) year probationary period unless you meet the exceptions in 5 CFR, part 315.802.
- A valid Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification is equivalent to a FAC-C at the same certification level, provided the FAC-C education and continuous learning requirements have been met. Certification requirements may be viewed at Contracting (FAC-C) | FAI.GOV
Qualifications
IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS OPEN CONTINUOUS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT:
- This is an open continuous vacancy announcement that will be used to fill vacancies as they occur.
- To receive consideration for vacancies, applicants must submit complete applications prior to the established cut-off date(s). An initial cut-off will take place on April 20, 2023 to begin initial applicant consideration. Applications received after the initial cut-off date will be considered upon receipt of the next cut-off date. The established cutoff dates are as follows:
- April 20th, 2023
- May 4, 2023
- May 18th, 2023
- June 1, 2023
- June 15, 2023
- July 3, 2023
- July 24, 2023
- August 14, 2023
- September 5, 2023
- September 26, 2023
NOTE: The period of eligibility for applications is through each cut-off date. The agency will issue a list of eligible applicants at each cut-off date to hiring officials within the period of eligibility. To be considered for each cut-off, a new application must be submitted. Applicants may make changes to applications to ensure experience is current.
You must meet the Basic Requirement listed in the "Education Requirements" section and the "Specialized Experience" to qualify for this series as described below.
Specialized Experience Requirements:
The specialized experience listed are the minimum requirements for the series, each particular vacancy may have additional experience necessary to meet the applicable grade level. A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower NNSA pay band level or GS grade level in the Federal Service.
NQ-02 (GS-11/12 equivalent): Applicant must possess one year of specialized experience to at least the NQ-01 (GS-09) grade level under the General Schedule (GS) or other pay systems. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Experience: 1.) Performing detailed analysis of bid received to determine bid responsiveness and responsibility of the offer; 2.) Negotiating contract modifications and/or 3.) Preparing and issues solicitation documents. OR
3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. OR
A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience.
NQ-03 (GS-13/14 equivalent): Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience to at least the NQ-02 (GS-12) grade level under the General Schedule (GS) or other pay systems. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Experience developing and executing acquisitions for a wide variety of products and services.
NQ-04 (GS-15 equivalent): Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience to at least the NQ-03 (GS-14) grade level under the General Schedule (GS) or other pay systems. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: directing the day-to-day management activities and providing leadership to a medium size organization engaged in procurement and administration of complex, large scale, long-term multi-billion-dollar contracts.
NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the NQ-03/GS-13 level and above.
For additional reference, please refer to the OPM qualifications standard for GS-1102: General Schedule Qualification Standards-1100 Contracting Series-1102
"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.
You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
Basic Requirements for NQ-2/GS-11 through GS-12
A. A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field; OR
B. 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.
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.
Note: For positions at GS-07 through GS-12, applicants who are qualifying based on experience must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level, that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position, in addition to meeting the basic requirements in paragraph A or B, above.
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.
Basic Requirements for NQ-03/GS-13 and Above
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' 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
B. 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. 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, unless granted a waiver under Paragraph D.
D. Waiver: When filling a specific vacant position, the senior procurement executive of the selecting agency, at his or her discretion, may waive any or all of the requirements of Paragraphs A and B above if the 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. With respect to each waiver granted under this Paragraph D, the senior procurement executive must document for the record the basis of the waiver. If an individual is placed in a position in an agency on the basis of a waiver, the agency may later reassign that individual to another position at the same grade within that agency without additional waiver action.
EDUCATION: 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. **If you are selected, official transcripts will be required.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside of the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that the foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. A written evaluation of any foreign education must be provided with your application in response to this vacancy announcement or be received by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to provide this evaluation will result in you being found unqualified for the position. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education, see the Department of Education website, and for a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, visit The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. Please Note: If your foreign education has already been accepted by an accredited U.S. educational institution as part of a degree program with that institution, you do not need to provide an evaluation of foreign education but must submit a copy of the transcripts listing the degree from the U.S. accredited institution that accepted your foreign 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.
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.
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.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
This position is announced under a government wide Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) for Contract Specialist (Open Continuous) positions in the1102 series. Under the DHA, all applicants who meet the Qualification requirements listed in this announcement, at the grade level they are applying, will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration. Veteran's Preference, category rating, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply under the DHA process.
Federal employees eligible for career transition assistance plans such as CTAP, or ICTAP, requesting selection priority, must meet the Qualifications requirements listed in this announcement and be found "well qualified" for the position. Well-qualified is defined as: experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, including any selective factors, demonstrated by proficiency in most of the requirements of the job, requiring only limited training or orientation to perform effectively.
If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', or not qualified,"
If you believe that you are eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), please visit the OPM ICTAP/CTAP website for more information.
Review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit. Some documents may not apply to all applicants. If you are unsure, click the link for each document type to read more.
ALL APPLICANTS: You must submit a resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire.
- Your resume shall list all work experience (paid and unpaid); you must list the full name and address of the each employer.
- For all types of work experience, you shall indicate the start and end dates (include month, day, and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that you worked.
- For paid work experience, you shall indicate your starting salary for each position and the highest salary you earned (if different).
- Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
- You may list all incentive awards on your resume.
Most DOE offices will allow you to submit a resume in the format of your choice (as an attached document or as a USAJOBS Resume Builder format). However, some offices may require one specific format. You will be notified at the time you click 'Apply Online' which type of resume is acceptable. It is important that you are complete and thorough in your resume. If any of the above information is not included in your resume, we may not be able to fully credit you for your experience.
Current and former Federal employees: Most recent SF-50 (Standard Form 50 - Notice of Personnel Action). To properly verify status eligibility, your SF-50 must show the following. If you do not submit an appropriate SF-50, we cannot verify your status eligibility!
- Full position title;
- appointment type;
- occupational series;
- pay plan, grade, and step;
- tenure code; and
- service computation date (SCD).
If your current position SF50 does not indicate you have competitive service status or does not reflect the pay plan and grade of the highest position you have held in the competitive service, in addition to your current SF50, you must provide your previous SF-50s that provide the proof of competitive status and highest grade held on a permanent basis.
For Professional, Scientific and Engineering Positions: If qualifying on the basis of an alternate method, i.e., professional license, you must submit official documentation to support your claim with your application package.
Veterans: veteran eligibility documentation (DD-214 Member #4 Copy, VA Letter, Standard Form (SF) 15 as applicable). Please note: If you are a veteran who has not yet been discharged, you may provide a statement of intent to discharge from your agency to receive Veterans Preference under the VOW (Veterans Opportunity to Work) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011.
Persons with Disabilities: Individuals with intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities may apply for appointment through the Schedule A hiring authority. Certified verification of a disability from a licensed medical professional; a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist; or any Federal, state, or District of Columbia agency or U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits will be required.
Displaced Federal employees who qualify for CTAP/ICTAP: If you are a former Federal employee who was displaced due to a Reduction-in-Force (RIF) or surplused by some other means, please submit a copy of the separation letter or RIF notice from your agency. To be selected under I/CTAP, you must still be found well-qualified for this position. Please see the OPM Guide to Career Transition Click HERE for more information.
Applicants using education to qualify (if allowed): Documentation verifying your educational claims which can include unofficial transcripts. Education cannot be substituted for experience in some positions at higher grade levels. Please see the Education section for more information.
Positive Education requirement: For those positions that have a positive education requirement, you must provide an unofficial transcript to show proof. See the Education section for more information.
Performance Appraisals: Submit your two (2) most recent performance appraisals. Your performance appraisals and incentive awards will be given due consideration in the selection process based on their relation to the duties of the position and the consistency with which they may be considered in evaluating you against other applicants. If the performance appraisals are not available, please provide a written statement of explanation and upload as a separate document.
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration.
The application process is as follows:
- You must have a login.gov account to sign into USAJOBS: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/.
- To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.
- You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.
You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account, select Update Application: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; 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/.
If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/
If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible, to aid technical support.
Next steps
After each step in the recruitment process, your status will be updated in our application tracking system. Once this happens, if you have elected to receive e-mail updates, you will be notified through your USAJOBS registered e-mail address. If you have not elected for e-mail updates, you can review your current application status in USAJOBS at any time. Please check that your USAJOBS profile contact information is current and correct each time you apply to a job--this will ensure we are able to contact you as quickly as possible. In addition to changing your status online, the system will send you e-mail notifications at each major step in the process, to include: application received, eligible or not eligible, referred or not referred, selected or not selected.
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