Contract Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Protective Service, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the senior contract specialist responsible for all aspects of pre-award and/or post awards function, and be responsible for a full range of planning, directing, and administering complex and major acquisitions.

Non-BU : This is a non-bargaining unit position.

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Duties

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As a Contract Specialist, GS-1102-14, your typical work assignments may include the following:

• Serving as a contracting officer with limited or unlimited signature authority for pre award and/or post award of large dollar value complex and/or sensitive contracts.
• Serving as a primary consultant regarding acquisition functions that encompass the planning, execution, administration and termination of complex and sensitive contracts.
• Using cost/price analysis techniques sufficient to negotiate contractor proposals and developing documentation to substantiate Government positions.
• Developing contractual terms and conditions, and to serve as a contractual authority and advisor.
• Performing contract administration functions such as verifying evidence of contractor's performance, negotiating modifications, issuing termination notices, reviewing contract claims and conducting contract closeouts.
• Providing guidance to lower graded specialists, program offices and fi eld offices regarding all aspects of DHS procurements.

All DHS-HQ announcements have a 5 business day open period due to the number of applications received.

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

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.

You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see

Pre-employment physical required: No

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses will not be paid.

One-year probationary period may be required.

This position requires a pre-employment drug test and a negative drug test prior to appointment into the position.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.

DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.

All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.

License required: No

Confidential Financial Disclosure Report: This position's duties and responsibilities require the filing of the Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) to avoid involvement in a real or apparent conflict of interest. The form must be filed upon entry to the organization and annually thereafter.

Promotion Potential: This position is at the full performance level.

Travel Requirements: This position may require occasional travel, approximately 1 to 5 nights per month.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation for Public Trust security clearance as a condition of placement in this Non-Sensitive/High Risk position. This review may include financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

Qualifications

Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the Basic Requirements AND Specialized Experience requirements as noted below

Basic Requirement for the GS-1102 Contracting Series for the GS-14 level. You must meet one of the items listed below:

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

A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following fi elds: accounting, business, fi nance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. (Must include a copy of transcripts with application).

OR

B. 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.

OR

C. 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, 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.

AND

Specialized Experience:GS-14 :You must have at least one year of full-time specialized experience (obtained in either the public or private sectors) comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-13 level in the Federal service, with experience in performing the following duties:1.Serving as the primary point of contact for program officials on acquisition and administrative matters affecting the procurement of supplies and services;2. Applying various procurement methodologies and practices to identify advantageous methods, terms, and courses of action for contracts; AND3.Serving as contracting officer authorized to perform pre-award and post-award procurement functions (i.e., solicit contract proposals, negotiate, enter into agreements, execute, and administer/terminate complex contracts).

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Only two-page resumes will be accepted and used to make an eligibility/qualifications determination.

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

Time-in-grade: Current General Schedule (GS) federal employees, and those that have served in GS positions within the last 52 weeks, must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade, or a combination of the next lower grade level and an equivalent band in the federal service by the closing of this announcement.

Note: Current or former Federal employees MUST submit a copy of their SF-50 Form which shows competitive service appointment ("position occupied" block 34 on the SF-50 should show a "1"), tenure group (block 24 should show a 1 or 2), grade, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 Form which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade ( examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, With-in Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s dated a year apart within the same grade/job ). If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof. IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CONSIDERATION AS A STATUS CANDIDATE.

National Service Experience: 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.

Essential Personnel Position - This position may be designated as essential personnel. Essential personnel must be able to serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of liberal leave or government closures due to weather, protests, and acts of terrorism or lack of funding. Failure to report for or remain in this position may result in disciplinary or adverse action in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations. (5 U.S.C. 7501-7533 and 5 CFR, Part 752, as applicable).

Education

This position requires specific coursework and/or a degree to meet the basic education requirement. You must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Your transcript(s) must clearly demonstrate the course(s) listed in the qualification requirement section. If the transcript(s) does not clearly demonstrate this you must submit a copy of the course description and/or other documentation demonstrating that the courses are equivalent.If you are claiming education as any part of your qualifications for this position, you must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned.

Special Instructions for 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. Failure to provide such documentation with your application will result in lost consideration. For further information, visit:

Additional information

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here:

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration of Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Essential Personnel: This position may be designated as essential personnel. Essential personnel must be able to serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations of liberal leave or government closures due to weather, protests, acts of terrorism, or lack of funding. Failureto report for or remain in this position may result in disciplinary or adverse action in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations (5 U.S.C. § 7501-7533 and 5 CFR Part 752, as applicable).

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.