Contracts Specialist 3 - Advertisement & Award

About WSDOT The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal agency with a global reputation for excellence. Our dedicated workforce plans, designs, builds, and operates an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. In addition to maintaining over 20,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, manages the world's longest floating bridge, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!

The Opportunity WSDOT is currently seeking is currently seeking a Contracts Specialist 3 to serve as a unit supervisor in the Contract Ad & Award (CAA) Office in Tumwater, WA. In this role, you will help oversee the advertisement, bidding, and award of WSDOT highway, ferry terminal, and facility projects statewide—up to 250 contracts each year. You will exercise judgment on complex contracting matters, help develop and implement policies and procedures, and represent WSDOT with contractors, industry representatives, agency personnel, legal counsel, government officials, and the public. You will also supervise Contract Specialists and help ensure contracting practices are consistent, transparent, and compliant with applicable laws and rules.

What to Expect Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you will:

• Review contractor and project engineer comments and recommend bid opening schedules that support competition and account for addenda, competing contracts, project office feedback, and other factors.
• Review contract addenda to determine impacts and time requirements for bid preparations or the bid opening delays.
• Assists with public bid openings, receiving and publicly opening and reading bids in concert with all applicable laws and rules.
• Review contract proposals and assist with determinations of responsiveness.
• Review all bid that are determined to be non-responsive and assists with bid rejections.
• Assist with bid protests, recommendations of merit, and carrying out appropriate follow up actions.
• Assist with legal reviews through the Attorney General’s Office.
• Recommend awarding contracts to the lowest responsive bidder, and assist with soliciting and reviewing justifications for award when low bid exceeds engineer’s estimates.
• Develop and maintain manuals, forms, desk procedures, policies, and guidance related to contractor prequalification, advertisement, bidding, and award.
• Support legislation and administrative rule and updates related to public works bidding and prequalification of contractors.
• Develop processes for evaluating and tracking contractor performance, review performance reports, and assist with corrective action.
• Review contractor financial information, work histories, applications, references, and other submittals to recommend prequalification levels, work classifications, maximum bidding capacities, and related adjustments.
• Review plans, specifications, and estimates to recommend work classes or combinations of work classes for contractor prequalification.

Qualifications To be considered for this opportunity, the following competencies are required:

• Contract Evaluation: Ability to review and evaluate construction contracts, bids, proposals, specifications, estimates, and other contract documents.
• Analytical Judgment: Ability to assess the effects of contract addenda, project changes, competing contracts, and other factors on bid preparation and competition.
• Professional Representation: Ability to represent the department professionally before contractors, industry representatives, agency personnel, legal counsel, government officials, and the public while conducting processes in compliance with laws and regulations.
• Bid Administration: Ability to review bids and proposals, determine responsiveness, review award justifications, reject bids, and respond to bid protests.
• Policy and Procedure Development: Skills in developing, revising, and maintaining manuals, forms, desk procedures, policies, and administrative guidance.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Knowledge of applicable WAC, RCW, and other laws and regulations governing public works contracting and contractor prequalification.
• Regulatory Interpretation: Ability to interpret laws, regulations, policies, and administrative rules and translate them into operational procedures and guidance.
• Contractor Performance: Ability to develop contractor performance evaluation procedures, review performance reports, and recommend corrective action.
• Prequalification: Ability to evaluate contractor prequalification submittals in support of granting or denying proposals.
• Ethics and Objectivity: Strength in ethics and ability to maintain objectivity, confidentiality, consistency, and fairness.
• Confidentiality: Ability to maintain confidentiality and protect sensitive and confidential bid and financial information.
• Continuous Improvement: Ability to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, consistency, and quality within procurement and contract award processes.
• Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
• Service-Oriented: Takes action to meet the needs of others.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:

• WSDOT Contracting Knowledge: Knowledge of WSDOT standard plans, standard specifications, contract requirements, templates, and contract administration procedures.
• Competitive Contracting: Knowledge of state and federal competitive bid statutes, administrative codes, regulations for public works contracts, and state procurement regulations and rules.
• Advertisement and Award: Knowledge of WSDOT contract advertisement and award procedures and related manuals and guidance.
• Prequalification: Knowledge of WSDOT’s contractor prequalification process, procedures, and tools.
• Web Content Management: Knowledge of web content management and website development.

Important Notes

• This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
• This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.
• In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position. For union-represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements. Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in Chapter 357-28 of the Washington Administrative Code.
• WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Why WSDOT

• Work-Life Balance – We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle. As such, there are a number of flexible schedule options available, including telework options for eligible positions.
• Paid Leave – In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees may earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
• Tuition Assistance – Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
• Plan For Your Future – WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have their choice of state retirement programs, and much more. Go to State Benefits for more information.

Check out this video to learn more: Why WSDOT?

How to Apply Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Your relevant experience may be evaluated to determine salary. Therefore, it is very important that the “Work Experience” portion of the application be completed in as much detail as possible. In order to be considered for this opportunity, please include the following with your online application:

• An attached Resume outlining (in reverse chronological order) your experience to date.
• An attached Cover Letter that further explains your qualifications and indicates why you believe you are a viable candidate for this role.
• Contact details for a minimum three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies. This information can be entered in the “References” section of the online application; does not require an additional attachment.

Please click the "APPLY" button to proceed. Note that you will be prompted to either sign in or create an account. This step is required in order to submit an application to this opportunity.

WSDOT is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. All persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and/ or gender identity, are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the listed Recruiter. WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov

Contact Us For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter at [email protected]. Please be sure to reference 26DOT-HQ-05226 in the subject line.