Contract Specialist (Procurement Innovation Lab)

As a Contract Specialist (Procurement Innovation Lab) GS/14 your typical work assignments may include:

• Providing support resources and encouragement to procurement teams supporting some of the most complex and priority acquisitions across DHS component agencies and strategic Department-wide acquisitions as they implement innovative procurement techniques designed to: 1) lower entry barriers for small innovative and non-traditional contractors; 2) shorten time to award so contracts are awarded at the speed of relevance; 3) encourage competition; and 4) increase the likelihood of successful mission outcomes.
• Leading or supporting strategic procurement innovation initiatives as well as developing and providing instruction at procurement innovation training events such as webinars and workshops on a recurring basis.
• Providing expert guidance to lower-graded procurement innovation coaches contract specialists program offices field offices and user functions regarding all aspects of Department procurements.
• Training the procurement team as they learn and test new methods to evaluate proposals and document consensus evaluation reports negotiate costs/prices and terms and conditions with offerers/contractors and prepare award documentation within applicable laws and regulations.
• Serving as a primary procurement innovation coach regarding a variety of extensive acquisition functions that encompass the planning execution administration and termination of complex contracts using formal advertising or negotiation procedures GSA schedules and strategically sourced vehicles the evaluation of cost and price proposals and the administration termination and close-out of contracts.

All DHS-HQ announcements have a 5 business day open period due to the number of applications received. This announcement will be open for 5 business days OR until the first 100 applications have been received whichever happens first.

View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions.

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• You must submit to a pre-employment drug test.
• You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
• Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
• Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment if required.
• You will be required to complete an OGE 450 Confidential Financial Disclosure Form annually.

APPLICANTS MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY MEET THE INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AND SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR AS NOTED BELOW.

INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT
This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement that must be met prior to meeting the specialized experience.

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

-AND-

B. Completed 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 with at least 1 year of that experience satisfying the specialized experience described further below in this qualifications section; AND applicants seeking to meet the training requirements for this GS-13/14 position in accordance with the OPM Contracting Series 1102 Hiring Qualifications are required to meet the Selective Placement Factor requirement described below in this qualifications section.

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 (waiver information provided below). NOTE: This exception only applies if you held a GS-1102 position prior to January 1 2000. If you have not held a GS-1102 position prior to this date this exception does not apply to you. This exception only allows you to apply for positions at the grade level you held as of January 1 2000. In order to be promoted to a higher grade level you must meet the Basic requirement above. You must provide an appropriate SF-50 to verify your grade level if you are a federal employee and applying for this exception.

When filling a GS-1102 vacant position for a GS-13 and above the Senior Procurement Executive of DHS at his or her discretion may waive any or all of the requirements of paragraphs A and B of the OPM Contracting Series 1102 Hiring Qualifications 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 the Senior Procurement Executive must document for the record the basis of the waiver. If an individual is placed in a position at DHS based on a waiver DHS may later reassign that individual to another position at the same grade within that agency without additional waiver action.

NOTE: To receive consideration for this position you must submit a copy of your transcripts for review. Your supporting documents must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement otherwise you will be found ineligible.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-13
You qualify for the GS-13 grade level if you possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service or equivalent private/public sector experience.
For this position specialized experience is defined as:

• Serving as a primary point of contact and subject matter expert regarding pre-award and post-award procurement actions;
• Determining the appropriate contract methods to use; AND
• Determining the need for special/unusual provisions as well as terms and conditions that can be incorporated into contracts.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement otherwise you will be found ineligible.

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-14
You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service or equivalent private/public sector experience.
For this position specialized experience is defined as:

• Identifying analyzing and drawing logical conclusions regarding the soundness of proposals submitted by vendors regarding complex unique and specialized solicitation requirements;
• Applying knowledge of laws and regulations relating to small businesses labor-surplus areas and minority business services when satisfying agency policy objectives;
• Providing training guidance or serving as a lead to a contracting or procurement team; AND
• Detecting irregularities in offers/proposals by applying knowledge of fraudulent procurement practices;

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement otherwise you will be found ineligible.

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR
This position has a Selective Placement Factor (SPF). Applicants must possess and submit the following certification:

• FAC-C (Professional) or DoD Contracting Professional Certification

NOTE: If you do not submit one of the above certifications to demonstrate possession of the SPF or request a waiver you will be rated ineligible.

All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

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.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years a political Schedule A Schedule C Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.