Duties

Summary

Tour of Duty: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Position Description Title/PD#: Procurement Analyst (Small Business Specialist)/ PD#04170-A
Compressed/Flexible Schedules: Eligible
Telework: Eligible
Virtual Position: No

This recruitment is for one position with the VHA Regional Procurement Office East, Network Contracting Office (NCO) 6, located at Hampton, VA.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Procurement Analyst (Small Business Specialist) / PD# 04170-A

The Procurement Analyst acts in accordance with agency regulations (i.e., Federal Acquisition Regulation, VA Acquisition Regulation. Advise potential suppliers on procedures concerning formal advertising and negotiated acquisitions. Develops guidance materials (i.e., 2268 guidance, Small Business updates, and FAR/VAAR updates pertaining to Small Businesses) and provides technical advice to managers and contracting officers on the nuances of the varied small business programs; highlighting VA's statutory procurement hierarchy and mandatory sources as outlined in the FAR/VAAR and VA issued guidance. Develops, monitors, and maintains statistical data bases related to the acquisition process in response to initiatives established by the Department of Veteran Affairs. Serves as the NCO technical advisor for assisting small business concerns in obtaining payments under their contracts, late payments, interest penalties, or information on contractual payment provisions; as well as advising on key Department established acquisition directives. Makes recommendations in accordance with agency procedures as to whether a particular acquisition should be awarded under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 19.5 as a small business set-aside, under FAR Subpart 19.8 as a Section 8(a) award, under FAR Subpart 19.13 as a HUBZ one set-aside, or in accordance with P.L. 109-461 as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business set-aside. Performs or advises on responsibility determinations (i.e., evaluations of the financial and technical capabilities) or the past performance of small business concerns as apparent successful offerors. Extent to which small businesses are receiving sufficient share of procurements to ensure the Department's socio-economic goals are met; Actions taken to mitigate the effects of necessary and justified contract bundling on small businesses. The incumbent must have extensive knowledge in all aspects of contracting to properly advise small business concerns on doing business with the Department of Veteran Affairs, as well as advising the Network Contracting Office's staff, customers, and other stakeholders. Other unique requirements include intra/interagency agreements, sharing agreements, contract selling agreements, research and development, and leases. Conducts Small Business program training for NCO clients in the VISN and healthcare systems. Develops and maintains acquisition related training for VA acquisition personnel. Perform solicitation and contract reviews and conduct analysis on problem areas. Employ Federal and VA acquisition regulations and other relevant materials as the foundation for formulating guidelines, implementing new developments, and providing policy interpretation to facility contracting activities, Interprets and implements policy designed to assure uniform application with respect to subordinate programs on contracts on long term procurement programs involving use of performance based service contacts for unusual and unique services and materials, in a market with limited competition due to a lack of contractors capable of performing the work. Use data captured to analyze systemic problem areas and make recommendations to higher management as to the root cause of those problems. Locates and furnish information on capable, responsible, small business concerns for consideration as potential sources for current and future acquisitions. Implements Government policy designed to assure uniform application of subcontracting programs involving the various small business concerns throughout the VISN. Provides recurring reports for dissemination to the Network Director and Medical Center Directors summarizing socio-economic accomplishments for each facility. Maintain integrity of program design to identify capable sources under the socioeconomic program to improve opportunities for current and future acquisitions.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

You must be a US citizen to apply for this job.
Subject to a background/suitability investigation.
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
Position requires filing a Financial Disclosure report

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The work is sedentary in nature. Typically the employee sits at a desk or table with some walking and standing. The employee's work is normally performed in an office setting.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/02/2020.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

Basic Requirement GS-12:
4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field. Or 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.
Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy GS-1102 positions at grades 5 through 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified at GS-12. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade 12. However, employees must meet specialized experience requirements when seeking another position.

AND

Specialized Experience GS-12:

Applicants must have One year of 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: Knowledge of Government contracting laws and policies including techniques of contracting operations, detailed procedures of department contracting requirements and familiarity with the practices of business and industry sufficient to develop policies and provide guidance to subordinate activities. Knowledge of a wide range of contracting methods and procedures and contracts to identify contractual opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses and to review procurement requirements and instruments to satisfy small business program objectives. Knowledge of a wide range of contracting methods and procedures and contracts to identify contractual opportunities (for small businesses and to review procurement requirements and instruments to satisfy small business program objectives. Knowledge of program requirements or technical needs sufficient to enable the employee to aid in procurement planning and in describing technical requirements which include complex and diversified services and supplies, such as procurement transactions to meet the consolidated requirement of the VA, facilities and equipment to support programs or technical services Analytical skill sufficient to evaluate audit reports, regulations, and other relevant material as a basis for developing and implementing OAL/P&LO guides or procedures. Skill in oral communications to present sensitive recommendations to Medical Center and VISN leadership and to obtain compliance with OAL/P&LO and higher policies from subordinate contracting and purchasing activities. Skill in public speaking and publicity techniques that are sufficient to plan or conduct conference or training sessions. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with individuals at all organizational levels within and outside the VA. Skill in written communications that are sufficient to develop and publish VISN regulations and other material.

Additional information on the qualification requirements are outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on OPM's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/classifying-general-schedule-positions/ .

Preferred Requirements: Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting. FAC link www.fai.gov/drupal/certification/contracting-fac-c

Education

There is no educational substitution for the GS-12 level.

APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: 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 (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Therefore, applicants must report attendance and/or degrees from only these schools. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following websites: www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html and http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ .

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs.

Additional information

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified, you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp

Receiving Service Credit for 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.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

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

If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

You will be rated on the following competencies based on your application for this position:

Competency 1 - Knowledge of Government contracting laws and policies including techniques of contracting operations, detailed procedures of department contracting requirements and familiarity with the practices of business and industry sufficient to develop policies and provide guidance to subordinate activities.

Competency 2 - Knowledge of a wide range of contracting methods and procedures and contracts to identify contractual opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses to review procurement requirements and instruments to satisfy small business program objectives.

Competency 3 - Knowledge of program requirements or technical needs sufficient to enable the employee to aid in procurement planning and in describing technical requirements which include complex and diversified services and supplies, such as procurement transactions to meet the consolidated requirement of the VA, facilities and equipment to support programs or technical services.

Competency 4 - Analytical skill sufficient to evaluate audit reports, regulations, and other relevant material as a basis for developing and implementing OAL/P&LO guides or procedures.

Competency 5 - Skill in public speaking and publicity techniques sufficient to plan or conduct conference or training sessions. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with individuals at all organizational levels within and outside the VA.

If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to: responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume/application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

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.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

The following documents are required:

Your Résumé (Must include series, grade, step, starting and ending dates of employment, month and year, and hours worked per week, and salary information).

If you are a current or former Federal employee, you must submit a copy of your last or most recent signed Notification of Personnel Action (SF50) showing your position, title, series, grade and eligibility. Applicants who fail to submit this form will be rated INELIGIBLE (SF-50 must be in PDF format; text format will not be accepted). Note:. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade. Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:

• Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
• Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
• SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

Copy of unofficial transcripts. Must show name of college to determine accreditation. If qualifying based on degree, or for positions requiring a degree, the transcript must show date the degree was conferred. If selected, you must provide official transcripts. NOTE: Transcripts should state degree conferred, and have a date.

Please use this checklist to ensure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

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.