Contract Specialist - UNICOR Job

Vacancy No. CO-2025-0290 Department Justice, Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System
Salary $73,939.00 to $115,213.00 Grade 11 to 12
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 9/12/2025 Close Date 9/19/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Aliceville, ALTalladega, ALForrest City, ARPhoenix, AZ


Summary

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

• BOP Reassignment Eligible nationwide are those who are not required to “compete”. The full performance level of this position determines your eligibility. • DOJ Surplus and Displaced (CTAP) Employees in the local commuting area. • Division: Federal Prison Industries, Procurement Branch, Central Office, Washington, DC • Duty Location: To Be Determined During Selection - (Duty Locations found in Other Information Section)

Duties

Serves as a Contract Specialist for Federal Prisons Industries, Inc. (trade name UNICOR), a wholly owned Federal Government Corporation.

Responsible for the negotiation, administration, termination and close-out of contracts for raw materials, supplies, services, equipment and leases procures for Central Office use and UNICOR-wide usage.

Responsible for considering facts and circumstances including detailed costs and price analysis of various elements in contractors’ proposals.

Responsible for assisting in the development of an advanced procurement planning system.

Plans negotiation strategy, conducts and leads negotiations conducted with contractors to develop rates, terms and delivery.

In negotiating contracts, uses expert judgement and skill in obtaining a contract frame-work to accommodate subsequent developments and modifications without excessive cost to the Government.

Mastered sophisticated contracting procedures and techniques sufficient to procure critical agency mission requirements which are long-term and require planning for successive program stages or production planning, and knowledge of the complete range of contract administration functions.

Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with the responsibility for maintaining security of the institution. The staff correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and is performed on a regular and recurring basis.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is Required.
  • See Special Conditions of Employment Section.

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP eligibility, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP 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 score 85 or better on established ranking criteria. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: Click Here

Qualifications

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements:

Basic Requirements:

A. A four (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.

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.

NOTE: Current federal employees not employed by the Bureau of Prison and former Bureau of Prison Employees MUST submit documentation (i.e., SF-50(s) covering the period from January 1, 2000) for verification of the above referenced exception criteria to receive consideration. Failure to provide these documents will result in non-consideration for this vacancy.

AND

In addition to the basic requirements you must also meet the following:

Education:

GS-11: Three full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

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.

Acceptability of Higher Education: Education such as foreign education, home study and correspondence courses, academic credit for work experience, military education, continuing education units, life experience, etc, is acceptable to the extent that it is determined to be equivalent to conventional higher education programs of U.S. institutions.

GS-12: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12 level.

OR

Experience:

GS-11 and GS-12: In addition to the basic requirements in paragraph A or B, above, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level in federal service. To be creditable, this experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular qualifications to perform successfully the duties of the position and must typically be in or related to the position to be filled.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are:

GS-11:

  • Experience negotiating terms and conditions of contracts, including selection of proper clauses, such as, terminations for convenience or default of the government.
  • Experience with reviewing and evaluating contractors' quotes or proposals, including analysis of individual elements of price or cost; to develop rationale and criteria to substantiate awards of complex contract actions for technical support.
  • Experience in disciplines such as manufacturing requirements planning (MRP), contract law, program management, financial management, and property management, sufficient to fulfill the contractual requirement in each discipline.
  • Experience that demonstrates the understanding of business and industry practices and trends, knowledge of sources of supply and cost factors, and knowledge of terminology of supplies, equipment and maintenance.

GS-12:

  • Experience reviewing requests for the procurement of complex equipment, services, and/or construction.
  • Experience performing price analysis, analyzing commercial pricing practices applicable to assigned commodities and economic development relative to increased material, labor, or transportation costs as reflected in prices indices.
  • Experience planning and conducting negotiations on price, technical requirements, terms and condition of contract.
  • Experience in formally advertised contracts, conducting public bid openings, analyzing bids received, making necessary investigation to determine bidder' qualifications, and making contract award within delegated limits.
  • Experience as a technical expert and advisor to management, customers, and contractors in disciplines such as manufacturing relative to the market, the industry, specifications, socioeconomic concerns, and similar matters.
  • Experience preparing initial agency position on protests from unsuccessful bidders and renders or recommends a decision.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience:

GS-11 only: Have a combination of education and experience. This experience must have equipped you with the qualifications to perform the major duties of this position as described above.

If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as number of hours worked per week) spent in the activities.

**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.**

Education

See Qualifications Section for education requirements, if applicable.

ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here.

Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.

Additional information

This position IS included in the bargaining unit.

In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3307, a maximum entry age of 36 has been established for initial appointment to a position in a Bureau of Prisons institution.   

The representative rate for this position is $97,485 per annum ($46.71 per hour).

Special Conditions of Employment Section:

Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a urinalysis, physical, and background investigation.  All applicants are subject to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit checks.

All applicants not currently working in an institution will be required to complete a qualification inquiry regarding convictions of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence in order to be authorized to carry a firearm.

The Core Value Assessment (CVA) is an in-person assessment that must be facilitated at a Bureau of Prisons Human Resource Servicing office.  On the day of the scheduled interview, a CVA will be administered.  The applicant assessment must be completed within a 70 minute time period and a passing score must be obtained.  Further employment consideration will not be extended if the applicant fails to complete the examination or fails to achieve a passing score.  Note: The Core Value Assessment will not be administered to current BOP employees.

Successful completion of the "Introduction to Correctional Techniques," three-week training course at Glynco, Georgia is required.

The addresses listed on the USAJOBS account/resume must be the primary residence at the time of application.  You may be required to provide proof of residence.

Additional selections may be made if vacancies occur within the life of the certificate.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Exceptions may apply. See 5 CFR part 11.

Salary Range:  

Salary reflected on this vacancy announcement is for the “Rest of the U.S.”; however, the selectee’s salary may be higher based on the worksite/duty station of the appointee. See Salary Tables for your location.  

Duty Locations:

Aliceville, AL

Allenwood, PA

Ashland, KY

Atwater, CA

Bastrop, TX

Beaumont, TX

Beckley, WV

Bennettsville, SC

Bryan, TX

Butner, NC

Coleman, FL

Cumberland, MD

Edgefield, SC

El Reno, OK

Englewood, CO

Fairton, NJ

Forrest City, AR

Fort Dix, NJ

Gilmer, WV

Greenville, IL

Hazelton, WV

Jesup, GA

La Tuna, TX

Leavenworth, KS

Lompoc, CA

Manchester, KY

Marianna, FL

Marion, IL

Montgomery, AL

Miami, FL

Milan, MI

Oakdale, LA

Pekin, IL

Phoenix, AZ

Pollock, LA

Safford, AZ

Sandstone, MN

Schuylkill, PA

Seagoville, TX

Talladega, AL

Tallahassee, FL

Terminal Island, CA

Terre Haute, IN

Texarkana, TX

Victorville, CA

Waseca, MN

Williamsburg, SC

Yazoo City, MS

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.

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.

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.

If your composite score exceeds the average score for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your online assessment responses and utilized to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement.  If your selections are not supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

There are several parts of the application process that affect the overall evaluation of your application:

  • Your resume, which is part of your USAJOBS profile;
  • Your responses to the eligibility questions;
  • Your responses to the online assessment;
  • Your supporting documentation, if required.

Time-in-Grade: Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements for consideration. You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

If you applied to more than one grade level, BE ADVISED that you may be selected at ANY grade level for which you applied and are found qualified (i.e., if the job is announced at the 9/11 grade levels and you apply for the GS/GL-9 and the GS-11,and you are found qualified at BOTH grade levels, you may be selected at either grade level).

What Competencies/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities are Required for this Position?

The following Competencies/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's) are required:

GS-11 and GS-12:

  • Ability to interpret and apply procurement policies, guidelines and regulations.
  • Ability to communicate in writing.
  • Ability to communicate orally.
  • Knowledge of contract regulations, techniques and administration/formulation procedures.
  • Ability to make decisions regarding contracts.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

Failure to provide legible required documents and/or follow the prescribed format often results in removal from consideration.  If uploading documentation, do not identify/save your documents utilizing a special character such as %, #, @, etc. Documentation should be identified/saved as VA Letter, DD-214, or Transcripts.

  • Resume: Resume showing relevant experience (cover letter optional). Experience that would not normally be part of the Federal employee's position is creditable when documented by satisfactory evidence of qualifying experience (e.g., a memorandum from the manager, Human Resource Manager, SF-52, etc.).
  • To receive credit for experience contained in an application, the experience must be documented:
    • Reflecting start date and end date in month/year format (MM/YYYY) AND
    • Include the number of hours worked per week.
  • SF-50: Current or former Federal employees NOT employed by the Bureau of Prisons MUST submit a copy of their SF-50 Form which shows competitive service appointment, tenure group, and salary. If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof. If you are applying for a higher grade, and your experience was gained at a Federal agency other than the Bureau of Prisons, you MUST provide the SF-50 Form which verifies the length of time you have been in your highest grade and supports your claim for time in grade.
  • Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent appointment.
  • Current federal employees NOT employed by the BOP and former federal employees MUST submit a copy of their latest yearly performance appraisal/evaluation.
  • CTAP, Click Here, if applicable.
  • College transcript: includes the School Name, Student Name, Degree, and Date Awarded (if applicable).
    • NOTE: If you are selected, official transcript(s) will be required prior to your first day.

For more help, visit USAJOBS Help Center - What should I include in my resume?

We cannot be held responsible for incompatible software, delays in mail service, applicant application errors, etc.

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

You must apply through the online application system at www.USAJOBS.gov. Follow the prompts to register, answer a few questions and submit all required documents.

NOTE: It is recommended you limit your resume to 2-pages in preparation for future announcement requirements. Submission of a resume alone is not a complete application. This position may require the completion of additional forms and/or supplemental materials as described under the Required Documents section. Please carefully review the complete job announcement and the "How to Apply" instructions. Failure to provide the required information and/or materials will result in your application not being considered for employment.

Required supporting documentation must be electronically uploaded or transferred from USAJOBS (uploaded).

All required supporting documentation MUST be received by the Consolidated Staffing Unit by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on the closing date of the vacancy announcement. You MUST include the vacancy announcement number on your supporting documentation.

NOTE: Failure to follow these application procedures will result in the applicant losing consideration for this position.

Paper applications: If applying online is impossible, please contact the Consolidated Staffing Unit at the telephone number listed below, prior to the closing date of the announcement for the alternate application procedure.

If applicable see Notice for Preference Eligible Veterans Applicants. 

Contact for Assistance in Applying On-Line:
DOJ, Federal Bureau of Prisons
Consolidated Staffing Unit
346 Marine Forces Drive
Grand Prairie, TX 75051
E-Mail: BOP-HRM-HRSC-ConsolidatedStaffingUnit-S@bop.gov
Phone: 972-352-4200

Agency contact information

CSU
Address
JUSTICE, BUREAU OF PRISONS
Consolidated Staffing Unit
346 Marine Forces Drive
Grand Prairie, Texas 75051
United States

Next steps

We will notify you of the outcome after each step of the application process has been completed. Normally, Selecting Officials will make a selection within 90-days. When deemed necessary, the selection process may be extended up to 180-days from the date the certificate(s) of eligibles (Exception Lists) is generated to make a selection.

Additional Locations

  • Safford, AZ
  • Atwater, CA
  • Lompoc, CA
  • Long Beach, CA
  • Victorville, CA
  • Littleton, CO
  • Coleman, FL
  • Marianna, FL
  • Miami, FL
  • Tallahassee, FL
  • Jesup, GA
  • Greenville, IL
  • Marion, IL
  • Pekin, IL
  • Terre Haute, IN
  • Leavenworth, KS
  • Ashland, KY
  • Manchester, KY
  • Oakdale, LA
  • Pollock, LA
  • Cumberland, MD
  • Milan, MI
  • Sandstone, MN
  • Waseca, MN
  • Yazoo City, MS
  • Butner Federal Correctional Complex, NC
  • Fairton, NJ
  • Fort Dix, NJ
  • El Reno, OK
  • Gregg Township, PA
  • Minersville, PA
  • Bennettsville, SC
  • Edgefield, SC
  • Salters, SC
  • Bastrop, TX
  • Beaumont, TX
  • Bryan, TX
  • La Tuna, TX
  • Seagoville, TX
  • Texarkana, TX
  • Beaver, WV
  • Bruceton Mills, WV
  • Glenville, WV
  • Morgantown, WV


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


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