As a Contract Specialist GS 1102 9/11/12/13, your typical work assignments may include the following under supervision:

• Performing or assisting in the full range of planning, directing and administration activities for the most complex and major acquisitions for internal customer specific requirements and department-wide mission requirements.
• Evaluating quotes, proposal and bids, performing cost/price analysis, obtaining audits and pricing reports, negotiating price and/or technical issues, and ensuring that contractors are eligible for award and prepares documentation.
• Performing contract administration functions, such as verifying invoices, contractor performance, evidence of contractor's progress, negotiating modifications, issuing termination notices, reviewing contract claims, and conducting all contract closeout procedures.
• Reviewing actions to ensure that they have been taken to safeguard the interest of the DHS in its contractual relationships.

Conditions of employment

• U. S. Citizenship Required
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service
• You must successfully pass a background investigation
• You must be able to obtain a SECRET or TS/SCI security clearance
• You must submit to a pre-employment drug test

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation. Depending on the position you are selected for, the background investigation you must undergo could be for either of the following:
A. SUITABILITY clearance as a condition of placement in a NON-SENSITIVE position;
B. SECRET clearance as a condition of placement in a NON-CRITICAL position; OR
C. TOP SECRET/SCI clearance as a condition of placement in a SPECIAL SENSITIVE position.

This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12654 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE GS-9 THROUGH GS-12: Applicants must meet the basic qualifications and specialized experience as described below.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: To qualify for this position you must meet the basic requirements below: (You must submit a college transcript, which verifies this information.)

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;

AND

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
To qualify for the GS-9, you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as reviewing contracting or procurement actions to determine that proper specifications/purchase descriptions are included in solicitation documents; and evaluating bids or proposals for compliance with specifications/purchase descriptions and applicable clauses; or comparable experience. Such experience include: reviewing the procurement request for completeness, obtaining additional information from the requirements offices, preparing the invitation for bid, identifying sources of supply, preparing administrative change order documents and supporting memoranda, reviewing contractor's requests for payment for compliance with specific contract terms, and making initial review of inventories in termination actions; OR in order to qualify for the GS-09 level by substituting education for experience, you must have 2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or masters or equivalent graduate degree or L.L.B. or J.D.

To qualify for the GS-11, you must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level. Specialized experience is defined as involving the solicitation, analysis of firm fixed-price or similar contracts; and evaluation of contractor, bids and vendor proposals in the procurement of complex supplies, equipment and services; or comparable experience. Such experience include: preparing file documentation, solicitation document, identifies sources of supply, promotes competition, determines price reasonableness, solicits quotes and proposals, negotiates with potential contractors, and prepares the appropriate award vehicle and file documentation for approval; OR in order to qualify for the GS-11 level by substituting education for experience, you must have 3 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

To qualify for the GS-12, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, OR equivalent public or private sector experience. For this position, specialized experience is defined as reviewing and administering contracts; and planning and conducting contract price/cost analysis of a variety of pre-award and/or post-award procurement actions to determine cost effectiveness and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; or comparable experience. Such experience includes: planning, executing, administering, and terminating complex contracts through the use of formal advertising or negotiation procedures; evaluating proposals, negotiating costs/prices and terms and conditions with offerers/contractors, and ensuring that awards are within applicable laws and regulations. There is no substitution of education for specialized experience.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE GS-13: Applicants must meet the basic qualifications and specialized experience as described below.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: To qualify for this position you must meet the basic requirements below: (You must submit a college transcript, which verifies this information.)

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.

AND

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: To qualify for the GS-13, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level, OR equivalent public or private sector experience. Specialized experience is defined as having key responsibility for formulating contracting approach; planning, administering and conducting detailed contract price/cost analysis; and procuring and securing supplies and services or construction through use of both formally advertised and negotiated procurements; or comparable experience. Such experience include: negotiation, awarding and administration of varied requirements involving overall planning and coordinating activities performed on a variety of complex contracts associated with the procurement of equipment, supplies, and services; analysts of alternative contracting methods that are in the best interest of the Department: and incorporation of contract provisions, clauses, and special provisions to satisfy unique contract proposals. There is no substitution of education for specialized experience.

All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum qualification requirements.

Applicants will be evaluated on their total background including experience (paid and unpaid), education, awards, and training and self-development as it relates to the position based upon the information provided in the resume/application and any other supporting documents. If you are a current or former Federal employee, your resume must indicate the GS or pay band level for each position that you held. If your resume includes non-government service, including contractors, please include the salaries for each position held. All work experience should specify the length of time spent in the position. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. You will not receive any credit for experience that indicates hours per week "varies." List exact hours per week on each job experience.

Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the Federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. Information about ICTAP or CTAP eligibility can be found by clicking here to access OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under CTAP/ ICTAP, you must be placed in the well qualified category for this position, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.