Clarification from the agency

TITLE 5 EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION OPEN TO AREA 3: Public, Veterans, Reserve & National Guard Military Members, Former and Current Federal Employees.

As a CONTRACT SPECIALIST, GS-1102-7/9/11, duties include:

1. Plans the overall approach to meet contracting program objectives for procuring a wide variety of requirements. Performs market research/analysis to determine availability of the requirement; analyzes market trends, commercial practices, conditions and technological advances and determines the sources to be solicited. Determines appropriate method of procurement using a wide range of contracting methods and contract types. Selects appropriate contracting approaches, techniques, and procedures to solve a variety of acquisition problems. Analyzes contracting issues and recommends best course of action. Performs acquisition planning along with the program manager/customer, technical, legal, finance and contract pricing personnel to develop market research, acquisition strategy, milestones, evaluation/source selection criteria, and/or incentive or award fee provisions, as applicable. Exercises latitude in dealing with problems arising during the pre-award phase of the procurement action. Plans and carries out the work, selecting the approaches and techniques to be used, and determines actions to be taken on assigned contracts. Uses judgment in interpreting guidelines, in adapting procurement procedures to specific situations and in recommending solutions to problems encountered. Provides business advice and assistance to technical personnel involved in the development of the performance work statement/statement of work or data requirements. Reviews requisition packages for adequacy and compliance with administrative, regulatory, and procedural requirements and consistency with current market practices and conditions. Reviews procurement requests to determine whether, based on market analysis, the requirement can be performed by small businesses; actively solicits Small Businesses and a wide range of socioeconomic groups. If appropriate, initiates action to have all or part of a procurement set-aside exclusively for small business/socioeconomic performance. Prepares applicable determinations and findings. Assists with the development of evaluation criteria to use in determining source selection and "best value" requests for proposals which include utilization of past performance data and technical qualifications for awards based on other than lowest price. Procurements usually involve a variety of considerations such as socioeconomic, market conditions and strategy, difficult-to-define scopes of work, legal conditions, rigid deadlines, or incentive arrangements. Resolves problems that limit competition and modifies clauses that discourage potential offerors. Conducts pre-proposal/pre-bid conferences and modifies requirements as necessary. Serves as the point of contact for assigned procurements.

2. Procures a wide variety of services, commodities, and/or construction. Applies all statutory requirements including regulations, policies, procedures, business and industry practices, market trends, Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Comptroller General Decisions, public law, case law, and precedents to all acquisitions. Contracts assigned may contain a variety of unique attributes such as special handling provisions or other specialized terms and conditions, unfavorable market conditions, and limited competition or sole source requirements. Ensures the price schedule is properly structured, prepares the solicitation, determines sources to be solicited, issues solicitations and amendments, and determines the acceptability of offers based on an analysis of financial and technical information gained. Obtains and reviews subcontracting plans as required. Recommends the competitive range. Conducts any necessary conferences to discuss proposals received; performs price or cost analysis; plans and conducts negotiations on price, technical requirements, terms and conditions of the contract. Determines need for final proposal revisions. Recommends award. Prepares final contract to include appropriate standard clauses and special provisions, final pricing and payment terms, and incentives. Documents reason for decision and justifies basis for award. Prepares the unit's response to any protests, as required, fully documenting and defending the Government's position. Takes any necessary corrective action resulting from a protest. Enters all contractual information into a contract writing system software database.

Performs other duties as assigned.

View Full PD's:
https://acpol2.army.mil/ako/fasclass/search_fs/search_fs_output.asp?ccpo=NG&jobNum=T5202000&id=845975

Conditions of employment

• Males born after 31 December 1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Obtain/maintain the level of security clearance/background check required
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• Direct Deposit is mandatory

Qualifications

COVID-19 IMMUNIZATION: As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination by November 22, 2021 or before appointment or onboarding with the agency, if after November 22. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request of the agency a legally required exception from this requirement.

Security Clearance/Background Check requirements:
In order to comply with US DOD requirements and ensure the safety and security of the missions, programs, property and personnel of the Nebraska Military Department, employees must obtain the appropriate background investigation and maintain the level of security clearance assigned to their respective work.

Failure to obtain, within one year of appointment, and maintain the designated type of security clearance/background check required for the respective work may result in a job offer being rescinded, separations of employment, or other actions as may be deemed in the best interest of the agency.

Prior to appointment individuals must meet the security clearance requirements for the position or submit the required documents of the Nebraska National Guard, Personnel Security Manager for processing the appropriate investigation. Required forms: SF86, PSIP Initiation Form, Fingerprints, OF306 and Application/Resume.

Nebraska National Guard Personnel Security Manager - benjamin.p.stewart4.civ@mail.mil; 402-309-8319

GENERAL EXPERIENCE:
All on-board Title 5 Excepted Service employees assigned to Series GS-1102 positions, must be certified at the next higher grade-level before considered as eligible for merit promotions to that level; and, must have a minimum of one year on-the-job experience in the grade immediately below the next higher level. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
GS-1102-07: Must meet positive education requirement. To qualify, candidate must have an understanding of the basic principles and concepts of the National Guard Procurement business and/or contracting program requirements and certifications. Applicants must have experiences and training that demonstrates the ability to follow directions, to read, retain, and understand a variety of instructions, regulations, policies and procedures. As a condition of continued employment in the GS-1102-07 positions, employees must complete Level One Certification within 24 months of appointment to their positions.

GS-1102-09: Must meet positive education requirement. To qualify, candidate must have Contracting Level One Certification awarded and have at least 12 months of functional contracting experiences and competencies that provided knowledge of contracting principles and procedures to include the following business: Procurement in Pre-Award and Award Contracts; Simplified Acquisition Procedures; Small Business Socio-Economic; Delivery Order / Task Order; Contract Administration; Government Purchase Card program. As a condition of continued employment in the GS-1102-09 position, the employee must complete Level Two Certification within 24 months of appointment to the position.

GS-1102-11: Must meet positive education requirement. To qualify, candidate must have Contracting Level Two Certification awarded and have at least 12 months of broadening contracting experiences and competencies that provided full working knowledge and skill in contracting principles and procedures to include the following tasks: Procurement in Pre-Award and Award Contracts, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Small Business Socio-Economic, Delivery Order / Task Order, Contract Administration, Purchase Card program.

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT (Required for GS-09/11 Applicants)
The Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) requires specific training requirements for current contracting and acquisition employees. To be considered for this position, GS-9/11 applicants must have completed the required DAWIA training or Federal Acquisition Certification - Contracting Level 1 or 2 certification dependent on grade level applying for.

**Your DAWIA Course or Federal Acquisition Certification - Contracting Level 1 or 2 certificates must be uploaded with your application if applying for the GS-9/11 position.**

NOTE: Positive Education, General, Specialized Experience and where applicable, possession of Contracting Level One or Two Certification will be used to determine qualifications for the announced position. Applicants must provide from (e.g. 02/2014 - 03/2016 or Feb 2014 - Mar 2016) dates and hours worked per week with description of your specialized experience on the resume.

ALL SERIES GS-1102 NG TITLE 5 EXCEPTED SERVICE CANDIDATES' PACKAGES ARE PROCESSED / COORDINATED DIRECTLY TO NG-J1-TN THROUGH NGB OPARC FOR FINAL CONCURRENCE PRIOR TO FINAL APPOINTMENT.

COVID REQUIREMENTS:
Federal employees who start their government service after November 22, 2021, must be fully vaccinated prior to their start date, except in limited circumstances where a reasonable accommodation is legally required.

OPM is authorized to collect the information requested through this website pursuant to Executive Order 14043, Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. This information will be used by the agency that has extended the offer of employment to verify that you meet the requirements of the Executive Order. This information will not be distributed to outside entities.

Providing this information is voluntary. However, failure to provide this information may have consequences including delay in entry on duty or termination of the offer of employment. If you wish to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact your HRO representative.

Please upload documentation to verify that you are or will be fully vaccinated by your projected start date. Valid documentation includes:

- A copy of the record of immunization from a health care provider or pharmacy,
- A copy of the COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card
- A copy of medical records documenting the vaccination
- A copy of immunization records from a public health or state immunization information system
- A copy of any other official documentation containing required data points. The data that must be on any official documentation are the type of vaccine administered, date(s) of administration, and the name of the health care professional(s) or clinic site(s) administering the vaccine(s).

By providing this documentation, you are certifying under penalty of perjury that the documentation you are submitting is true and correct. For more information on the Federal government's vaccination mandate, please visit https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/.

OMB Control Number 3206-0278

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, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. Your answers to the assessment questionnaire will be verified against information provided in your resume and other supporting documentation. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position.

In describing your experience, please be clear and specific, we will not make assumptions regarding your experience. If, after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experiences, your rating will be adjusted or you may be excluded from consideration for this position.

Your qualifications will be evaluated against general and specialized experience under the "Qualifications" section and against the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

Contracting/Procurement, Oral Communication, and Planning and Evaluating

NUMERIC CATEGORY:
Applicants who meet the basic qualification requirements will be placed in a numeric group based upon ranking factors such as knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors as reflected in their application package. Refer to NE TPR 335 dated 4 April 2018.

Numeric category ratings are:
Highly-Qualified: 90-100 points. To be highly-qualified, an applicant substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, including all selective placement factors and are fully competent to effectively perform all the job requirements in the position almost immediately with minimum training or orientation;
Well-Qualified: 80-89 points. To be well qualified, an applicant meets the minimum qualifications of the position and is proficient in most, but not all, of the requirements of the position. May require some training or orientation to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position;
Qualified: 70-79 points. To be qualified, an applicant meets the minimum qualifications of the position and is proficient in some, but not all, of the position's requirements. Will require extensive training or orientation to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position.

Veterans' Preference:
Assessed applicants are placed in the appropriate numeric category and ranked according to preference eligibility and non-preference eligibility. All qualified preference eligibles are placed ahead of non-preference eligibles within their numeric category.
Read about Veterans' Preference here: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide-for-hr-professionals/#2

To preview the assessment questionnaire, please use the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11297267.