Duties

• Develops negotiation plans and administers the most complex mission area contracts and develops milestone plans for assigned work, identifying within assigned major subsystems, components, equipment and services to be acquired by contract.
• Develops procurement objectives for the program in terms of competition and price range, constructs the contractual vehicle including use of pricing arrangements, subcontracting policy, set-aside policies and other considerations.
• Provides guidance in statements of services and technical specifications; oversees detailed analyses of all cost elements in contractor proposals; makes competitive range determinations; oversees pre-proposal and post-award conferences.
• Oversees the life cycle costing phases to include: Negotiation strategy with the negotiation team; validate the contract's terms and conditions; and the awards contract. Manages all aspects of contract termination actions.
• Manages the contract administration; oversees rate and cost adjustments, redirected contract efforts, time extensions, change orders, stop work orders, cure notices and show cause notices.
• Manages oversight reviews of solicitations and contracts for actions of all types and dollar amounts to assure compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, policies and procedures, Departmental and/or mission area guidance.
• Monitors payments arrangements and close-out contract activities according to specifications.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/
• Must meet the Federal Acquisition Institute Training Application System (FAITAS) or Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements applicable to the duties of the position.
• All GS-1102 employees being hired, reassigned, or promoted to GS-1102-13 and above positions shall meet the requirements for FAC-C Level III certification at time of application.
• A valid Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification is equivalent to a FAC-C at the same certification level, provided the FAC-C education and continuous learning requirements have been met.
• For selection at the GS-13 level, the employee must maintain a FAC-C Level III and if selected to an IT branch, obtain a Digital IT Acquisition Professional (DITAP) certification within 1 year of hire.
• Recent demonstrated experience as a Senior Contract Specialist in a major complex source selection utilizing FAR Part 15 authority is highly encouraged.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, qualified applicants must possess:

For the GS- 13 level: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS12); or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates experience that demonstrates experience: Significant experience with contract negotiation; cradle to grave contract administration; (ex. Source selection; acquisition strategy development; application and analysis of price/cost principles; policy review and implementation; customer outreach and collaboration; requirement package review; technical contract requirements applicable to both pre and post award documentation); Experience in a variety of contract types; Proper application and use of accounting and funding rules associated with the obligations of multiple types of appropriations; Directing, coordinating, assistance in the oversight of work for complex procurement activities; advising other team members regarding policy, procedure, and directives applicable to contract proposal submissions and other supporting documentation.

NOTE: To be considered for this position, you must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements for the GS-1102 series set forth in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards by the closing date of the announcement. A copy is available at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards

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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Basic Requirements

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

B. 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.

C. 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 under Paragraph D.

D. 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 D, 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.

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

To be eligible for appointment to this position, the new hire must be cleared to come on board once the results of the fingerprint check, review of the OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and the candidate's Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (eQIP) entries have been reviewed and determined to be satisfactory. This position requires a favorable credit check as part of the background investigation.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc) should contact: USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

If selected, you will be required to submit Form OGE-450 within 30 days of your initial appointment date, and annually thereafter. Selectee is subject to financial Disclosure Requirements in accordance with 5 CFR, Part 2635, Sub part E regarding business or personal transactions with applicants, borrowers, or business contacts who have or who are seeking business with this Agency. Selectee must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance. If selected you will be subject to a National Agency Check and Inquiry (NACI) and a credit report.

This position may be eligible to telework up to four days per week, based upon the duties of the position. This position may also be eligible for flexible work arrangements as determined by agency policy and any applicable collective bargaining agreements.