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Contract Specialist

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Reclamation
Mission Support Organization (MSO), Technical Service Support Section and Financial Assistance
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Contract Specialist. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

Duty Location: Location Negotiable After Selection, United States


This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. See "additional information" section.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/27/2022 to 01/20/2023
Salary
$44,740 to - $103,176 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 12
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Location Negotiable After Selection
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
BOR-DO-22-MP-11472256-CH
Control number
651210800

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Duties

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-Assist with pre-award and post award documents.
-Analyze bids/proposals/quotes.
-Prepares contract termination files for use in contracts.
-Prepare all pre-award and post award documents for review by the Contracting Officer.
-Prepares and issues solicitation documents.
-Perform contract negotiations, contract administration, and contract closeout.
-Establishes acquisition plans, milestones, and acquisition strategies including developing solicitation cost accounting standards, warranties, liquidated damages, advance payments right in data, safety requirements, and other provisions.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents).
You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents).
You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications).
You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education).

Who May Apply:

  • 30% or More Disabled Veterans
  • Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Competitive)
  • Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Non-Competitive)
  • Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)
  • Department of the Interior Employees (Competitive)
  • Department of the Interior Employees (Non-Competitive)
  • Federal Employees (Competitive Transfer)
  • Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Transfer)
  • Former Federal Employees (Competitive Reinstatement)
  • Former Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Reinstatement)
  • Individuals with Disabilities (Schedule A)
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)
  • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA)
  • Military Spouses
  • Miscellaneous Appointing Authorities
  • Pathways Program - Conversion Eligible
  • Peace Corps & AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers
  • Public Lands Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority
  • Special Hiring Authorities
  • Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA)
  • Veterans Recruitment Authority (VRA)

Qualifications


To be eligible for consideration, you must first meet the Basic Education Requirement for this position, having

1. A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field;
OR
2. 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.

In order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the education or specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume.


GS-07: To qualify at the GS-07 level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 in Federal service. Specialized experience at this level is defined as: 1.) Assisting in the development of appropriate solicitation packages that meet all legal, regulatory, and policy requirements in response to the needs of the agency and/or 2.) Supporting contract and/or procurement actions such as preparing contracts, reviewing bids, and making determinations.

OR

1 full year of graduate level education. Education at the graduate level in an accredited college or university must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.ORGS-07: Superior Academic Achievement is based on: 1) class standing, 2) grade-point average, or 3) honor society membership. Specific requirements are: 1) Class Standing: Upper third of graduating class based on completed courses; 2a) Grade Point Average: 3.0 or higher as recorded on official transcript or as computed based on 4 years of education; 2b) based on courses completed during the final full 2 years of curriculum; -OR- 2c) 3.5 or higher based on average of courses completed in the specific major field of study; or 3) Honor Society Membership: Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society listed in the Association of College Honor Societies, Booklet of Information, and/or Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision).

GS-9: To qualify at the GS-09 level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 in Federal service. Specialized experience at this level is defined as: 1.) Performing detailed analysis of bid received to determine bid responsiveness and responsibility of the offer; 2.) Negotiating contract modifications and/or 3.) Preparing and issues solicitation documents.
OR

2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or masters or equivalent graduate degree or LL.B. or J.D

GS-11: To qualify at the GS-11 level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 in Federal service. Specialized experience at this level is defined as: 1.) Performing acquisition planning, price/cost analysis, and negotiation 2.) Performing the pre-award and post-award phases of contracting to include cradle to grave; 3.) Utilizing contracting principles and procedures applicable to pre-award and/or post award actions and/or 4.) Close out contracts upon completion of the contract and resolve all conflicts.

OR
3 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.


GS-12: To qualify at the GS-12 level, applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 in Federal service. Specialized experience at this level is defined as: 1.) Working with various types of contracts, methods of contracting, selection factors, and developing appropriate strategies to conduct negotiations; 2.) Performing pre -award and post-award phases of contracting including identifying sources, analyzing cost and pricing data, contract proposals, and evaluating prospective contractors for responsibility; 3.)Performing contract termination procedures including reviewing and analyzing settlement proposals, audit reports, technical evaluations, and subcontractor claims and 4.) Recommending or determining allowable costs, profit to be allowed, disposal of Government property, and negotiating settlements with contractors.

The superior academic achievement provision is to be used to determine eligibility for applicable GS-07 level positions of persons who have completed (or expect to complete within 9 months) all the requirements for bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a qualifying grade point average (GPA), class standing, or honors society. For more information, visit OPM.

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.

Time-In-Grade: Current career or career-conditional employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower-grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Applicants eligible under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) are not required to meet time-in-grade restrictions in order to be considered.


You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions and any selective placement factors if applicable, by 01/20/2023.

Education

This vacancy announcement allows substituting education for experience at the GS-07, GS-09 and GS-11 grade levels. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not-qualified for the position.

This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. Non-submission will result in being rated not-qualified for the position.

You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer.

Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional info, refer to the Office of Personnel Management and U.S. Department of Education.

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For additional info, refer to the U.S. Network for Education Information.

Additional information

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 14 days after the opening date, April 27, 2022. There are no subsequent cut-off dates for referral of eligible applications. Eligible applications received after the date will be referred as additional vacancies occur or on an as-needed basis. Applicants may update their application at any time during the opening of the announcement. Your application will expire after 3 months. Thereafter you must reapply (at least every 3 months) to keep your application active for this vacancy.

Initial consideration will be given to candidates whose applications have been received before the first cut-off date. Qualification and/or time-in-grade requirements must be met for those applications submitted by the first cut-off date.

Remote duty station is negotiable after selection. Salary listed is for the Rest of United States (RUS) area and will be adjusted depending on the location of the selectee.

You may be required to serve an initial probationary period.

Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and you may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may request consideration for a Superior Qualifications Appointment. For information, visit: OPM Fact Sheet.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a Student Loan Repayment Benefit (SLRB). The decision to offer an SLRB will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: SLRB Program

Related non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630). For additional information, please visit: Creditable Service for Annual Leave

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/

This position is designated as a LOW RISK position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated SF85 Background Investigation (T1 or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment.


You will be scored and placed onto a register, from which selections will be made as the workforce demands. Both permanent and temporary positions are filled from this register as well as full-time, part-time and intermittent work schedules.

Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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


Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide to the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Contracting/Procurement
  • Customer Service
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Organizational Awareness
  • Research
  • Technical Competence
  • Writing


In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of an additional assessment. For this vacancy announcement the additional assessment will be a structured resume review prior to the referral of qualified applicants to the selecting official. This additional assessment measures the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.

For this assessment method HR will confirm that the applicant has provided all documentation and that they meet the stated eligibility requirement(s) and will review all applicant's whose self-ratings place them in the pre-determined cut-off score (MP) to confirm basic qualification requirements are met (including any minimum education requirements and/or selective placement factors if applicable). The Subject Matter Expert (SME) panel will conduct a resume review prior to applicants being referred on a certificate of eligibles to the hiring official.


The application questionnaire can be previewed here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11472256

Your answers will be verified against information provided in your resume. Your resume must clearly support the responses to all the questions by addressing experience, education, and/or training relevant to this position. You must make a fair and accurate assessment of your qualifications. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than what is apparent in the description of your experience, competencies, skills, and/or education/training (or that your resume/application is incomplete), you could be rated ineligible or your score could be lowered.

Due Weight Consideration: You must submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.

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