We are seeking a motivated, customer service oriented professional to serve as Contract Specialist in our Arlington Headquarters, with occasional travel to Paris. You will serve as the local, on-site expert for HQ and report to the Director of Contracting, who is located in Paris. This position assists in the development of contracting policy and also serves as contract specialist in support of agency-wide operations. French language is highly desirable for this position.
Summary
We are seeking a motivated, customer service oriented professional to serve as Contract Specialist in our Arlington Headquarters, with occasional travel to Paris. You will serve as the local, on-site expert for HQ and report to the Director of Contracting, who is located in Paris. This position assists in the development of contracting policy and also serves as contract specialist in support of agency-wide operations. French language is highly desirable for this position.
Applications may be accepted from current and former competitive service Federal employees, and U.S. citizens eligible under special hiring authorities (VEOA, disability, Peace Corp volunteers, Interchange programs, etc.) Term positions and positions at the GS-12 and above may be excepted from certain Hiring Path eligibilities.
French language ability is highly desirable for this position to serve our overseas operations.
The first review of applications will be 16 June 2020. Additional reviews will be conducted as needed. The announcement will remain open until the position is filled.
This position serves as the agency's Contract Specialist, reporting to the Director of Contracting located in Paris, and will be the primary point of contact for all Arlington Headquarters contracting matters. In addition, the incumbent serves as an integral part of the Contracting program, and will participate in establishing policies, procedures, and standards to build and grow an effective program agency wide.
This position will be responsible for:
Analysis and evaluation of contracting matters, and the initiation, development, and recommendation of contracting policies, procedures, guidance, and control for the ABMC.
Initiates, develops, and recommends contracting policies and procedures for the guidance and control of all ABMC contracting activities, within and outside of the United States.
Evaluates and recommends disposition on requested waivers to statutory requirements.
Reviews, evaluates, and provides specific guidance concerning contracting policies and procedures relative to the procurement of complex, diversified, high priority, high visibility purchases, supplies, services, and construction.
Plans the overall approach to meet contracting program objectives for procuring a variety of complex, non-standard, high-visibility, politically sensitive requirements.
Exercises responsibility for pre-award and post-award functions for architect/engineering requirements, complex construction, supplies, and/or services.
Reviews requisition package for adequacy and compliance with administrative, regulatory, and procedural requirements and consistency with current market practices and conditions.
Reviews and evaluates requisitions for which previous experience and cost data are not usually directly applicable such as complex services, or the construction of buildings involving unusual design features or site adaptation.
Prepares all required documentation justifying the basis for award. Ensures final contract meets legal sufficiency for award, and signs the contract.
Evaluates contractor performance for compliance with terms and conditions of contracts and ensure timely submission of technical progress reports and performance metrics.
Analyzes and resolves complex contract administration problems, such as disputes and labor violations.
Conducts investigations on protests, disputes, and claims.
Terminates contracts and negotiates settlements including determining allowable costs, agreeing on termination inventory, and determination of profit.
You can preview the Assessment Questionnaire here.
Suitable for Federal employment as determined by appropriate background investigation.
Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered with Selective Service.
May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period.
May be eligible for incentive pay.
Must be able to obtain Contracting Level II certification within 24 months.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements GS-12:
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; AND
Have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as performing a full range of pre-award and post-award functions for a wide range of services, supplies, equipment, and/or construction (i.e., formulating policies and procedures, developing and presenting terms and conditions in bids or proposals; negotiating and awarding contracts; administering terms and conditions of contracts; and analyzing proposed prices/costs.); AND
Must be able to complete requirements for Level II Certification in Contracting through Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C)or Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) in Contracting within 24 months.
GS-13:
Completion of a 4-year course of study, leading to a bachelor's degree, in any field from an accredited college or university, that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, law, contracts, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. In order to be considered, you must submit a copy of your college transcript(s) (unofficial copies are acceptable) that includes the number of semester or quarter hours completed; AND
Have at least 4 year's experience in contracting or related positions. At least 1 year of that experience must have been specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as performing a full range of pre-award and post-award functions for a wide range of services, supplies, equipment, and/or construction (i.e., formulating policies and procedures, developing and presenting terms and conditions in bids or proposals; negotiating and awarding contracts; administering terms and conditions of contracts; and analyzing proposed prices/costs.) Please make sure your specialized experience/requirement(s) can be identified in your resume; AND
Must possess requirements for Level II Certification in Contracting through Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C)or Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) in Contracting. Please state in your resume your Level of Certification and how it was obtained.
Exceptions to the Basic Requirements above: Federal employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupied on January 1, 2000.
French Language
French language ability is highly desirable for this position in order to better serve our Overseas Operations Office which is based in Paris, and as the majority of our cemeteries are located in France. If you identify proficiency in French, you will be evaluated by a third-party testing facility prior to interview to determine your proficiency in speaking and reading French using the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale. You should be prepared for a language evaluation immediately upon consideration. A minimum score of ILR speaking 1+ / reading 2 is desired. More information on the ILR scale is available online. If you are selected at the minimum score(s), you may required to complete a language training program, re-test as a condition of continued employment, and/or be subject to a foreign language critical performance factor until you are able to meet the standard.
Your language experience and/or education must be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to clearly identify your language proficiency may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.
Time in Grade
Time-in-grade restrictions apply for all candidates considered under Merit Promotion (generally applicants who have held a Federal civilian appointment within the previous 52 weeks). These applicants must have 1 year time-in-grade at the next lower level or equivalent to qualify.
Relocation expenses are authorized in accordance with applicable travel regulations and Agency policy.
The majority of entitlements through a civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government will be considered taxable benefits by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). However, any additional taxes incurred will be offset either by government regulations, Agency policy, or both, as applicable.
Closing Date
Only experience and education obtained by the review date of your application will be considered.
Additional information
Annual Leave Accrual Credit
Selectees may be eligible to earn a higher annual leave accrual rate based on prior non-Federal or uniformed service work experience. The amount of service credit will be based on specialized experience or qualifying experience that is provided on the applicant resume and documentation submitted. As such, if you are an applicant that is a new employee to the Federal Government or a rehire, it is important that you provide a resume that lists all directly related positions, work history and includes the dates of employment (month/day/year).
Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): If you have never worked for the Federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To receive selection priority, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority, applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and have a rating of 85 or above.
Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements, you may review the information at the following links:
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Assessment Questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for an incomplete application. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.
The first review of completed application packets will be two weeks after opening date of this announcement. After first review, completed application packets will be reviewed and referred to the selecting official once or twice a month. This announcement will be CLOSED when the position is filled. In addition, it may be extended as needed.
Management will consider any Federal performance appraisals and/or awards you submit with your application as an indication of your experience and work history. These documents will not be scored as part of the assessment process.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your resume listing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
2. Online Assessment Questionnaire, as completed through this Vacancy announcement.
3. Other supporting documents:
Cover Letter, optional;
College transcript(s), only if qualifying based on education;
Most recent SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held if applying as a Status, Transfer, or Reinstatement candidate with current or former Federal service;
Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable;
DD-214, SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities.
4. Applicants applying under other authorities (disability/Schedule A, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, CTAP/ICTAP, Interchange, etc.) must submit the appropriate documentation establishing their eligibility.
If your resume or supporting documents are illegible or unreadable, or if you fail to include any of the above mentioned required documents, you may lose consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. You may not be considered for any hiring eligibilities that you fail to list and/or support with proper documentation.
If your resume and/or cover letter contains sensitive or inappropriate information, including but not limited to: photographs; classified or government sensitive information; copied and pasted portions of this job announcement; Social Security Number (SSN); personal information such as race, gender, religious affiliation; obscene information, etc., you may not be considered.
Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for non-selection, disqualification from further consideration or withdrawal of tentative or final job offers.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.
You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application. Preview Questionnaire.
You will receive an email notification when your application has been received.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
Headquarters
Courthouse Plaza II, Suite 500
2300 Clarendon Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22201
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated as outlined above, and if you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. Selecting officials may choose any appropriate competitive, non-competitive or alternative candidate under Federal regulations and Agency Merit Promotion policy. Interviews may be conducted individually, by panel, by third party, teleconference, video teleconference, or in person. Selecting officials have the option to interview any, all or none of the referred candidates. Management has the right to fill or not fill this vacancy, as well as to cancel and re-announce as appropriate.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your resume listing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
2. Online Assessment Questionnaire, as completed through this Vacancy announcement.
3. Other supporting documents:
Cover Letter, optional;
College transcript(s), only if qualifying based on education;
Most recent SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held if applying as a Status, Transfer, or Reinstatement candidate with current or former Federal service;
Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable;
DD-214, SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities.
4. Applicants applying under other authorities (disability/Schedule A, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, CTAP/ICTAP, Interchange, etc.) must submit the appropriate documentation establishing their eligibility.
If your resume or supporting documents are illegible or unreadable, or if you fail to include any of the above mentioned required documents, you may lose consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. You may not be considered for any hiring eligibilities that you fail to list and/or support with proper documentation.
If your resume and/or cover letter contains sensitive or inappropriate information, including but not limited to: photographs; classified or government sensitive information; copied and pasted portions of this job announcement; Social Security Number (SSN); personal information such as race, gender, religious affiliation; obscene information, etc., you may not be considered.
Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for non-selection, disqualification from further consideration or withdrawal of tentative or final job offers.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.
You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application. Preview Questionnaire.
You will receive an email notification when your application has been received.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
Headquarters
Courthouse Plaza II, Suite 500
2300 Clarendon Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22201
US
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated as outlined above, and if you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. Selecting officials may choose any appropriate competitive, non-competitive or alternative candidate under Federal regulations and Agency Merit Promotion policy. Interviews may be conducted individually, by panel, by third party, teleconference, video teleconference, or in person. Selecting officials have the option to interview any, all or none of the referred candidates. Management has the right to fill or not fill this vacancy, as well as to cancel and re-announce as appropriate.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
