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Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Then consider the Architect of the Capitol's (AOC), Supplies, Services, and Material Management Division (SSMMD); Supplies and Services Branch role as a Contract Specialist. This role performs duties in connection with the functions of the branch such as negotiating proposals and entering into contractual agreements between the AOC and private entities for the acquisition of supplies and services.
Learn more about this agency12/06/2024 to 12/19/2024
$68,405 - $107,590 per year
GS 09 - 11
No
Yes—Yes, as determined by agency policy.
Not required
No
Permanent - Duties quoted at GS-11 level; If selected at the GS-09, the candidate will have non-competitive promotion potential to the GS-11.
Full-time - This is an Excepted Service position
Excepted
11 - GS-11
No
Yes
CAO-2025-085
822792800
Please be advised that federal retired annuitant candidates may only be considered as a temporary employee if the role can be filled in that capacity. FAC-C Professional certification is desired but not required; however, a certification must be obtained within (18) months from date of hire.
As a contract specialist you will performs a variety of duties. The key responsibilities include, inviting competitive bids, negotiating proposals, and entering into contractual agreements for the acquisition of supplies and services, to include operation and maintenance, repair of mechanical equipment, campus utilities, telecommunication, data processing, and electronic system repairs under the jurisdiction of the AOC. Additional responsibilities include:
-Performing the full range of contract administration actions required for the acquisition of services or goods, which typically include the issuance of contract modifications, negotiating changes, exercising options, investigating and resolution of delays and/or performance issues, issuing contractor performance assessments, disposition of claims, completion of closeout procedures, and similar matters as directed.
-Conducting site visits, reviewing contractor performance and document email correspondence and telephone conversations, as appropriate, to ensure compliance with the technical, financial, and delivery aspects of the contract.
-Issuing “cure” or “show cause” notices when the contractor is not in compliance with the terms and conditions of the contract.
-Performing analysis to determine completeness and responsiveness of bids/quotes in the case of Invitations for Bids (IFBs)/Request for Quotations (RFQs) and compliance of offeror’s proposals with solicitation requirements in the case of Request for Proposals (RFPs).
-Reviewing requisitions to determine that proper specifications or purchase descriptions are included in solicitation documents.
-Evaluating bids or proposals for compliance with specifications or purchase descriptions and applicable clauses.
-Considering the financial responsibility of suppliers by evaluating contract performance on previous contracts and meeting with commercial representatives to discuss procurement needs, quality of items or services, current market prices, or delivery schedules.
-Administering the negotiated and formally advertised contracts assigned, monitoring the progress of contractors.
- Performing detailed analysis of bids or proposals received including insuring strict compliance with specifications on advertised procurements and recommending award to lowest bidder providing such compliance.
- Contacting contractors to negotiate prices that appear either excessive or underestimated, to request an earlier delivery date or closer conformance to specifications, or similar matters.
- Performing detailed analysis to determine bid responsiveness and responsibility of the offeror including review of past bids and awards, request of the pre-award survey, and establishment of price reasonableness by either price or limited cost analysis.
FAC-C Professional certification is desired but not required; however, a certification must be obtained within (18) months from date of hire.
You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM website at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.
In addition to meeting the basic education requirement, you must have the specialized experience, directly related education OR a combination of experience and education as described below.
Specialized Experience is the experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, an applicant's one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for successful job performance.
For the GS-09:
1. Specialized Experience
Candidates must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience that is at or equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in Federal government service. Specialized experience must have equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.
Specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level is defined as the following:
Reviewing requests for procurement; analyzing the requirement, recommending revisions to the statement of work or specifications as necessary and deciding on the type of contract, milestones, and procurement plan.
Incorporating provisions, such as cost accounting standards, requirements for technical proposals with appropriate evaluation factors, testing procedures, cost escalation factors, cost data requirements, and socioeconomic programs.
--OR--
2. Graduate Education
Two (2) full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or masters or equivalent graduate degree or LL.B or J.D.
--OR--
3. Combination of qualifying experience and education
For the GS-11:
Applicants must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Specialized experience is defined as having the following:
- Reviewing requests for procurement and analyzing the requirement, recommending revisions to the statement of work or specifications as necessary and deciding on the type of contract, milestones, and procurement plan.
- Incorporating clauses and provisions in accordance with established matrixes.
- Determining the applicability of various procurement actions and decisions, such as cost accounting standards, requirements for technical proposals with appropriate evaluation factors, testing procedures, cost escalation factors, cost data requirements, and socioeconomic programs.
OR
Have at least 3 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. To qualify for GS-1102 positions on the basis of graduate education, graduate education in one or a combination of the following fields is required: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.
OR
Have an equivalent combination of the above-specialized experience AND higher-level graduate education that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.
IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims if selected. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
Special Instructions for Foreign Education:
Education completed outside of the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment.
Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part of foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree.
You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course-by-course listing if selected.
Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement. If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable. For more information, please visit OPM vet guide
If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.
DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC’s suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide and cover the cost for the drug test.
The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol.
The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1185221678150.shtm
The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or disability.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Moving expenses are not authorized.
Relocation expenses are not authorized.
Probationary Period - A newly appointed selectee is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency.
This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol.
All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Review your resume and responses carefully. Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions.
Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) for this position, possession of any specialized experience, and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement. The self-assessment questions relate to the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies:
Contracting/Procurement
Cost Estimation and Analysis
Administration and Management
Planning and Evaluating
Oral Communication
Written Communication
Your responses to the self-assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions. Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter. Your resume must support your answers to the self-assessment questions. Falsifying your background, education and/or experience is cause for non-selection or disqualification from further consideration.
Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the “Required Documents” section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).
The Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) job application process is designed to ensure you only provide information necessary to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility for the position vacancy.
To apply for this position, you only need to submit: a) your resume and b) answers to the online vacancy assessment questionnaire. The online questionnaire contains eligibility and screening questions and other relevant information. No additional documentation or attachments are required at the time of application.
Your resume should list your education, training and work experience including job titles, employment dates, duties and accomplishments.
Nothing further is required until it is requested by AOC’s Human Capital Management Division. If additional documentation is required for the position, you will be asked to provide it during the interview or selection process. At that time, you may be asked to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume.
For example, you may be asked to provide a copy of your diploma, college transcripts, or proof of Federal employment status. If the position requires licensure or certification, you will be asked to provide proof at the time of selection.
If Veterans’ preference is claimed, you will be asked to submit proof (DD-214, and, if claiming a 10-point preference, a SF-15 and the proof required by that form).
Failure to provide the required documents will end further consideration and/or result in the withdrawal of any tentative job offers.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
You MUST apply online. FORMS RECEIVED BY FAX, EMAIL OR U.S. POSTAL SERVICE DELIVERY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
If you are a new user to the USAJOBS Site and have never registered for an account; you will first need to create an account profile with your basic contact information and a resume to begin applying. You must be a registered USAJOBS user AND you must be signed-in to your account in order to apply for this position. For help with setting up an account or for general assistance in using USAJOBS, go to USAJOBS Help Page.
NEED HELP?
If you experience any difficulties with the application site, help is available! If you have problems completing your on-line application, contact the Monster Hiring Management Help Desk at 1-866-656-6831 or by e-mail at MGSHELP@monster.com. The help desk is available Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You may call and leave a voice mail message at all other times.
All required supporting documents will be collected electronically via the USAJOBS “Saved Documents” feature.
If you are unable to apply on-line, you may visit our Employment Center for technical assistance in entering your application. The Employment Center is located at 441 Second & D Streets S.W., Washington, D.C., Room H2-178, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You may call (202) 226-7000 for directions.
You will receive a notice generated by the USAJOBS System when you have successfully submitted your application. We will review your application and transcript(s) (if you are qualifying based on education) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements.
You can check the status of your application by logging into http://www.usajobs.gov. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application has changed by logging into your USAJOBS Account, editing your profile and changing the ‘Notification Settings’ to indicate that you want to be notified by email when the status changes. Information regarding the status of your application should be updated in the system within two (2) weeks after the closing date of this job announcement.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/822792800. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
The mission of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is to serve Congress and the Supreme Court, preserve America's Capitol and inspire memorable experiences. The AOC is responsible for the maintenance, operation, development and preservation of 18.4 million square feet of buildings and more than 570 acres of land throughout Capitol Hill and provides a welcoming and educational environment for millions of visitors through the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center and the US Botanic Garden. Learn more at www.aoc.gov.
The AOC prides itself on its Core Values: Respect, Integrity, Safety and Empower (RISE).
