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Contract Specialist


Yearly Salary: USD 85447 - 85447
Posted: 6 October 2026 (4 days ago)
Application Deadline: 7 January 2027
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Summary

See below for important information regarding this job.


Duties
  • Perform a full range of cradle to grave contracting duties and responsibilities for assigned acquisitions which may include acquisition planning pre-solicitation negotiation contract administration and monitoring and contract closeouts.
  • Perform review of complex invoices performance monitoring and feedback resolution of performance problems and payments and pre-award and post-award contract review.
  • Performs market research and analysis to include procurement conferences develop new sources.
  • Preform post-award functions to include contract terminations.
  • Perform pre-award functions to include acquisition planning solicitations and negotiations.
  • Establishes prime vendor or long-term contracts.
  • Coaches/Mentors junior specialists to assist in development.

Requirements
Conditions of employment
  • Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Tour of Duty: Flexible
  • Security Requirements: Non-Critical Sensitive w/ Secret Access
  • Appointment is subject to the completion of a favorable suitability or fitness determination where reciprocity cannot be applied; unfavorably adjudicated background checks will be grounds for removal.
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Non-Exempt
  • Selective Service Requirement: Males born aftermust be registered or exempt from Selective Service.
  • Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
  • Bargaining Unit Status: No
  • Selectees are required to have a REAL ID or other acceptable identification documents to access certain federal facilities. See for more information.
  • Defense Acquisition Workforce position. Must complete DoD certification and other requirements. See Addtl Info.
Qualifications

To qualify for a Contract Specialist your resume and supporting documentation must support:

A. Basic Contracting Requirement: A baccalaureate degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees OR B.) a current civilian employee in DoD or member of the Armed Forces who occupied an 1102 position contracting officer position or comparable military contracting position with authority to award or administer contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold on or before September 30 2000 are excluded from the requirements of A above.

B. Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position and is directly in or related to this addition to meeting the Basic Education Requirement above to qualify for the GS-11 grade level specialized experience must be at the GS-09 grade level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service military or private sector. To qualify for the GS-12 grade level specialized experience must be at the GS-11 grade level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service military or private sector. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements including time-in-grade (General Schedule (GS) positions only) time-after-competitive appointment minimum qualifications and any other regulatory requirements by the cut-off/closing date of the announcement. Creditable specialized experience includes:

GS-11:

  • Knowledge of contracting principles laws statues regulations and procedures applicable to the acquisition of a variety of supplies and services.
  • Experience working with commonly used contract methods and contract types to prepare pre-award and/or post-award procurement actions.
  • Contract experience to solicit negotiate award monitor and close out/terminate assigned requirements.
  • Knowledge of administration policies procedures techniques and evaluation/control methods sufficient to monitor prime and subcontractor performance.
  • Experience with negotiating and/or administering contracts where the contracting actions are well defined and well precedent.
  • Experience assisting other associates in their development.
GS-12:
  • Experience applying contracting principles laws statues regulations and procedures applicable to pre-award and post-award actions sufficient for a variety of supplies and services.
  • Experience with federal contract methods and contract types which includes specialized experience in planning and carrying out pre-award and/or post-award procurement actions.
  • Experience independently working with federal contract administration policy procedures techniques and evaluation/control methods sufficient to monitor prime and subcontractor performance.
  • Experience as a lead negotiator using negotiation techniques to solicit award monitor and closeout/terminate assigned contracts.
  • Experience independently communicating through written communications and discussions with vendors/customers.
  • Experience assisting/mentoring other specialists with procedures related to contract pre-award and administration.
C. Education Substitution: Such education must demonstrate the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to do the work. Education must be from a college or university accredited by an organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education. See If using education to meet basic qualifications YOU MUST SUBMIT A TRANSCRIPT as supplemental addition to meeting the Basic Requirement above to qualify based on education in lieu of specialized experience at the GS-11 level applicants must possess:
  • Possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. if related.
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). 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.
Education

Are you using your education to qualify You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at time of application.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate schools definition of one year of graduate study 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

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.

Additional information

As required by 5 C.F.R. 302.106 DLA will provide Section 508 conformant ICT to employees with disabilities. All ICT interfaces with the public related to vacancy announcements and career transition opportunities must conform to the applicable requirements in the current ICT Standards and Guidelines (36 C.F.R. 1194).

For Important General Applicant Information and Definitions go to: Annuitants: This position does not meet criteria for appointment of Reemployed Annuitants. The DoD criteria for hiring Reemployed Annuitants can be found at: for Veterans is available at: As of 23 December 2016 Military retirees seeking to enter federal service in the Department of Defense now require a waiver if they would be appointed within 180 days following their official date of retirement.

Drug-Free Workplace Policy

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is committed to maintaining a safe drug-free workplace. All DLA employees are required to refrain from illegal drug use on and off duty. DLA conducts pre-employment reasonable suspicion post-accident and random drug testing.

Applicants tentatively selected for employment in testing designated positions will undergo a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Refusal to undergo testing or testing positive for illegal drugs will result in withdrawal of the tentative job offer and a six-month denial of employment with DLA from the date of the drug test. Employees in drug testing designated positions are subject to random drug testing. A negative drug test result must be received by HR within 30 calendar days after the EOD (i.e. start date). The selectees inability successfully pass; or refusal to conduct the test may result in: 1) the tentative or FJO being withdrawn during the recruitment process; or 2) subsequently being removed from Federal service for failure to meet a condition of employment. You may be required to sign a Drug Test Statement of Understanding if you are selected for this position.

The DLA drug testing panel tests for the following substances: marijuana cocaine opiates heroin phencyclidine amphetamines methamphetamines fentanyl norfentanyl methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and opioids.

ADVISORY: Use of cannabidiol (CBD) products may result in a positive drug test for marijuana. DLA employees are subject to Federal law and under Federal law Marijuana is illegal.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.


Required Experience:

IC


About Company

The Defense Logistics Agency is a combat support agency in the United States Department of Defense, with more than 26,000 civilian and military personnel throughout the world.

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