Contract Specialist

Summary At the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), contract specialists perform a wide range of functions related to the acquisition strategy. They plan, award, and administer various contracts to include supplies, services, construction, and research and development. Their purchases have direct impact on our mission. While both challenging and rewarding, there are specific entry requirements to join the FBI. Those who complete the process become part of a dedicated team that keeps our country safe. Learn more about this agency Duties GS 11: Provides guidance to technical staff when they are developing statements of work and coordinates with legal and other offices as needed. Prepares and advertises solicitations, ensures the bid schedule is correct, conducts pre-bid conferences, reviews bids/quotes/proposals, and determines if vendors are responsive and responsible. Conducts preliminary analysis to determine technical acceptability prior to pre award surveys to determine responsibility. Participates in post-award conferences and debriefings and responds to protests, complaints, and procurement related inquiries. Monitors contract and project progress, briefs status updates to management, and ensures activities remain aligned with established milestones. Performs the full range of contract administration actions, including issuing modifications, negotiating changes, exercising options, resolving delays and claims, and overseeing contractor performance. GS 12: In addition to the above, incumbent will Plans and executes acquisition strategies for highly complex, high dollar procurements and prepares solicitation documents that incorporate requirements such as cost accounting standards, technical evaluation factors, and socioeconomic program considerations, while ensuring maximum practicable competition for each requirement. Serves as a business advisor, providing expert guidance on acquisition planning based on customer requirements, and advising on solicitation strategy, pricing, negotiations, award, and post award contract management. Evaluates complex procurement requests, recommends revisions to the statements of work or specifications, determines contract type, sets milestones, and develops the procurement plan. Performs detailed cost and price analysis to determine fair and reasonable pricing for proposals. Analyzes complex contracting issues, identifies alternate courses of action, and modifies standard procedures to solve a variety of problems. Requirements Conditions of employment Must be a U.S. citizen. Must be able to obtain a Top Secret clearance. Some travel may be required. Qualifications GS-11: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-09 grade level. SE is defined as follows: Experience in applying contracting principles and procedures applicable to pre-award and/or post-award actions sufficient to procure and/or administer contracts for a variety of specialized equipment, services, and/or construction. Experience identifying problems, reporting findings, developing conclusions and making recommendations to management. GS-12: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. SE is defined as follows: Experience recommending revisions to or expansions on the statement of work, or specifications as necessary, and determining the type of contract, procurement plan and establishing milestones. Experience performing cost, price, and/or best value analysis, which includes review of cost breakdowns, and cost technical tradeoff to determine reasonableness and best value. Desired Skills Desired skills are NOT mandatory and will NOT be utilized to minimally qualify applicants. Desired Skills are: - Current DAWIA or recent Federal Acquisition Certification - Contracting Program (Professional)/FAC-C(P) or equivalent. - Currently or previously held a Contracting Officer Warrant. Education Positive Education Requirement This position has a specific education requirement; all applicants must verify completion of this basic educational requirement by submitting a copy of their college transcripts by the closing date of the vacancy announcement. GS-7 through GS-12: To minimally qualify all applicants must meet the basic requirements from A or B as listed below: 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 field: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. Basic requirements for GS-13 and above: A. Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to the 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 that position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform 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. Training and certification can be achieved on the job and in accordance with FBI Procurement Training Plans. Certification requirements may be viewed at: www.fai.gov. Candidates possessing a current FAC-C must indicate the level of certification in their resume. A valid DAWIA certification is equivalent to a FAC-C at the same certification level, provided the FAC-C education and continuous learning requirements have been met. Your resume and transcripts must clearly demonstrate meeting these requirements. Additional Educational Information: 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. 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 paragraph 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, the senior procurement executive must document for the record the basis of the waiver, the agency may later reassign that individual to another position in the same grade within that agency without additional waiver action. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements provided you can show foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. Education may be substituted for specialized experience as follows: GS-11: Applicant must have a Ph.D. OR equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related. Additional information The FBI is in the Executive Branch of the federal government. It is one of the components of the Department of Justice (DOJ). The FBI is the principle investigative arm of the DOJ. All FBI positions are in the excepted service. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and consent to a complete background investigation, urinalysis, and polygraph. You must be suitable for Federal employment; as determined by a background investigation. 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 Review our benefits