Contract Specialist

Summary

This position is part of the Defense Microelectronics Activity. The incumbent will be responsible for pre-award functions for procurements and assistance awards involving complex requirements of highly specialized, extensive, new or innovative research, related materials and services of significant importance to the agency.

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Duties

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This position is being filled under AcqDemo Direct Hiring Authority (DHA).

As a Contract Specialist at the NH-1102-3 some of your typical work assignments may include:

• Performs preaward functions for procurements and assistance awards involving complex requirements of highly specialized, extensive, new or innovative research, related materials and services of significant importance to the agency.
• Ensures appropriate funding and required waivers, certifications, approvals and compliances have been obtained for purchase requests. Coordinates with responsible officials to obtain funding, waivers, certifications and approvals that are lacking.
• Selects appropriate award mechanisms, contract types, methods of solicitation and options. Determines, options, milestones, and sources to be solicited. Develops and issues solicitations with appropriate provisions and well-defined statements of work, broad agency announcements, research announcements and structures appropriate award factors.
• Evaluates responses to solicitations, including price reasonableness, adequacy of competition, compliance with solicitations, and probability of meeting requirements. Negotiates prices, terms, and conditions.
• Performs cost and price analyses and prepares price negotiation memoranda. Makes awards consistent with established award factors. Prepares award documentation, including delineation of responsibilities of Government officials (CORs, ACO, etc).
• Provides guidance and assistance to peers and lower level employees. Serves as point of contact for assigned procurements. Serves as Contracting Officer when applicable. Promotes teamwork and total quality customer services on a continuing basis.
• Develops alternatives to produce best value supplies and services, as well as manage all aspects of the life cycle of a contract or other vehicle (e.g. orders, basic ordering agreements etc.) Administers long-term, complex contracts and assistance awards for procurements of extensive, highly specialized new or innovative research, and related materials and services affecting major agency programs and having significant impact on recipients' operations and on local geographic areas.
• Develops systems for evaluating and monitoring performance of contractors. Develops plans with milestones for administration of each assigned contract. Monitors contractors' performance for compliance with terms and conditions of contracts. Issues delivery orders as provided in contracts. Determines extent to which subcontracting plans comply with regulatory guidelines.
• Monitor subcontracting for compliance with plans. Issues consents to subcontract. Requests and evaluates proposals. Performs cost and price analyses. Assures compliance with cost accounting standards. Identifies potential funding and production problems and initiates remedial or corrective actions. Resolves and dispositions contract audit recommendations in a timely manner, while fully protecting the Government's interest. Negotiate settlements of disputes. Negotiates proposals and executes modifications.
• Analyzes and evaluates cost and pricing data to determine price reasonableness when relevant historical data and pricing precedents are generally not available or require extensive adaptation. Develops cost/pricing data, proposals and counter-proposals for use in negotiations. Analyzes contractor proposals to determine reasonableness, allowability, and allocability of costs. Determines appropriateness and reasonableness of proposed labor and overhead rates and labor escalation factors based on audit reports or other available sources. Documents results of cost and price analyses and market surveys.
• Resolves and dispositions contract audit recommendations in a timely manner, while fully protecting the Government's interest. Negotiates cost, price, and related factors. Presents price information and proposals at negotiation sessions. Develops data for use in pricing trends analyses. Promotes teamwork and total quality customer services on a continuing basis.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Selective Service requirements apply. Please visit for more information
• Suitable for Federal employment determined by required background investigation
• Must obtain/maintain Secret security clearance
• Drug Testing Designated position: Yes
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Financial Disclosure: Required
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt

Qualifications

You may qualify at the NH-03, if you fulfill the following qualifications:

A. Basic Contracting Requirement: A.) A bachelor's 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 position. In addition to meeting the Basic Contracting Requirement above, to qualify for the NH-03 level, specialized experience must be at the NH-02 (GS-11) level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service, military, or private sector. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements including time-after-competitive appointment, minimum qualifications, and any other regulatory requirements by the cut-off/closing date of the announcement. Creditable specialized experience includes:

• Interpret and utilize Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), or applicable acquisition regulations supplement and local policies in the administration, selection, and negotiating strategy of a contract or procurement.
• Compile and evaluate service, requirements, and/or cost data for a variety of pre-award and post-award procurement activities to negotiate procurements of a new or innovative research related materials, equipment, and/or service.
• Evaluate bid responsiveness, contractor responsibility, and contractor performance.
• Performing the full range of pre and post award contractual actions required in the procurement of services and supplies utilizing negotiated and/or simplified acquisition.

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.

**NOTE: Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

Education

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims.

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

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:

**NOTE: Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

Additional information

Other Notes:

• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• The overall salary range listed above is provided for informational purposes as it represents the full range that is applicable to current employees in this occupation/grade; however, a selectee's initial pay is always set below the maximum rate of the range.
• Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Agency's interest.
• Relocation and/or Recruitment incentive may be authorized if determined by the Hiring Manager to be in the best interest of the Agency.
• Telework is available in accordance with DOD Policy basis. Remote work is not authorized.

ACQUISITION POSITION: This position requires a Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification in Contracting - Foundational level (Contracting Professional). Certification prior to hiring is not essential but must be accomplished within 36 months after entry into this position. For information regarding the DAWIA Back to Basics please visit: Back to Basics - Helpful Resources (dau.edu)

• DAWIA (Back to Basics) Certification: NON-CAP: Position requires DoD Acquisition Foundational level certification within required timeframes. Selectee must also achieve 80 hours of Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) every 2-years. Click here for more details and Resources.

Re-employed Annuitant: If you have retired from civilian federal service and you are interested in employment as a re-employed annuitant, information can be found at: Reemployed Annuitants | DCPAS (osd.mil)

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see Who Needs to Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov))

This position is subject to an initial drug screening, and random testing thereafter. A negative drug test result must be received by HR within 30 calendar days after the EOD (i.e., start date). The selectee's 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.

All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement.

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.

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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.

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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.