Contract Specialist

Summary About the Position: This position is a DOD Cyber Excepted Service (CES) personnel system position in the Excepted Service under 10 USC 1599f. Employees occupying CES positions are in the Excepted Service and must adhere to U.S. Code, Title 10, as well as Department of Defense Instruction 1400.25. This position is located at Fort Meade, Maryland. Duties Plans the overall approach to meet contracting program objectives for a wide range of programs or systems, which may involve emerging rapid acquisition processes, span multiple years or involve successive program stages. Reviews complex requirements packages for adequacy and compliance with administrative, regulatory, and procedural requirements. Analyzes difficult, multi-faceted contracting issues; determines and implements course of action which in many cases departs from previous approaches. Procures complex and/or diversified services and/or commodities. Plans and coordinates the negotiation strategy with the negotiation team. Conducts negotiations independently or serves as lead negotiator on price, technical requirements, and/or terms and conditions of the contract. Prepares/oversees the preparation of the final contract to include appropriate standard clauses and special provisions and incentives, such as price redetermination, cost and performance incentive provisions, and/or post negotiation memoranda. Executes post-award contract performance management actions on assigned contracts. Performs contract administration. Serves as business advisor to a wide range of customers, makes substantive contributions to special projects/initiatives and performs special assignments. Serves as point of contact for procurements and provides contracting advice, guidance, training, and assistance to team members. Requirements Conditions of employment Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation. Three year trial/probationary period may be required. The employee may be recalled to duty, may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays, and may be required to work overtime. Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military and/or commercial aircraft. The employee must be able to obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET SCI clearance as a condition of employment and must complete a counterintelligence scope polygraph exam. This position has been designated by the Army as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Army Drug Testing Program Incumbent is required to: (a) refrain from the use of illegal drugs, and (b) if requested, submit to urinalysis testing Incumbent may be selected for random drug testing and may be subject to reasonable suspicion testing and safety mishap or accident testing The employee must meet NSA personnel security requirements outlined in NSA/CSS Policy 5-1. The employee must meet the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification level(Contracting career field, Level 3) applicable to the duties of the position or be capable of achieving such certification within 24 months. The employee must meet the continuing acquisition education requirements IAW DoDI 5000.66 paragraphE2.2.8. In accordance with the Ethics in Government Act, 1978, the employee is required to file an OGE Form 450,Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually Qualifications CYBER EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITIONS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE TWO-PAGE RESUME LIMIT. YOUR FULL RESUME WILL NEED TO BE UPLOADED TO YOUR USAJOBS PROFILE USING THE DOCUMENT TYPE "OTHER DOCUMENTS". Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. Army CES positions apply Veteran's Preference to preference eligible candidates, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 3005, "CES Employment and Placement". If you are a veteran claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must submit documents verifying your eligibility with your application package. In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Basic Requirement for Contract Specialist: Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees. OR Exemption: You are exempt from the education requirements above if (A) you are a current civilian employee in DoD who occupied GS-1102 positions or contracting positions with authority to award or administer contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold in an Executive Department on or before September 30, 2000; OR (B) you are a current military member who occupied a similar occupational specialty to the GS (or equivalent)-1102 on or before September 30, 2000. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: To qualify based on your experience, your resume must describe one year specialized experience that demonstrates the possession of knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for immediate success in the position. Such experience is typically in or directly related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience would be demonstrated by: (1) Implementing acquisition strategies for a wide range of supplies and services with experience in the contracting career field; (2) Performing pre-award activities such as conducting market research and drafting solicitations; (3) Applying various cost and price analysis techniques to ensure fair and reasonable pricing; AND (4) Participating in complex negotiations while performing additional functions such as administering and preparing contracts to be obligated to ensure contractor compliance with all terms and conditions Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted. Education FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications. Additional information If you are a current federal career/career-conditional employee, you will be placed on an excepted appointment. This position is in the Professional category at the Full Performance level within the CES Occupational Structure Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. Direct Deposit of Pay is required. Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret SCI (Polygraph) security clearance. This position requires you to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. This is a Contracting and Procurement Career Field position. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ for more information. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest. Recruitment, Relocation, advanced leave accrual, and/or advanced in-hire rate may be authorized. 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.