Contract Specialist Direct Hire

• At the full performance level serves as an acquisition official on the most complex acquisitions by executing contracts and contract modifications.
• Formulates contracting strategies and secures commodities for the most complex acquisitions
• Performs all other duties and responsibilities of a Contracting Officer within the limits of delegated authority which may be over $6 million per award.
• Administers negotiated and sole-source acquisitions using a wide variety of acquisition methods and contract types
• Typical acquisition methods include open-market contracts orders against existing agency contracts and orders against other agenciescontracts; typical contract types include firm-fixed price cost reimbursement time-and-materials/labor-hour.
• The GS-11 level is an Advanced Developmental / career-ladder position leading to GS-12. At this level assignments are not as broad and/or inclusive as assignments at the full performance level.
• The supervisor or higher-graded analysts provide general instructions on new assignments furnish advice and guidance answer questions and assist in solving problems that may arise.
• Work is reviewed upon completion for adequacy and compliance with policies guidelines and procedures. The extent of guidance and review gradually decreases as the employee develops.
• Consideration for promotion from GS-11 to GS-12 is at the managers discretion and is based on the existence of higher-level work your ability to perform that work administrative requirements and current agency and/or organizational restrictions.

• This announcement serves as public notice. Applications will be placed into a pool and will remain on file for selection as positions become available.
• Vacancies may be filled up to 6 months after the closing date of this announcement. You may not receive notification of referral status until the full 6-month eligibility period has elapsed.
• STEM position(s) are being filled through the Office of Personnel Managements delegated Direct Hire Authority and are open to all U.S. citizens.
• Selections made under this bulletin will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees selected under this bulletin will be processed as new appointments to the civil service.
• Under the provisions of the Direct Hire Authority Veterans Preference and the Rule of Many do not apply.
• U.S. Citizenship is required. Selective Service Registration is required if applicable ().
• Fingerprinting and background and/or security investigation may be required. Job offers are contingent on fingerprinting and background / security investigation results.
• See QUALIFICATIONS EDUCATION ADDITIONAL INFORMATION HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED and REQUIRED DOCUMENTS for other important information.
• You must submit a resume (2 page maximum) that shows your name and contact information and includes full TO and FROM dates (month/day/year) for each position you describe. Include your grade if your position is federal.

To meet Minimum Qualifications for this Contract Specialist position you must demonstrate:
(1) the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) for the federal GS-1102 series AND
(2) at least 52 weeks of *Specialized Experience

For GS-11 ONLY: you may substitute a Ph.D. (or equivalent doctoral degree) OR at least 3 academic years of successfully completed progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. (or equivalent doctoral degree) in a course of study that directly reflects the job-related competencies for this position for Specialized Experience. (See GS-11 requirements below.)

(1) INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT (IOR) (All Applicants)

A. Successful completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelors degree with a major in any field

OR

B. Successful completion of 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

Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1 2000. Employees who occupy GS-1102 positions at grades 5 through 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified at GS-12. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade 12. However employees must meet specialized experience requirements when seeking another position.

AND

(2) SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE (by grade)

FOR GS-11: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE must have been gained in a federal position at or above GS-09 OR (if your position is on another federal pay scale OR outside of federal service) by performing duties at a level of responsibility and difficulty equivalent to GS-09 or above.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is work that primarily consists of performing pre- and post-award contract functions including procurement planning negotiation strategies and contract administration.

**If you have this experience your resume must describe in your own words the specific duties you perform that demonstrate it. If your experience was gained in the federal government you must upload an SF-50 documenting your grade at the time experience was gained.**

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE can be demonstrated by:
Soliciting and evaluating competitive proposals including reviewing prices and costs;
Managing contract administration functions such as partial/progress payments deliverables management contract modifications and contract closeouts;
Planning and carrying out pre-award and post-award contract functions;
Applying federal and agency acquisition regulations procedures and precedent decisions to ensure compliance;
Negotiating prices terms and conditions and contract modifications;
Awarding cost reimbursement and performance-based contracts for materials systems services or equipment.

In lieu of Specialized Experience you may qualify for GS-11 with a Ph.D. in a course of study that directly reflects the job-related competencies necessary for this position. This education must be separate from and in addition to education used to support the IOR.

In lieu of Specialized Experience or a Ph.D. you may qualify for GS-11 with at least 3 academic years of successfully completed progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. (or equivalent degree) in a course of study that directly reflects the job-related competencies for this position. This education must be separate from and in addition to education used to support the IOR.

In lieu of the full amount of Specialized Experience or the full amount of Optional Education you may qualify for GS-11 with a portion of each that can be combined to meet the full requirement. Only successfully completed education beyond the second year of graduate studies can be used for this option and it must be separate from and in addition to the education used to meet the IOR. Experience used in combination with education must also be in addition to the experience used in IOR Option B. (HR will determine if the combination of experience and education is sufficient to meet the requirements.)

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FOR GS-12: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE must have been gained in a federal position at or above GS-11 OR (if your position is on another federal pay scale OR outside of federal service) by performing duties at a level of responsibility and difficulty equivalent to GS-11 or above.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is work that primarily consists of performing pre- and post-award contract functions for complex or high-value procurements including procurement planning negotiation strategies and contract administration with responsibility for independently managing the full acquisition lifecycle and resolving complex contracting issues.

**If you have this experience your resume must describe in your own words the specific duties you perform that demonstrate it. If your experience was gained in the federal government you must upload an SF-50 documenting your grade at the time experience was gained.**

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE can be demonstrated by:
Planning and carrying out pre-award and post-award contract functions for a variety of acquisitions;
Reviewing acquisition requests and recommending contracting strategies to meet program needs and ensure cost effectiveness;
Applying federal and agency acquisition regulations procedures and precedent decisions to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;
Negotiating prices terms and conditions and contract modifications for moderately complex contracts;
Administering contracts including managing payments deliverables modifications and contract closeouts;
Awarding cost reimbursement performance-based or fixed-price contracts for materials systems services or equipment

Education cannot be substituted for Specialized Experience at this grade.

Since Specialized Experience also has a time component it must be evident that the duties you describe are at the required level for at least 52 weeks.

Reviewers cannot assume you perform duties you dont describe.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (IOR and Specialized Experience for GS-12 / IOR and Specialized Experience and/or Optional Education for GS-11) must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

SEE EDUCATION AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Information on this job series can be found at: This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) that must be met and demonstrated by all applicants (see QUALIFICATIONS).

To satisfy the IOR submit a copy of your full transcript(s) even if you already hold a federal 1102 series position.

Your transcript(s) must show your name the name of the school the program in which you were enrolled and your degree (or completion of *creditable courses). If you attended more than one college or university submit transcripts for all schools attended.

*Since course titles do not always indicate that a course pertains to a creditable curriculum you are advised to highlight qualifying courses on your transcript to ensure that consideration is given.*

Transcripts that do not show that a Degree was conferred cannot be considered to have resulted in a Degree. Check your transcript to be sure this information is shown.

Unofficial transcripts or screenshots of electronic/web transcripts with the required information will be accepted at the time of application. CHECK YOUR UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT TO CONFIRM IT SHOWS THE REQUIRED INFORMATION. You must upload your transcripts as part of your application. Documents will not be accepted via email or regular mail.

APPLICANTS FOR GS-11: Note that education used in lieu of (or in addition to) Specialized Experience must be separate from and in addition to education used to support the IOR. (See QUALIFICATIONS)

Graduate Education. To qualify for GS-1102 positions on the basis of graduate education graduate education in one or a combination of the following fields is required: accounting business finance law contracts purchasing economics industrial management marketing quantitative methods or organization and management.

One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours the school has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school 18 semester hours will be considered an academic year of graduate study.

Foreign Education: If your transcripts show education completed in foreign colleges or universities you must also provide documentation 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 a conventional/accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

If selected you may be required to provide your official college transcripts prior to the effective date of your appointment.

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.