Duties

Summary

This position is in the Department of the Interior, Interior Business Center, Acquisition Services Directorate (AQD). AQD is a line of business within the U.S. Department of the Interior's Interior Business Center. The incumbent will serve as a Contracting Officer and Senior Contract Specialist responsible for pre-award and post-award functions for a broad range of highly complex, multidisciplinary, multi-agency contracts, and interagency agreements, including research and development contracts.
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Responsibilities

• Use innovative techniques and procedures to award complex, competitive negotiated contracts; directed sources acquisitions using Socioeconomic Programs (Small Business Administration 8(a));
• Use research and development and other contracts to produce a positive outcome for the client;
• Conduct pre-award and post-award conferences
• Conduct conferences and face-to-face meetings with technical and program personnel and contractor representatives on a wide variety of technical, legal and cost problems;
• Perform procurement planning to include developing procurement objectives for the program in terms of competition and price range;
• Prepare and maintaining current acquisition plans, appropriate milestone charts, and related schedules;
• Terminate contracts for the convenience of the Government or default by the contractor

Travel Required

Occasional travel - 1 to 5 nights per month for training and conferences

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by background investigation.
• Direct Deposit of pay is required.
• Selective Service registration required for male applicants, unless exempt.
• Status candidates must meet time-in-grade (see Qualifications).

Qualifications

ALL APPLICANTS APPLYING FOR THE CONTRACT SPECIALIST GS-12 MUST POSSESS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING BASIC REQUIREMENTS AND THE STATED SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:

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

(NOTE: You are required to submit your unofficial college transcripts from an appropriately accredited educational institution in order to document completion of the educational requirements for this position. The unofficial transcripts must be legible and include your name, major, school name/location, course title/number, date completed, grade, number of credits earned, and degree(s) conferred. In the case that your transcripts do not show that a degree was conferred, you may submit your unofficial transcripts AND a copy of your degree certification. If selected, official transcripts will be required prior to establishing an entrance on duty date.)

OR

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

One year of specialized experience or equivalent work at the GS-11 grade level in the Federal services. The specialized experience includes but is not limited to the following: Using contracting principles and procedures applicable to pre-award and/or post-award actions sufficient to procure and/or administer contracts for a variety of specialized equipment, services, and/or construction; skill in negotiating sole source contracts and modifications; skill in competitive source selection procedures; using a variety of fixed-price and cost contracts, use of special provisions and incentives, and unique regulatory requirements pertinent to diverse procurements; and using cost and price procedures and techniques to evaluate bids or offers and responsibility of contractors on the basis of competition, historical costs, reports from auditors or technical specialists, contractor cost breakdowns regarding labor, materials, overhead, and profit, or other evaluation criteria and selection processes.

ALL APPLICANTS APPLYING FOR THE CONTRACT SPECIALIST GS-13 POSITION MUST POSSESS ALL OF THE FOLLOWING BASIC REQUIREMENTS AND THE STATED SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:

A 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree that included 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: You are required to submit your unofficial college transcripts from an appropriately accredited educational institution in order to document completion of the educational requirements for this position. The unofficial transcripts must be legible and include your name, major, school name/location, course title/number, date completed, grade, number of credits earned, and degree(s) conferred. In the case that your transcripts do not show that a degree was conferred, you may submit your unofficial transcripts AND a copy of your degree certification. If selected, official transcripts will be required prior to establishing an entrance on duty date.)

AND

At least 4 years experience in contracting or related positions - 1 year of which is specialized experience or equivalent to work at the next lower level in the Federal service.

AND

One of the following:

• Federal Acquisition Certification Level I- Contracting (FAC-C) certificate
• Defense Acquisition Workforce Certification Level I - (DAWIA) certificate
• Proof of 80 continuous learning points (CLPs) obtained within the last two years, beginning with the date of certification

NOTE: New contract specialist employees will be expected to obtain a FAC-C level II within 24 months of working with AQD.

AND

One year of specialized experience or equivalent work at the GS-12 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes assignments that involve developing and implementing contracting plans that typically include: the full range of complex procurement and contracting functions including contract negotiation, administration and termination, including research and development contracts; performing life cycle costing for an unusually large amount of products and services with a large dollar value associated with procurement; developing procurement plans; analyzing procurement requirements, marketing conditions, the contractor's responsibility, and availability of product/services; reconciling contractual delivery times, terms and conditions; developing new terms and conditions or other innovations necessary to satisfy the unique procurement requirements and conditions; and organizing and implementing strategically sourced contracts.

Exception: Employees in the GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupied 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, employees will have to meet the basic requirements and specialized experience requirements in order to qualify for promotion to a higher grade. If using this exception to qualify you MUST submit an SF-50 that supports the title, series, and grade occupied on 01/01/00.)

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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

TIME-IN-GRADE: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b).

Education

You are required to submit your unofficial college transcripts from an appropriately accredited educational institution in order to document completion of the educational requirements for this position. The unofficial transcripts must be legible and include your name, major, school name/location, course title/number, date completed, grade, number of credits earned, and degree(s) conferred. In the case that your transcripts do not show that a degree was conferred, you may submit your unofficial transcripts AND a copy of your degree certification. If selected, official transcripts will be required prior to establishing an entrance on duty date.

Only education from institutions which are accredited or preaccredited/candidate for accreditation may be used to meet education requirements.

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: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp) .

Appointment Authorities: For more information on appointment authority eligibility requirements:
Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A
Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses
Other Special Appointment Authorities
OPM Interchange Agreement and Other Miscellaneous Authorities

Telework Suitability :
The duties of this position are suitable for occasional telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval and if they meet the eligibility criterion in the 2010 Telework Act.

Stipulations of Employment:

Selection may require completion of a 1-year probationary period.

Work Schedule:

This position allows for a flexible work schedule.

Miscellaneous :

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify .

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Applications: help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill similar positions within 90 days.

If selection is made below the full performance level, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotion(s) will depend on the performance of the incumbent and are not guaranteed.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

• Influencing / Negotiating
• Interpersonal Skills
• Legal, Government, & Jurisprudence
• Oral Communication
• Technical Competency - Contracting / Procurement
• Technical Competency - Technical Documentation

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process
Credentialing

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your Resume listing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment mm/yy and duties performed.
2. SF-50 or DD-214

• Current/Former Career/Career-Conditional Eligible: You must submit your most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent) showing that you are/were in the competitive service, as well as the highest grade (or promotion potential) held, on a permanent basis

3. College transcript(s)
4. For the GS-13 only: FAC-C, DAWIA, or proof of 80 continuous learning points

5. Other supporting documents:

• SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities
• Non-competitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable
• Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal)
• Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable
• Cover letter, optional

Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc.

Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted prior to the closing date of the announcement.

Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.