Duties

Summary

You are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of your application package. We encourage you to read the entire announcement before starting the application process. Qualifications and requirements must be met by the announcement closing date.

This recruitment is subject to restrictions of the DoD referral system for displaced employees.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Serves as the Contract Specialist in a Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) location. The primary purpose of this position is to perform a full range of pre and post award contracting functions within any Defense Commissary Agency. .

This is a developmental position. Work assignments are progressively complex and intended to broaden your skills and provide you with practical experience to prepare you to perform at the target grade level.

Position Responsibilities include:

• Receive the education, training, and developmental assignments necessary to equip him/her to perform the duties of the Contract Specialist at the full performance level.
• Responsible for pre-award and post-award functions for a variety of supplies, services, equipment contracts.
• Perform market research, determine the most suitable methods of acquisition, and prepare acquisition plans and attendant acquisition documentation.
• Develop source selection criteria and technical evaluation plans, determines the need for and conducts acquisition conferences and other activities with industry to ensure all requirements of the agency are clearly communicated.
• Meet with contractors and technical representatives in presentations and demonstrations, negotiate terms and conditions of contracts, utilize innovative techniques and ideas to develop contractual arrangements taking into consideration life cycle management, cost benefits analysis, economic pricing arrangements, market fluctuations, distribution considerations, etc.
• Prepare contract award packages.
• Perform a full range of contract administration functions including monitoring contractor performance, interpreting contract provisions for contractors and for officials of the agency; negotiating consideration for late delivery and non-conforming products; reviewing settlement proposals and negotiating settlement actions; and closing the contract upon completion.

Travel Required

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

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
11

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. National.
• Must meet minimum age requirement. See the Additional Information section for more information.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service System by the announcement closing date or exempt from registration.
• May be subject to successful E-Verify check. See more information at https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• May be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, based on a completed background investigation.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain security clearance eligibility based on an appropriate background investigation.
• May be subject to a two year probationary/trial period.
• Direct deposit of pay is required: Yes
• Work environment: The incumbent will function primarily in an office setting, involving the normal everyday risks and discomforts. May work for short periods of time in a warehouse setting
• Physical Requirements: Work is mostly sedentary but there will be some physical effort, such as standing, walking, bending, or sitting. There are no special physical demands for this position.
• COVID19: All Federal Employees must be fully vaccinated by November 22, 2021. Please see Additional Information.

Qualifications

In accordance with the Individual Occupational Requirements for the Contracting Series, https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1100/contracting-series-1102/ , applicants applying to the GS-09 position must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level OR two full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or masters or equivalent graduate level or LL.B. or J.D OR a combination of education and experience by the closing date of this announcement.

Applicants applying to the GS-11 position must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level OR three full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or PH.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR a combination of education and experience by the closing date of this announcement.

AND

A bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees.
OR
Have served in an 1102 position or as a service member in a similar occupational specialty on or before September 30, 2000.Volunteer Experience: Your experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, and 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.

For qualifications determinations your resume must contain your name, a description of your duties, the number of hours worked per week and the beginning and ending dates (month/year) for each position. Resumes that do not contain this information will be marked as insufficient and applicants may not receive consideration for this position.

In addition to meeting the qualifications outlined above, you must also meet the following requirements:

Time after competitive appointment: Candidates applying under merit promotion must have completed three months of civilian service after a competitive appointment by the closing date of the announcement. (5 CFR 330.501)Time-in-Grade: Current or previous federal employees must have held a permanent appointment in the competitive or excepted service for a minimum of 52 weeks at the GS-07 (or equivalent) level to be eligible for the GS-09 position by the closing date of the announcement.

Time-in-Grade: Current or previous federal employees must have held a permanent appointment in the competitive or excepted service for a minimum of 52 weeks at the GS-09 (or equivalent) level to be eligible for the GS-11 position by the closing date of the announcement.

Examples of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level include:

• Experience in contract administration principles and practices to monitor contractor performance and to solve problems relating to contract modifications, progress and other payments, and similar problems.
• Extensive knowledge of FAR,DFARS, FPMR, agency regulations, and precedents governing contracting and contract administration functions.
• Experience in contract termination procedures sufficient to perform a variety of tasks such as analyzing allowable costs and making recommendations.
• Experience in pre-award and post-award functions for standard, well-defined contract actions.

Examples of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level include:

• Experience in application of statues, laws, FAR/DFARS, FPMR, agency regulations, policies, procedures and general business practices.
• Experience in the use of negotiation techniques to conduct face-to-face negotiations with industry representatives.
• Experience in detailed cost and price analysis techniques.

You must also meet the following requirements by the announcement closing date:

• Current and former federal employees in either the competitive or excepted service and current federal employees applying under VEOA eligibility are subject to time-in-grade . You must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade level to be eligible for promotion. You must submit SF50s with your application package to verify you held the next lower grade level for at least 52 weeks. You may need to submit two (2) or more SF50s. Examples of appropriate SF 50s include Promotion, Reg WRI, and SF 50s effective more than 52 weeks ago.
• Current civilian employees must have completed at least 90 days of federal civilian service since their latest non temporary appointment from a competitive referral certificate, known as time after competitive appointment . For this requirement, a competitive appointment is one where you applied to and were appointed from an announcement open to "All US Citizens."

Education

Education used to qualify for this position must be from an accredited school or educational institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and a copy of your transcript is required as part of your application package. For the application process, unofficial transcripts are acceptable if they contain the applicant's name, the name of the school, the date and degree that was awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned. Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position. If selected, you must provide an official transcript before we set your entrance on duty date.

Foreign Education . If using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign education programs has deemed the foreign education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program or show that a U.S. accredited college or university has given full credit for the foreign courses.

If you are relying on education to qualify, then:

• Your education must be from a college or university accredited by an organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education. See https://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ for more information.
• Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position. We accept unofficial transcripts for the application process, as long as they contain your name, the name of the school, the date and degree awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned. Transcripts must be received by this office no later than 11:59 PM EST on the closing date in order to be considered.
• If selected, an official transcript MUST be received before an Entrance of Duty date is set.

Additional information

• Applicants with a Permanent Resident Card (aka Green Card) are authorized to live and work in the U.S. but are not eligible for employment in positions requiring U.S. citizenship. This position requires U.S. citizenship.
• The minimum age requirement is generally 18 years of age. Employing those under 18 may be possible under certain circumstances. If under 18 years of age, ensure you provide documentation showing how you are eligible.
• Subject to occasional overtime.
• Position is exempt from Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
• Position is not covered by a bargaining unit.
• Position is not obligated.
• Financial Difficulty does not automatically remove you from consideration for a position.
• Position does not meet the DoD criteria for re-employing former Federal employees who retired under either the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).
• Deliberate attempts to falsify your application information, such as copying portions of this job announcement into your resume, may result in you being removed from consideration for this position.
• Most civilian PCS entitlements are now taxable. The Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) reimburses eligible employees for additional Federal, State, and local income taxes incurred as a result of receiving taxable travel income. More information is available at Civilian Relocation/PCS Tax Changes .
COVID19 - All Federal Employees must be fully vaccinated by November 22, 2021. Proof of vaccination will be required. To ensure compliance with this mandate, review the vaccination requirements, to include timelines for receiving required doses, at the following:
https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/faq/vaccinations/

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

You will be evaluated against the qualification requirements and the following competencies:

• Contract Administration
• Contract Performance Management
• Contract Termination

We review your application package to confirm your appointment eligibility, determine your qualifications, and verify you meet requirements. If your application package lacks any of the information necessary to make these determinations, or the information is illegible, we may determine you are ineligible for consideration.

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

Submit a complete application package by 11:59 PM ET on 11/01/2021.

1. Resume: Required. Your resume must contain your name and contact information and for each position listed, you must provide the employment beginning and ending dates (month/year to month/year or month/year to present); number of hours worked per week; position title; pay plan, series and grade level (for federal positions), and a narrative description of the job duties you performed. We use this to determine your qualifications for the position. Resumes without the required information will not be considered. We encourage you to use the USAJOBS resume builder to prepare your resume. If you submit multiple resumes, we only review/use the last resume you submitted. Illegible documents will not be considered. Do NOT include photographs, links to social media such as LinkedIn, inappropriate material, inappropriate content, or personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number, etc., on your resume.

2. Transcripts: Required when using education to qualify for this position. For the application process, unofficial transcripts are acceptable if they contain the applicant's (your) name, the name of the school, the date and degree awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned. Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rating ineligible for this position. If selected, you are required to provide an official transcript before we set your entrance on duty date.

3. Questionnaire: Required. Preview the questionnaire at https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11260474 .

4. Supporting Documents: As applicable based on your selected eligibility/eligibilities and requirements stated in this announcement. Applications without all required supporting documents will not be considered.

• Certain Veterans may compete under merit promotion procedures. VRA, 30% or more disabled veteran, and VEOA eligibilities require you submit the DD214 showing character of service. The Member 4 copy provides that information and is preferred.
  • 30% or more disabled veterans must include a completed SF15 , Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference, and a copy of your VA letter (dated 1991 or later) certifying your total service-connected disability of 30% or more.
  • Future military retirees must include a copy of their terminal leave request, if applicable, AND a copy of retirement DD214 [if available]. If DD214 not available, submit a certification document* or a copy of your retirement letter.
  • Future military separatees must include a copy of their terminal leave request, if applicable, AND a copy of most recent DD214 OR a certification document* OR a copy of most recent active duty orders.

*A written document from the armed forces certifying the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certificate is signed. The certification must be on letterhead signed by the adjutant, personnel officer, unit commander or higher headquarters and include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge, character of service, and, if applicable, the date your terminal leave begins. This document is sometimes called a Statement of Service.

Notes for veterans:
1. Active duty military members who are selected may not be appointed to a position unless on terminal leave or already separated.
2. You are required to provide your final DD214 upon issuance, if it was not part of your application package.
3. Within the DoD, appointment of retired military members to a civilian position within 180 days immediately after retirement is subject to the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 3326.

• Applicants claiming Military Spouse Preference must submit the completed Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist , proof of marriage to the military service member (e.g., marriage certificate, marriage license), and a copy of the military member's PCS orders.
• ICTAP eligibles must submit RIF separation or proposed removal/separation notice, your latest SF50 and a copy of your most recent performance appraisal.
• Certain applicants are eligible to apply under an Interchange Agreement . You must submit a copy of your latest personnel action (the equivalent of a Notification of Personnel Action (SF50)).

5. Standard Form (SF) 50: Required for all current federal employees, including current DeCA employees, regardless of location or human resources service provider. Include a copy of a recent SF50 showing your current position title pay plan-series-grade, tenure and position occupied. Refer to the Qualifications section of this announcement for required documents to show you meet the time-in-grade requirements.

All current Department of Defense (DoD) employees can access MyBiz and/or eOPF to obtain copies of their SF 50s.