Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

This position involves negotiating, awarding, and managing multi-year, multi-billion-dollar contracts. It oversees division chiefs responsible for professional service contracts and enterprise-wide ordering vehicles. Through strategic acquisition practices, this directorate ensures that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), particularly the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), has the necessary resources and program support to provide high-quality care and services to veterans. It also manages key initiatives such as the Integrated Healthcare Transformation (IHT 2.0) and the Integrated Critical Staffing Program (ICSP), which contribute to operational efficiency and mission success.

Major Duties:

• Analyze, interpret and apply Federal procurement regulations.
• Review economic, technical and legal requirements for procurement to select the contract type with the appropriate pricing structure, terms and conditions.
• Apply proper regulatory references to evaluate, interpret and select contract provisions.
• Review technical evaluations and proposals to analyze cost/price and negotiate for contract actions.
• Formulate and recommend policies or plans relating to acquisition planning, procurement, and contract administration.
• Recommend and implement departmental contracting guides or procedures based on evaluating audit reports, studies, regulations or other relevant material.
• Assist program managers in developing required documentation for complex and/or high value procurements.
• Conduct research in the field of procurement and contracting to develop and recommend improved practices.
• Analyze markets, prepare forecasts and use research to develop acquisition strategy.
• Direct the activities of other acquisition specialists by establishing work schedules and priorities.
• Plan work to be accomplished by subordinates based on consideration of the difficulty and requirements involved and the capabilities of the staff.
• Evaluate performance of employees and approve or recommend improvements of work projects.
• Identify training needs of the staff and take a proactive role in their professional development.
• Meet with interested parties to defend procurement actions, needs or quality of services.
• Make presentations of source selection decisions or other procurement decisions to upper management.
• Provide technical advice or information to industry, government agencies, internal customers or other contract specialists.
• Organize and present technical contracting information in written format.
• Represent a department or organization at negotiations, conferences or other meetings.
• Provides day-to-day leadership, guidance, mentorship, program management, and oversight to staff. Holds staff accountable.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00am - 4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: May be available with supervisor approval.
Position Description Title/PD#: Supervisory Contract Specialist~/20752A
Physical Requirements: The subject position is primarily of an administrative nature in an office setting, however where travel to work sites is required there may be light physical work required, such as walking over uneven surfaces, or assisting technical personnel in taking measurements or elevations. Government travel for training, meetings, or customer interactions will be required in this position.

Conditions of employment

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.

Conditions of Employment:

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• You must possess and maintain Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting and Unlimited Contract Warrants.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements for the GS-13 and Above:

1. 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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

GS-15 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-14 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Specialized Experience includes:

• Acts as a key Business Advisor for acquisition matters, formulates, and recommends policies, procedures, and strategies for the most expeditious and efficient way to acquire supplies, equipment, and services.
• Leads the development and execution of complex acquisition strategies and methodologies for awarding and managing mission-critical contracts, aiming to make the procurement process faster, more efficient, and simpler.
• Maximizes employee engagement by training, developing, and providing growth opportunities.
• Provides customer experience tailored to specific portfolios by customers outreach, long and short-term planning, and addressing customer complaints.
• Ensures that the organization meets or exceeds its established metrics and administers contracts in its portfolio efficiently, on time, and in compliance with laws and regulations.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Leadership
• Acquisition Strategy
• Contract Administration
• Communications
• Strategic Thinking
• Knowledge Management

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; religions; 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

Structured Resume Review. Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. SMEs will review ONLY two (2) pages of your resume, starting at your work experience. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume). Applicants passing the structured resume review will move on to the next phase of the assessment process.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

Documents Accepted:

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting / Unlimited Contract Warrants
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Proof of Marriage Status
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Documents Required:

• Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting / Unlimited Contract Warrants
• Resume
• Transcript

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

Next steps