Contract Specialist

The primary purpose of this position is: To perform developmental assignments which are designed to provide the employee, who is serving in a trainee capacity, experience in pre-award and post-award functions when they are well-defined and well-precedented, using common contracting methods and contract types, to procure standard or specialized services, commodities, and/or construction through formal advertising and negotiation procedures using primary firm fixed-priced contracts. In order to qualify, you must meet the basic requirements defined in 10 United States Code (USC).This standard implements requirements contained in Title 10, United States Code, Sections 1723 through 1733, as amended by Section 861(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92) and implemented on a policy exception basis by Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment memorandum, Exception to 24 Semester Hours Requirement for Contracting Positions, effective and dated August 2, 2020

BASIC REQUIREMENTS : A bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees, 2 years of experience in contracting positions, and have completed all contracting courses required for a contracting officer for positions at the level and grade at which the person is serving. Certification at this level is sufficient to meet this standard. NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS.

NOTE: The following three exemption to the basic education requirements above applies to DoD civilian employees or Service members who:
1. Served as a contracting officer with authority to award or administer in excess of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) on or before 30 September 2000.
OR
2. Served, on or before 30 September 2000, in a position as either an employee in the GS-1102 series or as a member of the Armed Forces in a similar occupation specialty.
OR
3. Are an enlisted member of the Contingency Contracting Force (CCF). This exemption only applies to CCF members in their current or future CCF positions. The bachelor's degree exemption does not apply to current CCF members seeking New Hire employment within DoD as a 1102.

IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENT ABOVE, YOU MUST ALSO MEET THE SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE LISTED BELOW:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
GS-09 : Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-07 , or equivalent in other pay systems. Applicants experience includes working with applicable statutory provisions, regulations, and procedures to be able to perform well-defined and well-precedented procurement functions. NOTE: You must submit copies of your transcripts.

GS-11 : Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-09 , or equivalent in other pay systems. Applicants experience includes working with contracting principles, laws, statutes, Executive Orders, regulations, and procedures applicable to pre-award and post-award duties sufficient to plan and carry out procurement actions and administer contracts for a variety of specialized services, commodities and/or construction using a wide range of contracting methods and contract types. NOTE: You must submit copies of your transcripts.

GS-12: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-11 , or equivalent in other pay systems. Applicants experience includes ) working with contracting principles, laws, statutes, Executive Orders, regulations, and procedures applicable to pre-award and post-award duties sufficient to develop strategies, goals, and objectives; study problem areas and implement and/or recommend improved methods and operating procedures; and oversee or personally plan and carry out procurement actions, and administer contracts for a variety of specialized services, commodities, and/or construction contracts using a wide range of contracting methods and contract types.

OR EDUCATION:
GS-09 : Mandated bachelor's degree AND two full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or master's or equivalent graduate degree or LL.B. or J.D. NOTE: You must submit copies of your transcripts.
GS-11 : Mandated bachelor's degree AND three full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. NOTE: You must submit copies of your transcripts.

FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS-GS-09/11/12 : Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks:
GS-09 : One year at the GS-07 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-09 level.
GS-11 : One year at the GS-09 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 level.
GS-12 : One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs) : Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
GS-09 :
1. Professional knowledge of commonly used contracting methods and contract types for contract actions that are well-defined and well-precedented.
2. Knowledge of directly applicable Federal contracting laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
3. Knowledge of business practices and market conditions as they relate to program and technical requirements to assist customers in developing requirements and to evaluate proposal responsiveness, contractor responsibility, and contractor performance.
4. Ability to perform basic price/cost analysis sufficient to compare prices on recurring types of procurements.
5. Ability to plan, organize work, and meet deadlines.
6. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; present factual information; clearly write procurement memoranda; and draft simple contract provisions and supporting documents.

GS-11 :
1. Professional knowledge of a wide variety of Federal contracting laws, regulations, policies, processes and procedures; and contract types applicable to pre-award and post-award actions.
2. Knowledge of business practices and market conditions applicable to program and technical acquisition requirements.
3. Knowledge of contracting negotiation, administration, and termination principles, policies, procedures, and technical requirements; and knowledge of price and cost analysis principles and techniques sufficient to review proposals against previous history, actual and estimated expenditures, and established rates to determine price reasonableness or to determine a negotiation position.
4. Ability to recognize and analyze problems, conduct research, summarize results, and make appropriate recommendations.
5. Ability to plan, organize work, and meet deadlines.
6. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

KSAs continued in Education:

GS-12 :
1. Professional knowledge of a wide range of Federal contracting laws, regulations, policies, procedures, methods, techniques, and contract types applicable to pre-award and post-award actions for a variety of complex contracts for unique services, commodities, and/or construction.
2. Knowledge of the business environment (e.g. economic trends, awareness of commercial/business practices, standards, mergers, and acquisitions, etc.) in order to recognize potential programmatic/contractual impacts, and knowledge of the methods and techniques of fact-finding/market research.
3. Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools used to assist in risk identification, assessment, and mitigation including assessing the probability and consequences of potential problems.
4. Knowledge of contract negotiation, administration, and termination principles, policies, procedures, and technical requirements; and knowledge of price and cost analysis sufficient to review proposals against previous history, actual and estimated expenditures, and established rates to determine price reasonableness or to determine a negotiation position.
5. Ability to identify problems, determine accuracy and relevance of information, use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and make recommendations; makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions applying precedents found in government contracting case law to specific contracting situations to insure that legally binding contracting officer decisions are consistent, justifiable, and will be upheld at appellate courts or boards; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals.
6. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing, clearly, concisely, and with technical accuracy.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcriptswith the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.