Duties

Summary

THIS IS AN OPEN CONTINUOUS POSTING. APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AND REVIEWED ON A ROLLING BASIS.

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

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

The incumbent serves as a contract specialist for the Library of Congress programs. This position is located in the Library of Congress Contracts Section, Office of Contracts and Grants Management. The incumbent awards and administers a wide range of contracts actions for the various library service units. The incumbent serves as a Contracting Officer and Team Leader.

The first cutoff for receipt of applications under this announcement will be 11:59 p.m. EST on August 23, 2021.

NOTICE: This position is not eligible for permanent remote work.

This position is located in the Contracts and Grants Division, Office of the Chief Operating Officer.

The position description number for this position is 347532.

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

This is a non-supervisory, non-bargaining unit position.

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

Negotiates contracts for several Library programs that include various contract types of varying complexity. Contracting methods and types are utilized to procure large, highly sophisticated, and important equipment systems, programs, and services where little or no contractual precedent exists. Plans the negotiation strategy, coordinates strategy with negotiation team, and conducts negotiations with contractors to arrive at contract prices and terms. Prepares the contracts and recommends award.

Serves as Contract Specialist responsible for complex procurements containing numerous differing processes or elements. Performs procurement planning. Prepares novel or innovative acquisition plans, source selection plans, and contract terms, conditions, or financial arrangements which serve as models for future acquisitions. Prepares procurement objectives relating to the terms of competition and price range, and constructs the contractual vehicle including use of pricing arrangements, subcontracting policy, and like considerations. Prepares milestone charts and related schedules. Advises program officials in procurement planning.

Engages in contract administration activities for important, highly specialized procurements. Responsibilities typically include functions such as exercising options, reviewing and negotiating requests for equitable adjustment and claims, coordinating schedule extensions, incorporating change orders, issuing stop work orders, approving payment schedules and terms, and ensuring final payment and release of claims prior to closeout.

Independently reviews contractor performance through site visits, correspondence, and phone conversations for completion of applicable contract clauses e.g., intellectual property rights, labor laws, and performance reports, and deliverables. Makes recommendations and issues cure or show cause notices when the contractor is not in compliance. Conducts contract reviews to assess performance. Oversees contractor activities through personal contact or review to ensure compliance with technical, financial, delivery, and other contract terms.

Serves as a Team Leader. Articulates and communicates to the team the assignment, project, problem to be solved, actionable events, milestones, and/or program issues under review, and deadlines and time frames for completion. Identifies, distributes, and balances workload and tasks among employees in accord with established workflow, skill level, and/or occupational specialization. Makes adjustments to accomplish the workload in accord with established priorities to ensure timely accomplishment of assigned team tasks. Monitors and reports to the supervisor on the status and progress of work, checking on work in progress and reviewing completed work to ensure instructions on work priorities, methods, deadlines, and quality have been met. Answers questions from team members on procedures, policies, regulations, etc. Prepares reports and maintains records of work accomplishments and administrative information, as required, and coordinates the preparation, presentation, and communication of work-related information. Estimates and reports to the team on progress in meeting established milestones and deadlines for completing assignments, projects, and tasks. Ensures all team members are aware of and participate in planning for achievement of team goals and objectives.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Your resume is important to this application process. It will be reviewed to determine whether you possess the qualifications referenced above. All applicants are required to submit a resume that provides specific information (to include accomplishments, work experience and education/training) that clearly describes what you would bring to the position.

See requirements listed below Qualifications for more information.

Qualifications

To be eligible for this position, you must be either:

A former Library of Congress employee who successfully completed a probationary period and was appointed to a permanent Library position at the GS-13 or higher grade, or to a permanent Library position in a career ladder with GS-13 or higher promotion potential.

A current or former Federal employee who holds "Career" status from a permanent position in the competitive service and is or was appointed to a Federal position at the GS-13 or higher grade, or to a Federal position in a career ladder with GS-13 or higher promotion potential.

Under Library policy, to be eligible for noncompetitive transfer or reappointment, a current or former Federal employee must: (1) hold "Career" status from a permanent position in the competitive service, (2) be, or have been, appointed to a Federal position of the same or higher grade, or to a Federal position in a career ladder with the same or higher promotion potential, and (3) meet the minimum qualifications requirements of the position to which the transfer or reappointment is made.

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

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

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.

Your resume should reflect any education, training, and experience that furnishes you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully meet the following competencies of this position:

Knowledge of Federal contracting laws, regulations, principles, policies, and procedures to develop and issue solicitations and contracts.** Applied knowledge of Federal contracting laws, regulations and policies to perform all aspects of contracting transactions, from initiation to recommendation for award.

Ability to communicate in writing.** Drafted, reviewed, and edited documents and reports related to contract and procurement activities, including acquisition and source selection plans; price negotiation memoranda or trade off analysis; contract review or business clearance memoranda; solicitations and contracts; interagency agreements; and determinations and findings; reports in response to protests, claims, or congressional inquiries.

Ability to solicit, negotiate, and monitor contracts.** The ability to negotiate and monitor contracts with vendors. This includes the ability to 1) define necessary work, 2) solicit, and 3) analyze proposals, 4) make recommendations for vendor selection, 5) finalize contract terms, and 6) initiate contract revisions to satisfy evolving program requirements. This also includes 7) the ability to oversee contractor activities and 8) ensure contract requirements are met and all activities are performed in compliance with contract terms.

Ability to research, analyze, and interpret Federal contracting laws, regulations, principles, and policies.** Researched, analyzed, and interpreted Federal contracting laws, regulations, and policies and used analytical methods to assess and analyze Federal contracts.

Ability to lead a team. The ability to assess and instruct team members and recommend relevant and appropriate training. This includes the ability to: 1) review the work of team members for compliance with legal, regulatory, and procedural requirements and best practices; 2) plan, prioritize, and balance team projects or assignments to accomplish work in a timely manner; and 3) serve as an advisor to program officials in procurement planning, and advising clients on effective strategies to achieve their needs.

Ability to assess and meet customer needs. Developed various ways to understand and evaluate customer needs in a contracting environment.

Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing. Communicated in both formal and informal settings such as communicating effectively with subordinates, peers, and vendors, consulting with colleagues both within and outside the agency, or formally presenting information at outside conferences and agency meetings.

Education

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.

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

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 a resume review 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 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.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
No

Required Documents

A. If relying on education to meet qualifications: 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.

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

C. 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.