Contract Specialist

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION OR REMOTE POSITION. YOU MUST BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RETURN TO OFFICE POLICY AND BE ABLE TO WORK ON SITE AT VA OWN/LEASED SPACE***

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be September 8th 2026 with subsequent cut-off dates every 2 weeks after that. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.

Incumbent assists the Branch Chief in coordinating contracting activities performing contract reviews providing guidance regarding complex contracts administered by other Contract Specialists identifying special training needs conducting mentoring and supporting contract training. The incumbent will guide assist mentor and train Contract Specialists. The incumbent will be required to possess the requisite skills and experience to effectively deal with an assortment of contract issues at a full performance level.

Duties includes but are not limited to:

• Fully utilize electronic systems for: contract writing (eCMS) long-term contract management and reporting (FPDS) and financial management (IFCAP) in accordance with agency policies. Incumbent ensures uploaded information is accurate and in the correct format.

• Provides data analysis for both formal and informal management meetings involving contracting and financial matters concerned with the establishment of policies and decisions leading to the accomplishment of mandated VHA goals and objectives.

• Assists the requiring activities by serving as a member of acquisition planning this role incumbent aids requiring activities in performing market research reviewing specifications and drawings reviewing statements of work other required documents and approving acquisition milestone plans.

• Responsible for selecting the appropriate method of procurement (i.e. - simplified acquisition procedures sealed-bidding or negotiations). Responsible for advertising all applicable requirements and preparing the solicitation document using agency contract writing systems for issuance ensuring regulatory and legal sufficiency and promoting maximum competition.

• When authorized incumbent serves as the Source Selection Authority (SSA) and establishes Technical Evaluation Boards (TEB) to determine acceptability and ranking of technical proposals. Identifies appropriate negotiation team members formulates pre-negotiation objectives and facilitates the negotiation as the Senior Contract Specialist and chief negotiator.

• Serves as contract administrator on awarded contracts. Conducts post-award conferences with contractor and government personnel to provide information and to clarify standard and special contractual provisions of the contract. Incumbent negotiates required changes to contract conditions to protect the agency.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Contract Specialist/PD52417A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public 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 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 your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 03/01/2027.

Certification Requirements:
This is a Warranted Contracting Officer position. Incumbent shall meet all requirements and apply for a Warrant within 120-days of assignment. Incumbent shall successfully obtain subject Warrant within 60-days of submitting their application. Warrant application dollar value should be at the maximum beneficial amount. Branch Chief has discretion in determining subject application dollar value. Incumbent will execute their own contract awards and provide signatory authority for staff lacking requisite Warrant authority

Individual Occupational Requirements for Contracting Series 1102 Basic Requirements for GS-13 and Above

A. Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS-13 or higher level contracting positions including at least 4-years experience in contracting or related positions. At least 1 year of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level of the position and must have provided the knowledge skills and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position.

and

B. A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelors 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.

C. Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1 2000. This also applies to positions at the same grade in the same agency or other agencies if the specialized experience requirements are met. However they will have to meet the basic requirements and specialized experience requirements in order to qualify for promotion to a higher grade unless granted a waiver under Paragraph D.

D. Waiver: When filling a specific vacant position the senior procurement executive of the selecting agency at his or her discretion may waive any or all of the requirements of Paragraphs A and B above if the senior procurement executive certifies that the applicant possesses significant potential for advancement to levels of greater responsibility and authority based on demonstrated analytical and decision making capabilities job performance and qualifying experience. With respect to each waiver granted under this Paragraph D the senior procurement executive must document for the record the basis of the waiver. If an individual is placed in a position in an agency on the basis of a waiver the agency may later reassign that individual to another position at the same grade within that agency without additional waiver action.

For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to:

• Perform technical contract reviews.
• Interprets written material including technical material rules regulations and instructions.
• Identifies trends from reviews performed and prepares reports.
• Coordinates responses to external and internal audits surveys and reviews.
• Develops action plans and/or recommendation to meet performance monitors/measures.

Evidence of this specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of like duties performed in positions held on your resume. You will also need to provide work experience information such as hours per week full-time/part-time status and starting/ending dates of employment (month and year format) to establish you have one (1) full year of specialized experience at the required grade level.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice your most recent performance rating and your most recent SF-50 noting current position grade level and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be found well qualified applicants must meet the following qualifications:

• Expert mastery of federal and VA acquisition regulations contract law and full contract-administration procedures including change orders supplemental agreements terminations claims and closeouts.
• Advanced proficiency in cost/price analysis and negotiation techniques including evaluating contractor proposals conducting negotiations and determining fair and reasonable pricing across multiple contract types.
• Comprehensive knowledge of diverse contracting methods and markets including simplified acquisitions sealed bidding cost reimbursement commercial items socio-economic set-aside categories and A/E and construction contracting processes.
• Strong contract administration and communication abilities ensuring contractor compliance resolving noncompliance issues accurately using eCMS for solicitation through closeout and effectively communicating with internal and external stakeholders.

Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPMs Career Transition Resources website at Commuting Area: The local commuting area for this position is defined as a radius of 50 miles from the Office of Procurement locations listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. This includes all locations that fall within a 50-mile driving distance from these offices.