Clarification from the agency

PFPA Employees Only

Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following:

• Conducts investigations of post-­blast scenes, and technical investigative guidance and expert advice in support of investigations involving criminal violations of Federal explosives laws while on the Pentagon Reservation or DoD leased facilities.
• Assists in locating explosives and booby traps.
• Identifies the presence of additional hazardous materials which may present a threat to agent, officer, or to public safety.
• Provides any requested sworn testimony or affidavits during all phases of explosives and arson investigations.
• Serves as a training liaison within the Agency as well as with other state and local bomb squads, explosives-detecting canine units, military Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units, federal agencies, and professional associations; compiles and reports technical data on explosive devices and incidents; develops Agency-wide and Pentagon Facilities specific emergency response plans for bomb threats, actual improvised explosive devices, and bombing crime scenes; develops and promulgates bomb threat awareness and safety programs for potentially affected personnel, particularly the Pentagon Facilities workforce.
• Serves as a liaison with other law enforcement, public safety officers and fire service personnel and provides technical investigative assistance and expert advice in support of investigations involving criminal violations of Federal explosives and arson laws.
• Conducts destructive, incendiary device and explosives determinations for PFP A and other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, and providing expertise for other agencies.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
• Must be determined suitable for federal employment
• Required to participate in the direct deposit program
• This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing
• This position is subject to the DoD Priority Placement Program
• The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with SCI and SAP components. A Special Background Investigation (SBI) is required with favorable adjudication by a determining authority.
• This position may require up to 30% occasional travel away from your normal duty station for official business on military or commercial aircraft.
• The incumbent is required to pass a pre-employment and yearly physical examination for this position.
• The incumbent is required to wear protective equipment, i.e., bomb suit, heavy ballistic vest, helmet, SCBA, tyvek suits and respirators, while working in hazardous areas.
• The incumbent must possess and maintain a valid U.S. state driver's license.

Qualifications

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT CONTINUED

1. The employee assigned to this position is designated as a MISSION ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEE. Mission essential employees may be required to report for, or remain at, work in dismissal or closure situations due to adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, or other emergency situations ( e.g., building closure due to power outage) causing disruptions of government operations, and are required to maintain contact with their supervisor during any dismissal or closure situation unless specifically excused by their supervisor.
2. The incumbent may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and/or overtime. This position requires the employee to work rotating shifts, weekends, overtime, holidays and will be subject to call 24 hours a day.
3. This position shall require the employee to carry a firearm. The employee must meet requirements of "Lautenberg Agreement" which outline rules regarding carrying of firearms. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition (Title 18, U.S.C., Section 922(g)(9)).
4. The employee must obtain and maintain a Hazardous Materials Technician certification. Paragraph 4.1.2, of the National Standards for Bomb Squads, requires that all individuals attend Hazardous Materials Technician training before the individual is allowed to attend HDS, OSHA, Code 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(iii) shall receive eight hours ofrefresher training annually on the items specified in paragraph (e)(2) and/or (e)(4) of this section. Paragraph 4.1.1, FBI Hazardous Devices School (HDS) is required for initial certification. An HDS graduate is also required to attend recertification every three years.

At the GS-09

You may qualify at the GS-09 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to:

1. Responding to emergency incidents involving explosives and hazardous materials; and
2. Compiling information to assist in formulating a threat assessment for explosive response plans; and
3. Assisting explosives investigators to conduct investigations.

OR

Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.B. or J.D., if related.

OR

A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience.

At the GS-11

You may qualify at the GS-11 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to:

1. Analyzing data from different sources when assessing explosives and criminal incidents; and
2. Conducting explosive searches for the detection of explosive hazards; and
3. Responding and assisting in emergencies involving hazardous devices.

OR

Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related.

OR

A combination of doctoral education and specialized experience.

At the GS-12

You may qualify at the GS-12 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to:

1. Responding to emergencies involving hazardous devices or explosive ordnance for mitigation; and
2. Performing investigations on suspected hazardous materials; and
3. Performing removal operations of suspected Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) and other hazardous devices; and
4. Rendering safe procedures for suspected hazardous materials and improvised explosive devices.

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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. Your resume may not exceed two (2) pages. For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.

Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission.. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible". Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave.

Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position may requires an online USA Hire Competency Based Assessment. The USA Hire online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

Your eligibility and qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment(s) required for this position (if applicable). If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

DOD PPP candidates using Application-Based Procedures:

Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: Military Spouse Preference applicants, must be selected and placed at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-4) dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference.

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DOCUMENT IN YOUR APPLICATION PACKAGE EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR ELIGIBILITY AND QUALIFICATION CLAIMS. You MUST upload the applicable documents with your application package. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

1. All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages showing all relevant experience. Your resume must address your technical qualifications for the position, and it may not exceed two (2) pages. Your 2-page (or less) resume must be in PDF format, with no smaller than a 1" margin and no smaller than a 10-point font. If you submit a resume that exceeds the two-page limit and/or does not meet the margin or font limitations stated herein, you will immediately be deemed ineligible for this position and will receive no further consideration. If you submit a resume that exceeds the two-page limit and/or does not meet the margin or font limitations stated herein, you will immediately be deemed ineligible for this position and will receive no further consideration.

If you submit more than one copy of your resume, only the most recent version will be reviewed. The latest timestamp will be used to determine which version of your resume is "most recent."

If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations and you will not be considered for this vacancy.

2. Other supporting documents:

• Cover Letter, optional
• Most recent SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade held. It is recommended you provide a SF-50 within the last 52 weeks before the closing date of this JOA for current federal employees. We will use the employment date and grade on your resume in conjunction with the provided SF-50 to help determine initial eligibility, but may require additional information to confirm at the job offer stage if needed.
• College Transcript(s), if qualifying based on education. Official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• DD-214, SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities
• DoD Priority Placement Program applicant supporting documentation - See the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section of this announcement
• Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)
• Other Noncompetitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable

DOES THIS POSITION REQUIRE A LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE?
You are strongly encouraged to provide a copy of your license or certificate in your application package. It is also acceptable to document your license number and the name of the licensing authority in your resume.

ARE YOU A VETERAN CLAIMING SOLE SURVIVORSHIP PREFERENCE OR 5-POINT VETERANS' PREFERENCE?
1. You must provide legible copy/copies of the following: DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," showing all dates of service, type of discharge as well as character of service (Honorable, General, etc.) or Statement of Service/Proof of Service (in lieu of a DD-214) from your command or local Personnel Support Detachment (PSD). The Statement of Service/Proof of Service must provide all dates of service, the expected date of discharge and anticipated character of service (Honorable, General, etc.). Veterans should upload their DD-214 once they receive it upon separation.
2. You should also document your complete military service information in the Veterans Preference and Military Service Section of the assessment questionnaire (type of preference, dates of service, date of VA letter, character of service, disability claim and rank and date of retirement if retired).

ARE YOU A DISABLED VETERAN or CLAIMING 10-POINT VETERANS' PREFERENCE?
1. Disabled veterans, veterans, widows, spouses or the mother of a veteran, who are eligible for 10-point veterans' preference, you must provide legible copies of the following: Applicable supporting documents as noted on Standard Form-15 (SF-15). To obtain a copy of SF-15, go to: https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans

ARE YOU A CURRENT OR FORMER POLITICAL SCHEDULE A, SCHEDULE C, NON-CAREER SES OR PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEE EMPLOYEE?
Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:

• Position title
• Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee)
• Agency; and
• Beginning and ending dates of appointment.

Next steps