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SUPERVISORY CONTRACT SPECIALIST

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is part of the Southern Region Acquisition Management staff.

This position serves at a Forest Service Office as a Supervisory Contract Specialist with responsibility for delivering the contracting program of work for several National Forests or Research Stations/labs, including construction/architecture & engineering and/or service/supply projects.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Anthony Love at 404-347-2597 or Anthony.Love@usda.gov.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
06/18/2020 to 06/29/2020
Salary
$96,117 - $124,955 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Hot Springs, AR
Jackson, MS
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Overnight lodging will be required for meetings, trainings, workshops, and field/site visits and reviews.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
20-R8SVMAY-0861-704637G-AM
Control number
571163900

Duties

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  • Manages the contracting service team supporting the needs of assigned units.
  • The position manages and administers regional, multi-forest, multi-regional or research station/multi-laboratory and in some instances multiagency complex contracts.
  • The incumbent is responsible for planning the unit's workload, prioritizing and assigning actions to subordinate staffs and reviewing, approving and/or serving as the signatory authority on the unit's most complex contract actions.
  • Participates with program personnel and supervises other contracting personnel in the development and integration of the overall program of work.
  • Provides contracting expertise to all Contract Specialists and Purchasing Agents within zoned geographic area of responsibility.
  • Responsible for effective and efficient management of the procurement program within area of responsibility.
  • Reviews high priority procurement packages for adequacy and completeness after submission by program staffs. Resolves any problems prior to assignment of work and initiation of contract action.
  • Ensures contract actions awarded by the unit are compliant with federal and agency policy, guidance, and instructions, effectively utilize government and contract resources and best meet the agency's needs.
  • Negotiates settlement agreements with private contractors, including the settlement of cost claims, determining allowable costs, agreeing on termination inventory or amount of work remaining and determination of profit.
  • Strengthens the contracting function within geographic area of responsibility by developing and directing training programs in contract law and procedures.
  • Plans the work to be accomplished by the unit, assigns work to employees, and establishes production or quality standards for the unit's work.
  • Performs as a supervisor.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
  • Applicants for the GS-13 level must have a current FAC-C, Level III, (or DAWIA Level III equivalent), in accordance with the Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) Advisory Nos. 85 and 100A.
  • Subject to one-year supervisory/managerial probationary period (unless prior service is creditable).
  • New USDA supervisors must successfully complete all components of the required new supervisory training program before the end of their probationary period.
  • Selectee is subject to financial disclosure requirements and must submit form OGE-450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter.
  • Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Basic Requirement:
GS-1102:
A. Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to 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 the position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully 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.

C. 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.

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 Paragraphs 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 D, the senior procurement executive must document for the record the basis of the waiver. If an individual is placed in a position in an agency on the basis of a waiver, the agency may later reassign that individual to another position at the same grade within that agency without additional waiver action.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.

Specialized Experience Requirement:
For the GS-13 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to a GS-12 grade level performing contracting work. Qualifying specialized experience is defined as: Serving as a contract specialist responsible for all aspects of contracting transactions from initiation of a requirement to recommendation of contract award to procure supplies or services with specialized requirements such as procurement of complex equipment, services, and/or construction, stewardship and architect and engineering service efforts; preparing acquisition plans, conducting surveys and making recommendations in accordance with applicable acquisition procedures and regulations; leading a team or subordinate staff toward accomplishment of the agency's acquisition management goals and objectives; serving as a technical expert and advisor to management, customers, and contractors on various procurement subjects.

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.

TIME IN GRADE REQUIREMENT: If you are a current federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirements of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. This requirement must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information

One position will be filled in Hot Springs, AR or Jackson, MS.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100.

Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA).

Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Part-time and intermittent service will be credited only for time actually worked. Non-pay status such as leave without pay is credited for up to six months in a calendar year; anything beyond six months is not credited. Applicants are responsible for providing sufficient information/documentation to determine if the 24 month criteria is met.

Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period.

For more information on applying under special hiring authorities, explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website.

Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email SM.FS.asc_tos@usda.gov

Government Housing is not available.

Daycare facilities are not available.


This position is eligible for telework and other flexible work arrangements.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the competencies listed below:

  • Contracting/Procurement
  • Oral Communication
  • Reasoning
  • Supervision
  • Technical Writing
  • Workforce Environment


Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

If you meet the qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified, you will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities must meet minimum qualifications to be referred.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered to more accurately reflect the submitted documentation. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10841703

Forest Service

A career with the Forest Service will challenge you to manage and care for more than 193 million acres of our nation's most magnificent lands, conduct research through a network of forest and range experiment stations and the Forest Products Laboratory, and provide assistance to State and private forestry agencies.

It's an awesome responsibility - but the rewards are as limitless as the views.

Agency contact information

HRM Contact Center
Phone
1-877-372-7248 X2
Email
SM.FS.FSJobs@usda.gov
Address
USDA Forest Service HRM Contact Center
DO NOT MAIL IN APPLICATIONS, SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
Albuquerque, NM 87109
US

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