Contract Specialist

Summary

Serves as Contract Specialist within one of the Office of Facilities Acquisition, Office of Procurement, Acquisition & Logistics (OALC), Office of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The office provides direct support functions for: fiduciary management of Department of Veterans Affairs budgets, contract administration for architectural and engineering services, construction consultants and construction services, contracts for personal services, and a wide array of administrative programs.

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Duties

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The Contract Specialist serves within the Office of Facilities Acquisition. Contracting activities cover all stages of the acquisition cycle, which involves construction, architect-engineer services of many types, construction management environmental studies, utility connections, and other services. Major duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Leading planning, redesign, design, pre-bid, preconstruction, phasing and other conferences and meetings with Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO) and Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) officials, facility, staff, private architectural and engineering firms and construction firms.
• Providing consulting and advisory services to other VA facilities and staff officials on contracting issues and on possible projects.
• Reviewing reports, papers, and design and construction documents from VA's professional staff and contractors to ensure technical accuracy and compliance with standard operating procedures.
• Monitoring administrative contract support activities and assuring adequate support is provided for acquisition contract requirements and activities.
• Directing and overseeing all contract changes and those activities involved in the resolution of contract changes.
• Proposing recommendations for revisions to procedures for the guidance and control of VA-wide projects.
• Conducting in-depth research on current economic trends and related alternatives for renovation and modernization of existing structures.
• Keeping abreast of proposed legislative changes regarding issues dealing with federal contracting regulations, and real property acquisition use and disposal.
• Conferring with management officials and subject matter experts with internal and external stakeholders about numerous and varies matters concerning the planning, funding, and design and construction of VA facilities.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm

Compressed/Flexible: Available

Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. 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/ PD13284A and PD00336A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure: Required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• 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, driver's 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 interest. In 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/09/2026.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Contracting Series, 1102, Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR):

This Contract Specialist has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) , that must be met prior to or after appointment.

GS-12 Requirements:

1. A four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field. [ NOTE: A TRANSCRIPT WITH NAME, SCHOOL NAME, AND DATE OF CONFERRAL MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION]

OR

2. 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

GS-12 Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of full-time specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-11) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to:

• Applying contracting regulations, policies, procedures and requirements to administer contracts.
• Applying pre-solicitation and solicitation principles, requirements, and processes to prepare solicitation documents including cost and pricing standards.
• Experience using negotiation techniques to conduct pre-award and post-award negotiations such as supplemental agreements or settlement actions.
• Experience in cost and price analysis techniques to prepare proposals against previous history, actual expenditures and established rates to determine negotiation positions.
• Utilizing oral and written communications to convey technical contract regulations and requirements, and to document contracting methods and techniques employed to obtain negotiation objectives.

Certification Requirements GS-12: Certification Requirements GS-12: A FAC-C (Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting) Professional (Legacy FAC-C Level II or higher) certification or DAWIA equivalent is required within 24 months of appointment for a GS-12 Contracting Specialist. [ NOTE: IF YOU POSSESS THIS CERTIFICATION, A COPY MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION]

GS-13 Basic Requirements:

1. 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 GS-12 grade level of the position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position.

AND

2. 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 fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. [ NOTE: A TRANSCRIPT WITH NAME, SCHOOL NAME, AND DATE OF CONFERRAL MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION]

3. 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 in 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 to qualify for promotion to a higher grade, unless granted a waiver.

AND

Specialized Experience for the GS-13 level of this position: Applicants must have one year of full-time 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:

• Serving as a senior-level expert, for complex, high-value, or urgent requirements.
• Overseeing preparation of procurement instruments; negotiates the terms and conditions of a contract.
• Reviewing work completed by contractors to ensure it meets contractual standards.
• Analyzing price or cost data to recommend specific contracting actions.
• Participating (formally or informally) in an acquisition team and/or integrated program/project team.

Certification Requirements GS-13: To meet the agency's' mandatory training requirements as prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS-13 or higher level, applicants must have obtained a Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting FAC-C Professional or Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA] Contracting Professional) certification. [NOTE: A COPY OF CERTIFICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION].

NOTE: Current/former VA or government employees must have successfully completed a FAC-C Professional (or Legacy Contracting Level II or higher) or DAWIA Contracting Professional (or Legacy Contracting Level II or higher) certification.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

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: .

• Demonstrated knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), and other Federal acquisition regulations, such as VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR), VA Acquisition Manual (VAAM), etc.
• Knowledge of acquisition principles, policies and processes pertaining to a major construction and/or Architect-Engineer acquisition program, a major supply chain, logistics or health care organization.
• Experience with a variety of contract types and purchasing types. Has experience mentoring and training contract officers and reviewing other contracting officers' work.
• Demonstrated ability to identify issues, recommend improvements, implements and deliver high-quality customer service.
• Experience in dealing with/resolving complex issues requiring courtesy and effective communication skills (both oral and written) as a participant/leader (formally or informally) in an acquisition team and/or integrated program/project team

Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave : Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

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.