Acquisition Program Specialist

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), works within the U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to prevent or stop waste, fraud and abuse in departmental programs. This position is located within the Office of Inspector General, Assistant IG for Operations, Office of Organizational and Administrative Services. All documents must be received and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Your resume must be well documented with the specialized experience, otherwise you may be deemed ineligible. To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE qualifications for the grade(s) at which you are requesting consideration. Applicants must meet qualifications and time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this vacancy announcement. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE For GS-12: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in Federal service performing (obtained in either the public or private sectors) listed below: Applying comprehensive knowledge of Federal administrative procedures, program management principles, and departmental procurement policies—including the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Transportation Acquisition Regulation (TAR), and Transportation Acquisition Manual (TAM) to guide staff in developing compliant SOWs, performance work statements (PWSs), IGCEs, and market research documentation. Managing Interagency Agreements by applying expertise in G‐Invoicing requirements and Enterprise Services Center (ESC) workflows to monitor agreement status, maintain documentation, and coordinate interagency activities. Using automated procurement and financial systems such as PRISM and related databases to prepare requisitions, track lifecycle progress, reconcile expenditures, and analyze acquisition trends. Conducting analytical reviews to assess procurement package completeness, identify administrative bottlenecks, evaluate market research findings, and recommend process improvements. Providing clear and effective written and oral communication to advise program managers, collaborate with CORs and financial personnel, coordinate with contracting officials, and deliver administrative guidance supporting acquisition planning and execution. Competencies: Your resume will be evaluated on the following competencies in addition to the specialized experience as stated above: 1. Acquisition & Procurement Compliance Demonstrating the ability to interpret and apply Federal and departmental procurement policies (FAR, TAR, TAM) to ensure program requirements, SOWs/PWSs, IGCEs, and market research packages are accurate and compliant. 2. Interagency Agreement & Financial Coordination Managing interagency agreements and G‐Invoicing activities with proficiency in ESC workflows, ensuring accurate documentation, status monitoring, and alignment with financial operations. 3. Data & Systems Proficiency for Acquisition Lifecycle Management Using automated platforms (e.g., PRISM) and financial databases to prepare requisitions, track lifecycle progress, reconcile expenditures, and generate analytical insights that support program decisions. 4. Analytical & Problem‐Solving Ability Assessing procurement packages, identifying administrative bottlenecks, evaluating market research findings, and recommending process improvements to strengthen acquisition workflows and program efficiency. 5. Communication & Stakeholder Engagement Providing clear, effective written and oral communication to guide program managers, collaborate with CORs and financial staff, and coordinate with Contracting Officers to ensure accurate interpretation of requirements and successful acquisition execution. Major duties include, but not limited to the following: Supports OIG program offices in developing complete procurement packages, including statement of work (SOW), performance work statements (PWS), statement of objectives (SOO) and technical specifications. Advises staff on independent government cost estimates (IGCE), market research, determination and findings (D&F), and justification for other than full and open competition (JOFOC). Prepares and reviews PRISM requisitions to ensure accuracy and funding compliance. Assists leadership in determining resource needs, sourcing strategies, and acquisition timelines. Acts as the primary liaison to the OST Office of Procurement, tracking requisition progress and ensuring DATA Act compliance. Provides administrative and technical support to OIG's Contract Officer's Representatives (CORs), helping maintain contract files, monitor deliverables, manage performance timelines, and support post‐award tracking and closeout coordination. Manages OIG internal processes for Interagency Agreements (IAAs), including documentation and milestone tracking. Serves as OIG's point of contact with ESC for IAA and G‐Invoicing matters. Reviews Working Capital Fund (WCF) reports for billing accuracy and supplies procurement data to leadership for budget planning and acquisition forecasting. Interprets acquisition policies and develops internal guidelines, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and job aids to improve quality and workflow. Performs special administrative projects such as quarterly undelivered order (UDO) reviews, equipment tracking, and process improvement assessments. Education There are no educational requirements for this series.