Contract Specialist

Summary

Location will be determined based on your current DOI approved duty station location. This position is part of the Interior Business Center (IBC), Acquisition Services Directorate (AQD). The incumbent will be responsible for planning, executing, and administering all phases of the contract life cycle for highly complex, long term, multimillion dollar, multidisciplinary, multi-agency contracts, federal assistance, and interagency agreements.

Duties

As a senior contracting expert, this position advises AQD managers and program staff on highly complex, mission-critical acquisitions impacting DOI, IBC, and client agencies. Routine duties include, but are not limited to the following: Serve as Contracting Officer with delegated authority to solicit, negotiate, award, administer, and terminate contracts, to include unique or precedent-setting acquisitions. Integrate AQD strategic goals and acquisition policy requirements into assigned procurement actions to ensure compliance and mission alignment. Plan, analyze, and execute complex award actions; conduct in-depth compliance reviews; and report findings to management. Develop acquisition strategies and manage formal source selection activities and documentation consistent with policy. Conduct market research and support streamlined procurement approaches for program offices and potential federal clients. Instills flexibility and adaptability to change within the organization based on fluctuations and changes in workload and/or customer assignments. Requirements

US Citizenship is required. Suitable for Federal employment, determined by background investigation. Must obtain and maintain a favorable background investigation through Continuous Vetting throughout the duration of employment. All employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity and financial monitoring on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions. Direct Deposit of pay is required. Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt. Status candidates must meet time-in-grade (see Qualifications). Must meet all conditions of employment listed under Stipulations of Employment below. Qualifications

ALL APPLICANTS FOR THIS POSITION MUST POSSESS THE FOLLOWING BASIC REQUIREMENTS: 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 NOTE: You are required to submit your unofficial college transcripts from an appropriately accredited educational institution in order to document completion of the educational requirements for this position. The unofficial transcripts must be legible and include your name, major, school name/location, course title/number, date completed, grade, number of credits earned, and degree(s) conferred. In the case that your transcripts do not show that a degree was conferred, you may submit your unofficial transcripts AND a copy of your degree certification. If selected, official transcripts will be required prior to establishing an entrance on duty date. AND At least 4 years of experience in contracting or related positions - 1 year of which is specialized experience or equivalent to work at the next lower level in the Federal service. AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: A current Federal Acquisition Certification - Contracting (FAC-C) Professional Certificate A current DoD Contracting Professional Certification At the GS-14 level, you must meet the following qualification: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level. Specialized experience is defined as experience that is in or related to the line of work of this position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies to successfully perform the duties of this position. More specifically, this requirement involves experience in: Coordinating procurement actions to ensure compliance with departmental and customer-specific policies and mission objectives. Preparing and reviewing documentation supporting justifications (e.g., sole source), determinations, and acquisition decision rationales. Conducting pre-award and post-award conferences for complex procurement actions. Guiding customers with acquisitions lacking precedent, including statements of work development, acquisition planning, justification and approvals, and pricing analysis. Using innovative techniques to award complex negotiated contracts and leveraging socioeconomic programs. Developing and recommending contract structures, pricing arrangements, and procurement approaches to resolve critical acquisition issues. Planning negotiation strategies and serving as principal negotiator to achieve agreements in the Government's best interests (technical and cost). Applicants must carefully review the information in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section for important information and instructions pertaining to the multi-hurdle assessment process for this position. Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered. TIME-IN-GRADE: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). 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.

Education

This position has a basic education requirement, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. Note: PDF Portfolio documents will not be processed or accepted as they appear as a one-page document. Only education from institutions which are accredited or pre-accredited/candidate for accreditation may be used to meet education requirements. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html How You Will Be Evaluated

Once the application process is complete, your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), and any applicable assessment required for this position. Cheating on the online assessment may result in your removal from consideration. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. You will be evaluated for this job based on: The experience listed in your resume and how well you meet the experience listed in the qualification section of announcement and the competencies listed. Technical Assessment Questionnaire: Questionnaire that measures your technical expertise Questionnaire designed to measure components of knowledge that you will be required to display on the job and are administered as part of the application process. You will be assessed on the following technical and soft skill competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): *Contracting/Procurement *Technical Documentation Influencing/Negotiating Legal, Government, Jurisprudence Due Weight Consideration is a review process used to provide consideration to performance appraisals and awards submitted with each application on a used merit promotion certificate and factoring the results into the merit promotion selection process. Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level. It is your responsibility to obtain and upload your performance appraisal/evaluation and/or list of awards prior to the closing of the vacancy announcement. Other Information

Career Transition Assistance Programs: CTAP provides placement assistance to permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming CTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 reflecting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP, applicants must meet all of the criteria below: Clearly exceed the minimum qualification/specialized experience requirements for this vacancy; AND Meet basic eligibility requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment: AND Be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For information on CTAP and ICTAP visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/career-transition/ Appointment Authorities: For more information on appointment authority eligibility requirements: Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans Telework Suitability: The duties of this position are suitable for occasional telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval and if they meet the eligibility criteria based on agency policy. Stipulations of Employment: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or a 1-2-year trial 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 the 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 or trial period, your employment may be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. A Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) will be required at the time an employee becomes a warranted contracting officer. Work Schedule: This position allows for a flexible work schedule. Miscellaneous: This agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify. This vacancy announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days.