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Contract Specialist

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Feb 24, 2021
Duties

Summary

This is an open continuous vacancy announcement.

IMPORTANT APPLICATION DEADLINE: Referral of candidates from this announcement will be made from applications received by 11:59 PM EST on the following dates: 1/18/2021, 3/8/2021, 4/19/2021, 6/7/2021, 7/19/2021The announcement will remain open until all positions are filled or until the final referrals are made on:8/23/2021

The first cutoff for receipt of applications under this announcement will be 11:59 p.m. EST on September 8, 2020.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The incumbent serves as a contract specialist for the Library of Congress programs. This position will be utilized throughout the Office of the Chief Operating Officer. The incumbent prepares contracts and agreements for award and administers a wide range of contract actions for the various library service units.

The Library applies sound and innovative business strategies and techniques to provide timely, effective, and seamless acquisition and grant support to our clients to enable fulfillment of the Library's mission. The incumbent serves as a contract specialist for the Library of Congress.

As a contract specialist at the Library, you will have the opportunity to work with leaders in their fields to understand and help them fulfill of their needs through contractual relationships. You will research and provide guidance on complex issues such as contract structure, negotiation strategies, and performance management in support of your clients' missions. You will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge you gain to negotiate meaningful and effective contracts for a broad spectrum of your clients' needs, applying your knowledge of law and business practices to a broad range of actions and establish and maintain client confidence and trust. You will support and guide your clients and team members in the consistent and effective application of integrity, honesty, and tact in all of the dealings within your portfolio. You will execute all aspects of contracting transactions: from working with clients to develop and refine their needs through evaluation, negotiation, and selection of contractors for a dynamic range of supplies and specialized services. You will apply techniques to research market conditions and sources, develop effective strategies to achieve results, and negotiate to obtain the best value solutions for your clients' diverse needs. You will apply your skills to effectively manage performance on technically complex contract engagements, including obtaining and monitoring funding levels and expenditures, analyzing contract costs, evaluating firms' fiscal soundness, production capacity, and methods for quality assurance.

The Contract Specialist conducts advance acquisition planning and prepares novel or innovative acquisition plans, source selection plans, and contract terms, conditions, or financial arrangements which serve as models for future acquisitions. You will advise clients and prepare procurement objectives for clear requirements to support optimal competition.

Serves as negotiator for Library programs involving multiple interrelated requirements and contracts; work with contracting officers and junior-level specialists to plan, negotiate, execute, and monitor contracts. Explains Library of Congress contract provisions for team members, clients, and industry personnel. Ensures agreements comply with contract terms and provisions.

Performs all aspects of contracting transactions for procurements with numerous different processes or elements resulting in extensive contract administration and subcontracting. Responsible for important and complex agency acquisitions involving diverse supplies and services, e.g., telecommunications and other electronic systems and subsystems, building maintenance, architect/engineering, etc. Coordinates contractual actions involving many sophisticated, multi-million dollar contracts with periods of performance.

Analyzes proposals extending for more than one year and requiring projecting expected changes in labor and material costs and technology that do not permit price comparisons because of restricted competition. Responsible for conducting extensive and complex cost and financial analyses. Uses cost estimating methods, such as learning curve, regression analysis, sophisticated contractual arrangements, extensive fact finding, etc. Prepares final price for negotiation position and participates as a member on the negotiating team. Prepares contract termination actions for significant project contracts after several years of work have been expended. Supports termination of highly specialized and complex procurements that are significant to the Library. Evaluates settlement proposals/claims involving disposition of large amounts of Government inventory and/or property.

This position is located in the Office of the Chief Operating Officer, Office of the Librarian.

The position description number for this position is 058634.

The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustments for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.

The incumbent of this position will work a flextime work schedule.

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit position.

Relocation expenses will not be authorized for the person(s) selected under this vacancy announcement.

Applicants may submit or update their application before the closing date.

Applicants will be referred after the first cutoff date, and subsequent referrals will be made at the manager's request.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
12

Requirements

Conditions of Employment


No additional requirements to those listed above.

Qualifications

Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish them with an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision.

Knowledge of the Federal Contracting Laws, Regulations, Policies, and Procedures.**

Ability to Solicit, Evaluate, Negotiate, Award, and Administer Contracts.**

Ability to Analyze and Solve Problems Related to Contractual Issues and Make Recommendations.**

Ability to Communicate in Writing.**

Ability to Focus on the Customer.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

Education

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.

You must submit a legible copy of your college/university transcripts to your online application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if selected. Failure to submit the required legible documentation at the time of application will result in disqualification of your application.

Foreign Education - Education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed equivalent to conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. If your college/university is outside the U.S., your transcripts must be accompanied by a report from a credential evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE). Failure to submit a foreign education evaluation report will result in disqualification of your application.

Additional information

The announcement may close earlier or at the request of the selecting official or after the job is filled.

Although it is the Library's policy to afford the maximum pay benefit to employees when setting rates of pay, a new appointee who has had no previous Federal service will generally be paid the minimum step of the grade.

The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicants must submit a complete application package that is received by the closing date of this announcement.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please email ADA@loc.gov. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. Certification from health care providers are not accepted. For more information contact the Library's Office of EEO/Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

The Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and is part of the Legislative Branch of the Federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.

Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation.

The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.

Initial appointments, permanent or indefinite, to the Library of Congress require completion of a one-year probationary period.

The Library of Congress may offer repayment for all or part of federally insured student loans. However, not all service units within the Library of Congress participates in the repayment of federally insured student loans. Therefore, determination to repay a federally insured student loan is subject to approval by the appropriate service unit.

A "Not to Exceed" (NTE) status is used to identify an appointment with a specific ending date. However, the Library has the right to separate a NTE employee at any time due to either performance issues or budget constraints.

Are you a veteran? Please indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming in your application materials and/or applicant profile and provide the appropriate supporting documentation to validate your claim. Those applying for 5-point preference must submit Member Copy 4 of your DD 214. Those applying for 10-point preference must fill out an SF-15 (click here for the form) and provide the required documentation listed on the back of the form. If required supporting documentation is not attached, Veterans' Preference will not be considered in the application process.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

The Library of Congress evaluates applicants through an applicant questionnaire and a structured interview. Applicants may also be screened for some jobs through licensing, certification, and/or education requirements, a narrative/application review, and/or a preliminary telephone interview. The knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are marked with a double asterisk (**) in the vacancy announcement and the applicant questionnaire are considered the most critical for a position. To be considered for final selection, applicants must demonstrate fully acceptable experience in these designated KSAs in the narrative/application review, preliminary telephone and/or full structured interview. The various assessment tools listed above are designed to verify or explore applicants' experience, knowledge, and training directly related to the job in order to identify the best qualified applicants for selection.

For more information regarding eligibility requirements, please see the Library of Congress Merit Selection Plan, Section X.D, at: http://www.loc.gov/hr/employment/msp010909.pdf .

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

Current or former federal employees must submit their most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50 or equivalent).

Applicants with disabilities may be considered under special hiring procedures and must submit an appropriate certificate of eligibility when applying for this position. The proof or disability/certification may be issued by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Office, Disability Services or Career Services office of the applicant's college or university, or the Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must verify that the applicant has a severe disability and must be dated within three years of the date of the application. The program does not accept certification from health care providers. For more information contact the Library's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Programs at 202-707-6024 or email spp@loc.gov. FAILURE TO SUBMIT YOUR CERTIFICATION WILL CAUSE YOUR APPLICATION TO NOT BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT PROGRAM.

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.

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