Clarification from the agency

This position is for current permanent VA employee.

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This recruitment is for 1 position with the VHA Regional Procurement Office East, Network Contracting Office (NCO) 5 located 849 International Dr., Ste 275, Linthicum, MD 21090. Relocation incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidate. For a highly qualified candidate, an alternate duty station location may be available within NCO 5.

Supervisory Contract Specialist (Director of Contracting)/PD24008A

The Director of Contracting (DoC) is responsible for directing the full acquisition portfolio of a large and complex healthcare delivery program. This includes managing the acquisition operations that support, advance and accomplish the patient care mission of the Network, consisting of multiple VHA major medical centers, and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) or Program Offices. Based on geographical area supported subordinates may be virtually placed at various facilities within the Network Contracting Office (NCO) to meet the mission of the Network. The DoC is responsible for executing acquisitions in direct response to the Network requirements, and implementation of national, regional, and Network goals and objectives. The DoC ensures socioeconomic goals and programs set by the Department and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) are addressed through acquisition planning, while complying with additional competition and regulatory requirements set by the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Veteran Affairs Acquisition Regulations (VAAR), and other policies, rules and regulations.

The DoC must meet all eligibility requirements to receive and maintain a Level III FAC-C certification prior to placement in the position.

The DoC is responsible for directing the acquisition program in support of the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) or VHA Program Offices and serves as a communication conduit among facilities, Networks/Program Offices, Regional Procurement Office (RPO), Executive Director of Procurement and Executive Director of Procurement and Logistics. Ensures coordination and development of Network Contracting Office (NCO) contracts for supplies, services, and equipment, and assisting facilities with Advanced Procurement Planning (APP).

Responsible for the overall supervision of staff within the Network/Program Office. Serves as a Network/Program point of contact with the vendor community and provides ongoing supervision of acquisition activities within the Network/Program. Identifies and develops both technical and generalized education and training requirements for all acquisition staff, to include COR training and specialized training for leasing, clinical contracting, and other internal and external customer. The Director of Contracting reports directly to the Executive Director, RPO, an SES position. Although this position is autonomous in the execution of their duties, the DoC is responsible for informing the Executive Director of the RPO of acquisition issues; communicates VA and VHA acquisition policies to all affected parties.

Provides significant recommendations to the RPO on proposed VA and VHA level policy formulation connected with changes to VA, VHA, and RPO level acquisition programs. Develops and implements Network level administrative and procurement related policies and procedures require to effect efficient operations.

Participates in VHA, regional, multi-network, and network level work groups. Develops, implements, and coordinates program activities. Policies and decisions made are far reaching in scope and significantly impact the VA wide acquisition program.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/01/2021.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-15 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-14. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

• Basic Requirements GS-15: 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
  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.
  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.
  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.

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-14 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Responsible for coordinating acquisitions to establish and implement both National and Network goals and objectives, for managing on a day to day basis the operations of the various contracting officers in the Network Contracting Office, and for ensuring the socioeconomics goals and programs set by the Department and VHA are addressed through acquisition planning, while complying with competition and other requirements set by the FAR, VAAR, and other policies, rules and regulations. Serves as a Network point of contact with industry and provides ongoing supervision of acquisition activities within the Network. Facilitates communication among facilities, Networks and Headquarters. Keeps RPO informed of acquisition issues, communicates VHA acquisition policies to all affected parties; provides significant recommendations to the RPO on proposed policy formulation connected with changes to VHA Logistics programs; talks with and coordinates satisfaction surveys with customers to determine their needs and satisfaction with the manner in which the acquisition system is meeting those needs. Keep local vendors and suppliers informed of VHA business opportunities. Facilitates sound business practices, such as develops, disseminates, interprets, monitors, and enforces acquisition policies and procedures as they relate to the Network. Participates in the assessment and formulation of VHA acquisition policies and procedures, such as assists the RPO in issues relating to contracting activities. Develops, implements, and coordinates program activities.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

COMPETENCY 1: Knowledge of Government contracting laws and policies, including techniques of contracting operations, detailed procedures of departments' contracting requirements, and familiarity with the practices of business and industry sufficient to develop policies and provide guidance to subordinate activities.

COMPETENCY 2: Ability to effectively supervise multiple personnel in varied locations and manage multiple complex program activities.

COMPETENCY 3: Ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, to present ideas, data, and recommendations, and to facilitate effective communication between facilities, the VISN, and VA Central Office.

COMPETENCY 4: Skill in written communications sufficient to develop and publish policy and other material.

COMPETENCY 5: Analytical skill sufficient to evaluate database information, audit reports, regulations, and other relevant materials as a basis for developing and implementing departmental guidelines and procedures.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.