Contract Specialist in the Acquisitions Division, Administrative Department, of the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission responsible for contracting assignments including price analysis, administration, termination, and simplified acquisition procedures and is engaged in mission support, contributing to the agency's strategic goal of maximizing organizational effectiveness through innovative management and accountability of human, physical, and fiscal resources.
Summary
Contract Specialist in the Acquisitions Division, Administrative Department, of the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission responsible for contracting assignments including price analysis, administration, termination, and simplified acquisition procedures and is engaged in mission support, contributing to the agency's strategic goal of maximizing organizational effectiveness through innovative management and accountability of human, physical, and fiscal resources.
Ensures that all post award actions taken comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and Executive Orders.
PUBLIC NOTICE: Positions will be filled under the Direct Hiring Authority for STEM positions in accordance with OPM rules and regulations.
The initial cut-off for consideration is August 15, 2022; as needed, applications received by this date will have the first opportunity for review.Applications received after this date will be given consideration only if there is a need for further review.
Salary listed is subject to change based on new fiscal year appropriations.
You must be a U.S. Citizen or Naturalized U.S. Citizen.
You must obtain and maintain a favorable background Investigation.
You will be required to serve a one year probationary period.
You must maintain Direct Deposit of your federal pay.
You must complete and successfully pass the DHS required E-Verify employment verification check.
You must complete and submit the required US office of Government Ethics Confidential Financial Disclosure Report upon entrance on duty and annually thereafter.
GG-11: You must possess a current Federal Acquisition Certificate in Contracting FAC-C Level I or the equivalent Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act certification and obtain a FAC-C Level II Certificate upon of 24 months of appointment.
GG-12: You must possess a current Federal Acquisition Certificate in Contracting (FAC-C) Level II.
You must be able to lift and carry items weighing up to 15 pounds unassisted such as office items and supplies; and sustain periods of bending, stooping, and reaching.
You may be required to work overtime.
Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
Qualifications
Qualifications must be met by the initial cut-off date of 08/15/2022. If further cut-off dates are established, qualifications must be met by those dates. To qualify for this position, you must have and/or meet the education, specialized experience, and certification requirements as listed below:
Basic Requirements for GS-5 through GS-12 - A copy of your transcripts must be submitted at the time of application.
A. A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field;
OR
B. 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 - For positions at GS-7 through GS-12, applicants who are qualifying based on experience must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level, that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position, in addition to meeting the basic requirements in paragraph A or B, above.
A. Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy GS-1102 positions at grades 5 through 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified at GS-12. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade 12. However, employees must meet specialized experience requirements when seeking another position. A copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action must be submitted at the time of application.
Grade Differential: Bothgrade levels perform a wide range of tasks similar to those described in the listing of functional area duties and responsibilities. At the GG-11 grade level the employee will be assigned work to further develop and refine their technical knowledge and skills. Assignments will combine productive work with ongoing training and instruction. Supervision received at the lower grade level will be closer with oversight and review being provided on a regular basis.
Specialized Experience GG-11: In addition to the requirements listed above, your resume must also demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GG/GS-09 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Examplesof Specialized experience: pre-award and post-award contractual functions which require the use of fixed-price, cost-reimbursement, or a combination of contract methods to procure acquisitions; conducting market research/analysis; analyzing proposals/quotes for equipment and commodities that are subject to design or specification; developing procurement plans by reviewing historical data, market conditions, and specifications or technical data packages; developing procurement packages by obtaining or developing determination and findings, memorandums, justifications, and scopes of work; performing analysis of bids, proposals, and quotes to ensure strict compliance with specifications on advertised procurements; recommending award based on the best overall value to the government; assisting with or conducting negotiations during the procurement process; coordinating actions with customers, legal counsel, technical, and financial specialists representing various disciplines in the procurement process; compiling contract packages for execution to the Contracting Officer; and ensuring all post award actions comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and Executive Orders;
OR Education: 3 full academic years of progressively higher level education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
Graduate Education: 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.
Specialized Experience GG-12: In addition to the requirements listed above, your resume must also demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GG/GS-11 grade level or pay band in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Examples of Specialized experience: performing pre-award and post-award contractual functions which require the use of fixed-price, cost-reimbursement, or a combination of contract methods to procure acquisitions and/or large, highly complex or high dollar services; conducting market research/analysis; analyzing proposals/quotes for equipment and commodities that are subject to design or specification; developing procurement plans by reviewing historical data, market conditions, and specifications or technical data packages; developing procurement packages by obtaining or developing determination and findings, memorandums, justifications, scopes of work, and independent government cost estimates; performing detailed analysis of bids, proposals, and quotes to ensure strict compliance with specifications on advertised procurements; recommending award based on the best overall value to the government; conducting negotiations during all phases of the procurement process; coordinating actions with customers, legal counsel, technical, and financial specialists representing various disciplines in the procurement process; compiling contract packages for execution to the Contracting Officer; and ensuring all post award actions comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and Executive Orders; There is no education substitution for experience at the GG-12 grade level.
Certification Requirement: In addition to the requirements listed above you must meet the certification requirement listed below, and you must submit proof of certification at the time of application. GG-11: You must possess a current Federal Acquisition Certificate in Contracting (FAC-C) Level I Certificate or Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) equivalent certification and obtain a Level II Certificate within 18 months of initial appointment. GG-12: You must possess a current FAC-C Level II Certificate or DAWIA equivalent certification.
Part-Time or Unpaid Experience: Credit will be given for unpaid work on the same basis as for paid experience. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. To receive credit for such experience you must indicate clearly the nature of the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the number of hours per week spent in such employment.
This position has a positive education requirement as listed in the Qualifications Section of this notice/announcement: A copy of your transcripts are required at the time of application to verify that you meet the educational requirement.
Basic Requirements for GS-5 through GS-12
A. A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field;
OR
B. 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 - For positions at GS-7 through GS-12, applicants who are qualifying based on experience must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level, that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position, in addition to meeting the basic requirements in paragraph A or B, above.
Graduate Education: 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.
A. Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy GS-1102 positions at grades 5 through 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified at GS-12. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade 12. However, employees must meet specialized experience requirements when seeking another position. A copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, is required at the time of application to verify that you meet this exception.
Substitution of education for experience as listed in the Qualifications Section of this notice/announcement.
GG-11: You may use education to qualify as a substitution for experience at the GG-11 grade level.
GG-12: There is no education substitution for experience. A copy of your transcripts are required at the time of application to verify that you meet the educational substitution for experience.
Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.
Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Additional information
If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (member-4 copy preferred) or other proof of eligibility that shows the dates you were on active duty and your character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are claiming Disabled Veterans' preference you must also submit documentation of disability (i.e. VA Disability Verification Letter) and the SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference." For more information on veterans' preference see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see www.sss.gov ).
The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal 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 rated in well-qualified by scoring 85 or higher on the assessment for this vacancy. Additional information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/
If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.
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 announcement has closed, a qualifications review will be conducted. Resumes and supporting documents will be reviewed to verify eligibility and determine qualifications. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
Your rating will be based on the responses to the assessment questionnaire and the information provided in your resume. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities. This could cause you to lose consideration for this position.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on your entire application and the extent to which you demonstrate the following competencies and/or knowledge, skills, and abilities:
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.
All applicants are required to submit the following documents:
Resume: Please include employment dates and a detailed description for each job entry. You must ensure your resume states complete information for each job entry (beginning and ending dates of employment stated as MM/YYYY; and total hours worked per week). If your resume does not provide enough information regarding your work history for us to make a qualification determination, your application package may be rendered disqualified and you will no longer be considered for this position.
Completed occupational questionnaire.
College transcripts: You must ensure you submit a copy of your transcripts; if you fail to submit a copy of your transcripts, your application will be rendered disqualified and you will no longer be considered for this position.
Certification: You must submit a copy of your Federal Acquisition Certificate in Contracting (FAC-C) or Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) equivalent certification as follows: GG-11: You must submit a FAC-C Level I Certificate or DAWIA equivalent certification; GG-12: You must submit a FAC-C Level II Certificate or DAWIA equivalent certification. If you fail to submit a copy of your certification, your application will be rendered disqualified and you will no longer be considered for the grade GG-11 and/or GG-12.
If applicable:
Current or former federal civilian employees: SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, indicating the title, series, grade, appointing authority, and tenure.
Veterans' Preference Documentation (if applicable): All Veterans: DD-214 (Member 4 copy is preferred), which includes character of service, or for Active Duty Service Members a certification which includes service dates, type of separation, and character of service. A "certification" is a written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted.
Disabled Veterans: VA Disability Letter (with percentage of disability) OR document of disability determination from a branch of the armed forces which reflects a compensable service-connected disability rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EDT/EST) on 08/07/2023 to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11601838~
United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission
4191 N. Mesa Street
El Paso, TX 79902
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. Based upon your score, you may be referred to the hiring official. If your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly by that office for a possible interview.
You will receive status notifications through Application Manager or via email within 4-6 weeks.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
All applicants are required to submit the following documents:
Resume: Please include employment dates and a detailed description for each job entry. You must ensure your resume states complete information for each job entry (beginning and ending dates of employment stated as MM/YYYY; and total hours worked per week). If your resume does not provide enough information regarding your work history for us to make a qualification determination, your application package may be rendered disqualified and you will no longer be considered for this position.
Completed occupational questionnaire.
College transcripts: You must ensure you submit a copy of your transcripts; if you fail to submit a copy of your transcripts, your application will be rendered disqualified and you will no longer be considered for this position.
Certification: You must submit a copy of your Federal Acquisition Certificate in Contracting (FAC-C) or Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) equivalent certification as follows: GG-11: You must submit a FAC-C Level I Certificate or DAWIA equivalent certification; GG-12: You must submit a FAC-C Level II Certificate or DAWIA equivalent certification. If you fail to submit a copy of your certification, your application will be rendered disqualified and you will no longer be considered for the grade GG-11 and/or GG-12.
If applicable:
Current or former federal civilian employees: SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, indicating the title, series, grade, appointing authority, and tenure.
Veterans' Preference Documentation (if applicable): All Veterans: DD-214 (Member 4 copy is preferred), which includes character of service, or for Active Duty Service Members a certification which includes service dates, type of separation, and character of service. A "certification" is a written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted.
Disabled Veterans: VA Disability Letter (with percentage of disability) OR document of disability determination from a branch of the armed forces which reflects a compensable service-connected disability rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EDT/EST) on 08/07/2023 to receive consideration.
To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
Click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application package.
It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11601838~
United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission
4191 N. Mesa Street
El Paso, TX 79902
US
Next steps
Once the online questionnaire is received, you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. Based upon your score, you may be referred to the hiring official. If your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly by that office for a possible interview.
You will receive status notifications through Application Manager or via email within 4-6 weeks.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
