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Contract Specialist - Direct Hire

Department of Transportation
Maritime Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

You will be responsible for contracting for unique and special capital equipment, Information Technology (IT) services, equipment and supplies, contracting for reconstruction and modernization of the Academy's facilities from extensive repairs to major alterations, Architect-Engineer (A-E) services, and facility support services, including professional/non personal services, via performance-based service contracting.



Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
03/14/2019 to 03/25/2019
Salary
$81,548 - $109,245 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Washington, DC
Kings Point, NY
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Position requires occasional travel.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time -
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Announcement number
MARAD.MMA-2019-0036
Control number
527419400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. The 'Rule of Three', Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

Duties

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As a Contract Specialist, you will:

  • Plan, prepare, negotiate, issue and administer procurement transactions for the Academy, up to the delegated limitation per procurement action. Purchase items that are frequently of special or unique design, such as science and engineering instruments, research and development projects, machinery, equipment required for boats and waterfront facilities, and teaching aids.

  • Prepare and issue formal contracts, primarily contracts for construction and other contracts, which includes service contracts prepared under regulations cited in OMB Circular A-76 Performance of Commercial Activities and performance-based service contracts. Negotiate with contractors for the best price, terms and conditions consistent with governing law and regulations. Prepare and issue Requests or Quotations, invitations for Bids and Requests for Proposal via the Academy's electronic contract writing system, ESC PRISM.

  • Review contractors technical and price proposals and requests for changes, and assure that the Government's position is fully supported and reflect complete evaluation of the proposals. Investigate claims of excusable delay. Determine extent of deviation from contractual requirements and negotiations and appropriate settlement. Oversee traffic control relate to shipment of Government property; prepare and issue Government Bill of lading, trace and expedite shipment from point of origin to final destination.

  • Serve as Procurement Department technical focal point during audits and reviews by outside Agencies and/or Departments. Assist in the gathering of information and conduct reviews of work products necessary to produce a written report of findings and corrective action. Conduct reviews and prepared written reports of findings related to the Academy's Purchase Card program to ascertain cardholder compliance with all applicable rules and regulations.

The ideal candidate should possess expertise in providing contractual services and guidance to program officials along with the ability to contract for supplies,  services, special capital equipment, construction, modernization of facilities and Architect-Engineering services.

Highly Desirable: Procurement transactions specific to construction, renovation of facilities, modernization, extensive repairs and major alterations which include Architect-Engineer (A-E) services.

PLEASE NOTE: The duty location for this position is Washington, DC or Kings Point, NY. 

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen & meet specialized experience to qualify.
  • Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
  • Provide all required documents by closing date.
  • Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
  • DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).
  • BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You will be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding.” This information will be listed under conditions of employment.
  • CONFIDENTIAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORT: The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter.

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet either the education or specialized experience requirements for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify on Experience for the GS-12, you must have one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11, which includes:

  • Experience with contracting laws, regulations, principals and procedures; and contracts provisions and methods of contracting applicable to the acquisition of extensive or unique equipment, services or construction.
  • Experience with assigned requirements typically include items having unique government requirements, services, maintenance, or quality characteristics; or maintenance that significantly affect the operations of support activities.
  • Experience with negotiation techniques sufficient to negotiate prices, terms, and conditions.

You cannot qualify on education at this level, you must have experience.

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.

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link:  https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date.

Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR GS-9-12:

A. A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field;  OR
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. Applicants who meet the criteria for Superior Academic Achievement qualify for positions at the GS-9 level.
B. 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.
Note - For positions at GS-9 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.
C. 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.
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.

Additional information

Displaced employees may be eligible for ICTAP or CTAP priority consideration. For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition.

EEO STATEMENT:  The Department of Transportation (DOT) maintains a model federal work environment that is free of discrimination. DOT ensures equal employment opportunity for employees and applicants for employment, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), genetic information, age, disability, sexual orientation, or protected activity.

PLEASE NOTE:  This vacancy may be used to fill similar positions within 60 days for this location.

How you will be evaluated

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

For this announcement, all applicants will be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for this position, specifically the educational and specialized experience requirements. 

Applicants will not be rated or ranked.  Veteran's Preference does NOT apply.

All applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications will be referred to the selecting official.

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.  All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated by a resume. If, upon review, it is determined that your resume and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be removed from consideration.

Ultimately, the Automated Staffing Office is responsible for determining an applicant's eligibility. Please ensure that your resume provide enough detail to support your answers to the Vacancy Specific Questions.

* PLEASE NOTE: This announcement establishes an open continuous (12 month) vacancy announcement for Contract Specialist GS-1102- 11/12/13.  Given our continuing need for top professionals in this field, we will review applications after 1/22/2019.  The final review will be on the closing date. 


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Maritime Administration

Please see the Agency benefits section.

Agency contact information

Automated Staffing Office
Phone
000-000-0000
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
TRANSJOBS@dot.gov
Address
DOT, MARITIME ADMINISTRATION
Submit Application and Documents Online
1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR - 50
Washington, District of Columbia 20590
United States

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