Contract Specialist

Summary The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM) provide the infrastructure and support that enables the U.S. Department of Labor to perform its mission. OASAM provides leadership and support for information technology, human resources management, procurement, business operations, safety and health, space management, civil rights, emergency management, security, budget, and performance. Learn more about this agency Duties There are 2 vacancies available. These positions may be filled in any of the following cities: Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; New York City, NY; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; or Philadelphia, PA.. The positions are located in the Department of Labor's (DOL), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM), the Office of the Senior Procurement Executive (OSPE). The OSPE is responsible for the management and direction of DOL's acquisition system and mission; providing effective, ethical, and prudent business advice; and robust acquisition policies and services. Furthermore, the OSPE promotes effective business practices that ensure the timely delivery of best-value products and services to DOL; achieves DOL's policy objectives; and furthers integrity, fairness, competition, and transparency in DOL's acquisition system. The Contract Specialist is responsible for contracting actions within contracting divisions, actively engaged in all phases and activities related to the procurement process. Duties include, but are not limited to the following: Perform the complete range of pre-award and post-award procurement functions, primarily utilizing negotiation procedures, for complex service contracts that are highly specialized, new, or innovative. Provide and coordinate support services to senior contract specialists for all pre-award and post-award activities related to the acquisition of supplies and services essential to the Department's mission. Participate actively in all phases of the acquisition process. Receive requisitions and determine the most appropriate procurement method. Draft determinations and findings, assist in preparing justifications and approvals for sole source actions, and assemble solicitation documents. Conduct market research to assess the availability of products and services. Note: This position is subject to the confidential financial disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-521). Therefore, if selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest(s) and your prospective position with DOL. This information will be required annually. Requirements Conditions of employment Must be at least 16 years old. Must be a U.S. Citizen. Candidate required to obtain the necessary security/investigation level. Requires a probationary period if the requirement has not been met. Subject to financial disclosure requirements. Must obtain a Federal Acquisition in Contracting Certification (FAC-C) Professional certification within one year. Failure to obtain/maintain this certification may be grounds for dismissal. FAC-C certified professionals must complete 80 CLP hours in each 2 year period to maintain certification. Qualifications You must meet the Basic Education Requirements (the individual occupation requirement, IOR) AND the Specialized Experience to qualify for the Contract Specialist position, as described below. Please read these requirements carefully. Basic Education requirement: A 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 a 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 the GS-12. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade 12. 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. Specialized Experience requirement: In addition to the basic requirement, to qualify for this position you must have at least 52 week of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 which is the next lower grade level of the normal line of progression of this position in the Federal government. Specialized experience is experience that is related to the work of this position and has provided you with the competencies required for successful job performance. Examples of qualifying specialized experience for the GS-11 Contract Specialist includes the following (applicants must meet all to be considered qualified): Experience working with acquisition regulations, contract law, and procedures applicable to acquisition and contract administration including change orders, supplemental agreements, terminations, claims, and close out of contracts. Experience working with various types of contracts, including firm-fixed price, firm-fixed price with economic price adjustments, and cost reimbursement; and contract methods to include simplified acquisitions, sealed bidding, negotiations, cost sharing, multiple awards, commercial items and special provisions. Experience with contract administration principles and practices sufficient to monitor contractor performance and compliance with all terms and conditions of the contract. Experience with negotiation techniques sufficient to negotiate prices, terms and conditions, contract modifications and settlements. Proficiency using an electronic Contract Writing and Management System and ability to fully solicit, award, and administer contracts. OR 3 full academic years of progressively higher graduate education OR Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in one or a combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. OR You may qualify on a combination of education and experience. To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education (in the required areas) in excess of the first 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education. Education Any applicant falsely claiming an academic degree from an accredited school will be subject to actions ranging from disqualification from federal employment to removal from federal service. If your education was completed at a foreign college or university, you must show comparability to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States and comparability to applicable minimum course work requirements for this position. Click Evaluation of Foreign Education for more information. Additional information The mission of the Department of Labor (DOL) is to protect the welfare of workers and job seekers, improve working conditions, expand high-quality employment opportunities, and assure work-related benefits and rights for all workers. Refer to these links for more information: GENERAL INFORMATION, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES As a condition of employment, all personnel must undergo a background investigation for access to DOL facilities, systems, information and/or classified materials before they can enter on duty: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION This position is inside the bargaining unit. If the duty location is within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the Local 12, AFGE bargaining unit. If the duty location is outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the position will be included in the NCFLL bargaining unit. Click here for Career Ladder Promotion Information Click here for Telework Position Information. This is not a remote work position. The selectee will report to an assigned DOL office location as listed in this vacancy on a regular basis and is eligible for participation in telework as determined by management in accordance with DOL policy. Based on agency needs, additional positions may be filled using this vacancy. The Fair Chance Act (FCA) prohibits Federal agencies from requesting an applicant's criminal history information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment. If you believe a DOL employee has violated your rights under the FCA, you may file a complaint of the alleged violation following our agency's complaint process Guidelines for Reporting Violations of the Fair Chance Act. Note: The FCA does not apply to some positions specified under the Act, such as law enforcement or national security positions. All Department of Labor employees are subject to the provisions of the Drug-Free Workplace Program under Executive Order 12564 and Public Law 100-71. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Expand Hide  additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.