Contract Specialist

Summary

As a Contract Specialist at the full performance level, you will be responsible for the full range of pre-award and post-award functions within the Federal Acquisition Service (FAS).

Location determined upon selection.

FAS provides a vast array of innovative products, services, and solutions across government at the best value possible.

We are currently filling five vacancies, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.

Learn more about this agency

Duties

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Analyze difficult contracting issues and identifies alternative courses of action

Assists the Contracting Officer (CO) in the acquisition planning processes, providing advice and assistance to ensure proposed service enhancements are within the scope of the contracts or that

specifications are developed in a format suitable for competitive solicitation.

Prepares acquisition documentation, including market analyses, acquisition plans, and Determination & Findings and submits to the CO for final review/approval. Helps determine the acquisition strategy that best aligns with customer requirements.

Supports the CO in negotiations, which includes planning and documenting a negotiation strategy and participating in negotiations to develop the contract prices and terms culminating in issuance of the contract or task order.

Ensures effective contracting by performing all necessary actions to comply with contract terms, safeguarding the interests of the United States in its contractual relationships, and providing quality acquisitions that adhere to regulatory and policy compliance.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
• Meet all eligibility criteria within 30 days of the closing date
• Meet time-in-grade within 30 days of the closing date, if applicable
• Register with Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959

If selected, you must meet the following conditions:

• 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 or NonCareer SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
• Serve a one year probationary period, if required.
• Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 4 investigation level).
• Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee. We will use the Department of Homeland Security's e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.
• Complete a financial disclosure report to verify that no conflict, or an appearance of conflict, exists between your financial interest and this position
• Position requires temporary duty business travel approximately 25% of the time.

Qualifications

For each job on your resume, provide:

• the exact dates you held each job (from month/year to month/year)
• number of hours per week you worked (if part time).

If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.

The GS-12salary range starts at $89,508per year. If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected.

To qualify, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level or higher in the Federal service.

GS-1102 Basic Requirement:

(A) A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field

or

(B) 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

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:

In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience performing a wide range of pre- and/or post-award contract activities such as soliciting, negotiating, awarding, monitoring, and/or closing out contracts; and interpreting and applying federal acquisition regulations, agency policies, and contract law principles to ensure compliance.

This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcript(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcements to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.

Education

Note: 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

Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

Applicants are encouraged to make their resume searchable in their USAJOBS.gov profile. This will allow Federal hiring specialists and hiring managers across agencies to find their resume as part of agency recruitment campaigns or staffing searches.

If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit GSA's webpage.

On a case-by-case basis, the following incentives may be approved:

• Recruitment incentive if you are new to the federal government

• Relocation incentive if you are a current federal employee

• Credit toward vacation leave if you are new to the federal government

Additional vacancies may be filled through this announcement in this or other GSA organizations within the same commuting area as needed; through other means; or not at all.

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.

Help

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.

You will have access to many benefits including:

• Health insurance (choose from a wide range of plans)
• Life insurance coverage with several options
• Sick leave and vacation time, including 11 paid holidays per year
• Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k) plan)
• Transit and child care subsidies
• Flexible spending accounts
• Long-term care insurance
• Training and development

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.