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Contract Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Executive Director, Office of Acquisition and Logistics
The Office of Procurement, Acquisition, and Logistics - Strategic Acquisition Center
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This recruitment is for 1 vacancy in the Office of Procurement, Acquisition, and Logistics, Strategic Acquisition Center, location negotiable after selection.

Remote position selectee will be required to reside within a 50 mile radius of a VA Facility that offers IT services (i.e. VA Medical Center or VA Central Office)

The first 100 applicants will be considered for referral to the selecting official. Additional candidates will be referred based on hiring needs and/or Hiring Manager request.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
06/29/2023 to 07/07/2023
Salary
$71,099 to - $92,429 per year

The salary range listed reflects the GS base rate (not including locality). Upon selection, the salary will be adjusted to include locality.

Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)
Remote job
Yes
Telework eligible
Not applicable, this is a remote position.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CARX-23-SAC-12018380-JMC
Control number
734641400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

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Duties

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Major Duties:

  • Perform market research to aid in acquisition planning.
  • Review specifications and statements of work to ensure they do not restrict competition.
  • Advertise all applicable contract requirements to promote maximum competition.
  • Conduct cost analyses or price analyses for contract proposals or change order proposals.
  • Conduct necessary market analyses to test the noncompetitive assumptions of requisitions.
  • Determine the offeror that represents the best value based on price and other factors.
  • Conduct post-award conferences with customers to clarify contractual provisions.
  • Review contractor performance to assure compliance with applicable labor laws.
  • Resolve contract performance problems concerning excusable delays.
  • Administer payment provisions on contracts for partial payments, progress payments, and final payments.
  • Issue show cause letters and cure notices as a prelude to terminations.
  • Issue contract terminations for convenience or default.
  • Select the appropriate method of procurement such as simplified acquisition procedures, sealed-bidding, or negotiations.
  • Review specifications and statements of work to develop acquisition strategies. Review acquisition milestone plans for approval.
  • Develop an overall pricing negotiation strategy considering all relevant information.
  • Establish technical evaluation boards to determine acceptability and ranking of technical proposals.
  • Review auditors' reports for adequacy of analysis and conclusions.
  • Prepare price negotiation memorandum detailing negotiations with contractors.
  • Prepare federal procurement data system (FPDS-NG) for contract awards.
  • Prepare solicitation and award synopses for contract awards.
  • Prepare electronic contract management system documents for contract awards.
  • Prepare solicitation documents using contract writing systems for issuance.
  • Conduct negotiations for competitive and noncompetitive procurements.
  • Conduct debriefings with unsuccessful offerors or bidders.
  • Advise technical personnel of inadequate, ambiguous, or vague specifications to avoid liability.
  • Negotiate additional time required for contract performance.
  • Negotiate settlements related to contract terminations for convenience or default.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Telework: N/A
Remote: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Contract Specialist/PD44079A
Financial Disclosure Report: Required

Physical Requirements: The subject position is primarily of an administrative nature in an office setting, however where travel to work sites is required there may be light physical work required, such as walking over uneven surfaces, or assisting technical personnel in taking measurements or elevations.

The first 100 applicants will be considered for referral to the selecting official. Additional candidates will be referred based on hiring needs and/or Hiring Manager request.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
  • Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/07/2023.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements GS-12:

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.

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, in the fields identified above, 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.

GS-12 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Sufficient knowledge and experience in the following: acquisition regulations and contract law; fully soliciting, awarding and administering to include: change orders, supplemental agreements, terminations, claims, close out of contracts, cost/price analysis techniques, change order proposals, firm-fixed price and firm-fixed contracts, simplified acquisitions, sealed bidding, negotiations, cost sharing, multiple awards, contract modifications and settlements; architect-engineering services, or construction services; monitoring contractor performance and compliance with all terms conditions of the contract; communicating orally and in writing in a clear and concise manner; interpersonal skills to communicate with internal and external customers; electronic Contract Writing and Management System (i.e. e-CMS).

Preferred requirements are available on the following FAC link: www.fai.gov/drupal/certification/contracting-fac-c

There is no educational substitution for the GS-12 level.

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; religions; 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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Transcripts must show the name of the college to determine accreditation. The applicant's name must be on the transcripts. If qualifying based on degree, or for positions requiring a degree, the transcript must show date the degree was conferred.

NOTE: Transcripts should state degree conferred and have a date. Bachelor's transcripts are required to meet the basic requirement for this position, please submit all transcripts. Copies of Official Transcripts are accepted and are the best way to ensure your education is interpreted correctly in accordance with OPM qualification standards, but unofficial transcripts are accepted if they contain all the required information. If credit for a course is being questioned by the HR Professional performing qualifications, it is your responsibility to provide supporting descriptive information (course syllabus/descriptions) in your application package.

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, in the fields identified above, 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.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be rated on the following competencies based on your application for this position:

Contracting/Procurement: Knowledge of various types of contracts, techniques or requirements (for example, Federal Acquisitions Regulations) for contracting or procurement, and contract negotiation and administration.
Contract Administration: Uses knowledge acquired through extensive on the job experience to develop solicitation documents, create appropriate evaluation factors, review and analyze vendor submissions; is able to appropriately determine award recommendation.
Contract Administration: Knowledge and application of contract administration principles and practices sufficient to monitor contractor performance and compliance with all terms and conditions of the contract and deliverables; resolves discrepancies; performs contract closeout functions.
Acquisition Strategy: Knowledge of the principles and methods for developing an integrated acquisition management plan that describes the business, technical, and support strategies, including the relationship between the acquisition phases, work efforts, and key program events (for example, decision points, contract awards, test activities).

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

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