Clarification from the agency

This position is for current permanent VA employees.

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The Supervisory Contract Specialist (Deputy Director of Contracting) assists in the execution of the NCO operational mission through acquisition support and in the absence of the DoC is responsible for directing the acquisition program in support of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks' (VISNs) or VHA Program Offices' and serves as a communication conduit between facilities, Networks/Program Offices, Regional Procurement Office (RPO), Deputy Chief Procurement Officer (DCPO) and Chief Procurement Officer (CPO). Ensures coordination and development of NCO contracts for supplies, services, and equipment, and assisting Facilities with Advanced Procurement Planning (APP). Works with the Training Officer to identify and develop both technical and generalized education and training requirements for all acquisition staff, to include oversight of COR training and specialized training for contracting. Serves as a network point of contact with the vendor community and provides ongoing supervision of acquisition activities within the NCO. Develops and implements network level administrative and procurement related policies and procedures require to effect efficient operations. Ensures the NCO Small Business representative supports Small Business conferences and all Small Business programs as well providing local vendors and suppliers of NCO and VHA business opportunities. Coordinates, negotiates and assesses the NCO socio-economic goals by conducting site visits at the medical centers within the network that host functions and purchasing staff to assess performance in this area. Participates in VHA, regional, multi-network, and network level work groups and IPTs that develop, implement, and coordinate program activities that impact VHA. The DDoC will have FAC-C Level III certification within one year of placement in the position.

Work Schedule: Tour of Duty is 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Remote: This may be a remote position. (Remote refers to work performed on full-time basis anywhere other than a VA facility or using VA-leased space.)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position. (Virtual refers to work performed on full-time basis using VA-leased space or at a VA facility other than the facility that hired the employee.)

**For this position, telework (up to 80% per pay period) or remote work (100% off site) may be authorized upon supervisor approval if within the local commuting distance of the advertised duty station.

Position Description/PD#: Supervisory Contract Specialist (Deputy Director of Contracting)/PD190100
Relocation Incentives: Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• 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 Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/14/2022.

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-14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13. 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.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Basic Requirements: 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.

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.

Note: The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) does not grant Academic degrees; therefore courses completed at the DAU are not creditable towards meeting the 24 semester hour requirement, in the fields identified above, unless the coursework has been evaluated by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and appears on a college or university transcript.

Specialized Experience GS-14: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-13) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience with 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. Experience supervising multiple personnel in varied locations and manage multiple complex program activities. Experience evaluating database information, audit reports, regulations, and other relevant materials as a basis for developing and implementing departmental guidelines and procedures. Experience involving supervisory authorities and responsibilities involving work assignment and review, as well as the administrative and personnel management functions relative to the staff supervised. Experience training subordinates in methods and techniques of performing contract actions, and providing or arranging for specific administrative or technical training necessary for accomplishment of individual and team tasks. Extensive experience in the procurement of supplies and services using sealed bid, competitive, and noncompetitive procedures. Some examples of equipment, supplies, and services procured include but are not limited to: medical or facility equipment, medical/surgical supplies, nursing homes, readjustment counseling, medical services, architect-engineer services, construction, information technology (IT) services to include hardware and software. Experience with intra/interagency agreements, sharing agreements, contract selling agreements, research and development, and leases.

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; religions; 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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary in nature. There are no special physical requirements. The work is performed primarily in office areas or conference rooms and similar environments. However, it may require some traveling and visits to Government and/or contractor's facilities and other contract-related performance sites.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

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.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Knowledge of Government Contracting: 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.
• Ability to Supervise: Ability to effectively supervise multiple personnel in varied locations and manage multiple complex program activities.
• Ability to Communicate: 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.
• Develop Policy: Skill in written communications sufficient to develop and publish VISN policy and other material.
• Analytical Skills: 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.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.