Contract Specialist

Summary This position is within the Bonneville Power Administration, Chief Administrative Office, Supply Chain Services, Contracts and Strategic Sourcing. As a key acquisition expert, you will drive the projects that power the Pacific Northwest. You will lead the procurement process for a diverse portfolio, including major substation construction, advanced scientific services, and specialized equipment. This is your opportunity to manage critical, high-dollar contracts from planning to completion. Duties This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be March 18, 2026. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis. Build Tomorrow's Grid: Lead Complex Acquisitions at Bonneville Power Administration Join the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), a leader in the nation's energy sector, and take a pivotal role in modernizing the region's power infrastructure. As a Contract Specialist, you will not just be managing paperwork; you will be the business expert at the center of complex, multi-million dollar projects that keep energy flowing to millions of Americans. This is a career opportunity for a skilled acquisition professional to tackle challenging, mission-critical work with tangible impact. As a Contract Specialist, you will: Lead Procurement Strategy: Serve as a business advisor, analyzing project requirements and developing innovative procurement plans for complex construction, cutting-edge technology, and specialized professional services. Conduct High-Stakes Negotiations: Act as the lead negotiator, securing favorable terms and ensuring best value for the government on multi-year, high-dollar contracts with industry partners. Perform In-Depth Cost and Price Analysis: Dive deep into contractor proposals, analyzing complex cost breakdowns and market data to determine fair and reasonable pricing for unique and specialized projects. Manage the Full Contract Lifecycle: Take ownership of contracts from cradle to grave, guiding them from initial planning and award through performance monitoring, modification, and successful closeout. Develop Creative Contracting Solutions: Move beyond the standard playbook by devising innovative contractual provisions and financial arrangements to meet the needs of unique procurements where no precedent exists. Resolve Complex Contractual Issues: Act as the primary point of contact for resolving disputes, interpreting contract provisions for technical experts, and preparing the agency's response to contractor claims and protests. Administer Major Infrastructure and Technology Projects: Directly manage the acquisition of critical assets, including high-voltage substation facilities, specialized scientific studies, and enterprise-level IT systems. Drive Contractor Performance: Proactively monitor contractor progress, resolve performance challenges, and work with technical representatives to ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and to specification. Requirements Conditions of employment In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answer to these questions is not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration. When you apply you will be asked a series of questions to determine your eligibility for employment and your qualification for this position specifically. You must answer all of these questions completely and truthfully. Key Requirements: You must be a United States Citizen. This employer participates in the e-Verify program. Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements. You will be required to report in person to the official duty location. Conditions of Employment: Selectee will be required to complete the Office of Government Ethics Standard of Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OFGE450e) within 30 days of employment and annually. All newly employed BPA AWF members in the GS-1102 career series will be enrolled in the FAC-C certification program through FAITAS. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be March 18, 2026. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis. Qualifications BASIC REQUIREMENT: 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. Exception: Employees in the 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 though 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified as GS-12. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through graded 12. However, employees must meet specialized experience requirements when seeking another position. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, applicants must meet the specialized experience as identified below. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: 1) administering contracts requiring special handling provisions or specialized terms and conditions that may include technical equipment; 2) analyzing work requirements in order to draft, make amendments, or modifications to solicitations or executed contracts; and 3) negotiating with potential contractors or business partners to award contracts in the most effective manner. "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education This vacancy has a positive education requirement. In order to be rated as qualified, you must provide copies of your college transcripts. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Department of Education Accreditation Search to verify school accreditation. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.DO NOT email or mail in any of your application documents. Documents will not be accepted outside of the online application system. Failure to provide copies of your college transcripts may result in a rating of "Ineligible". Additional information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE EEO Policy: USAJOBS Center | Equal employment opportunity policy Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement. USAJOBS Center | Reasonable accommodation policy Veterans Information: USAJOBS Center - Veterans Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Telework: https://www.opm.gov/telework/ Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/ - Who must register: https://www.sss.gov/faq/#who-needs-to-register Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations. BPA strives to ensure a safe and positive work environment. We also understand the importance of work/life balance and offer a variety of programs and policies designed to create more flexible, responsive work environments supportive of commitments to community, home and family members. BPA also supports employees' overall wellness through its Be Well program, which helps employees adopt healthier lifestyles and feel better about their work/life balance. The program supports five key areas of life: career, community, financial, physical and social.? 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.