Contract Specialist, GS-1102-11/12

Applicants must meet the following basic requirements: Completed a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field; OR Completed 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. NOTE: Applicants who have been in a GS-1102 position at a GS-12 or lower grade level since January 1, 2000, without a break in service only need to meet the additional requirements in order to qualify.

IN ADDITION to meeting the basic education requirements above.

Applicants at the GS-11 level must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the federal service. Examples of specialized experience include: performing the full range of acquisition functions (i.e., pre-award, award, post-award) to procure a variety of supplies, equipment and/or services. Duties include: analyzing procurement requests to determine requirements, recommending changes to statements of work or specifications, and determining appropriate type of contract and procurement plan; coordinating procurement plan and other contractual/procurement aspects with requestor(s), technical representative, and finance; developing procurement/contractual documents inclusive of determining terms and conditions; conducting pre-bid/proposal conferences and negotiations; analyzing bids/proposals, cost and pricing data and contractor responsibility, and recommending award; and, carrying out post-award functions (i.e., monitoring contract, evaluating performance, interpreting provisions, providing advice/guidance, negotiating contract modifications, processing terminations, conducting close-outs).

Candidates at the GS-11 level may also meet the additional requirement through substitution of education for experience as follows: 3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree is required. Graduate education must be in one or a combination of the following fields: acquisition management, business administration, contracting or procurement, economics, finance, industrial management, law, management and organization, marketing, public administration, purchasing, quantitative methods, or other fields directly related to this position. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

NOTE: The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) does not grant Academic degrees; therefore, courses completed at the DAU are not creditable towards meeting the 24-semester hour requirement, unless the coursework has been evaluated by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and appears on a college or university transcript. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.    

GS-12: In addition to basic requirements:  Applicant must possess one-year specialized experience equivalent at the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the Federal sector.  Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. Examples of specialized experience includes:  performing procurement planning; developing procurement objectives in terms of competition and price range, and constructs the contractual vehicle including use of pricing arrangements, subcontracting policy, setting-aside polices and similar considerations; providing advice to project personnel on effective implementation and time frames required;  developing new or innovative acquisition plans, source selection plans, and contract terms, conditions, or financial arrangement; performing contract administration activities; conducting extensive and sophisticated cost and financial analysis; and serving as lead negotiation for contract modifications for programs involving several interrelated contracts.

For all Contracting Series, 1102 positions at GS-5 through GS-12:

Selectee must meet position requirements for the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) Professional certification within 36 months as of entrance on duty.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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). 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.