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CONTRACT SPECIALIST

Department of the Air Force
Air National Guard Units
This job announcement has closed

Summary

THIS IS A NATIONAL GUARD TITLE 5 EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION

This National Guard position is for a CONTRACT SPECIALIST, Position Description Number T0047000 and is part of the AR ANG 188 WGH WG, National Guard.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
01/23/2023 to 02/07/2023
Salary
$82,830 to - $107,680 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Fort Smith, AR
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
No
Announcement number
AR-11780766-AF-23-075
Control number
701580500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Position is open to the public. Veterans Preference Applies.

Duties

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1. Plans the overall approach to meet contracting program objectives for a variety of requirements with multiple complexities. Analyzes difficult/controversial contracting issues, determines, recommends and/or implements course of action which may depart from previous approaches for long-term contract performance or short-term contracts with extremely stringent time frames. Provides business advice and assistance to technical personnel involved in the development of the performance work statement/statement of work/statement of objectives or data requirements. Reviews a diverse variety of requisition packages for adequacy and compliance with administrative, regulatory, and procedural requirements and consistency with current market practices and conditions. Serves as a contracting authority and advisor to management, customers, and contractors in assignment area relative to the market, the industry, specifications, socioeconomic concerns, and similar matters. Performs acquisition planning, along with the program manager/customer, technical, legal, and finance personnel to develop market research, acquisition strategy, milestones, evaluation/source selection criteria, and/or incentive or award fee provisions, as applicable. Exercises experienced judgment, initiative, and resourcefulness to identify regulations and laws which do or do not apply to the particular procurement, to consider financial arrangements and incentives, and to develop justifications for adopting a contractual posture. Prepares required documents to support solicitation issuance and reviews and advises less experienced specialists in the preparation of documents. Determines appropriate method of procurement, contract type, and financing arrangements to fit special circumstances. Reviews and evaluates requisitions for which previous experience and historical data are not usually directly available or applicable such as complex services, architect and engineering services or environmental related construction. Reviews procurement requests to determine whether, based on market analysis, the requirement can be performed by and should be set aside for small businesses; actively solicits Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Women-Owned Small Business, HUB Zone Small Business, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business participation. Reviews and may sign justification for limiting competition procurements. Procurements usually involve a variety of complexities such as socioeconomic considerations, source selections, and special handling provisions or other specialized terms and conditions, unfavorable market conditions, complex contracts, and limited competition, difficult-to-define scopes of work, legal conditions, and rigid deadlines causing additional complications. Resolves problems which limit competition and discourage potential offering parties in order to increase small business participation. Obtains required business clearances and/or approvals as necessary. Conducts site visits/pre-proposal/pre-bid conferences. Serves as point of contact for assigned procurements. This position may be required to perform supervisory personnel functions including the assignment of duties, participates in the interviews and selection of employees, schedules and approves leave, provides training, evaluates performance, initiates action to upgrade positions, and resolves disciplinary problems. Supports and takes affirmative action with consideration of Equal Employment Opportunity in all aspects of personnel actions. (30%)

2. Oversees the procurement of a wide variety of services, supplies, construction and architect and engineering. Researches, interprets, analyzes, and applies all regulations, business and industry practices, market trends, Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Comptroller General decisions, public law, case law, and precedents. Devises special terms, provisions, clauses, and conditions applicable to the solicitation and contract as required. Ensures that the price schedule is properly structured and determines sources to be solicited. Prepares solicitation, amendment, and contract documents incorporating applicable terms, conditions, provisions and clauses. Receives and performs oversight of quotes/bids/proposals evaluations and determines the acceptability of offers based on an analysis of financial and technical information gained. Conducts price or cost analysis as needed. Recommends or determines the competitive range. Formulates negotiation strategies and identifies areas subject to negotiation (e.g., price, quantity discounts, packaging, payment discounts, transportation, and delivery). Prepares pre-negotiation positions and memoranda based on audit and/or technical recommendations.

DUTIES CONTINUED UNDER EDUCATION:

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation.
May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
Participation in direct deposit is mandatory.
Information Assurance Certification is a condition of employment. Per DoD 8570.01-M, the incumbent must achieve the appropriate IA certification within six months of assignment of these duties

** Incumbent is required to submit a Financial Disclosure Statement, OGE-450, (5CFR Part 2634, Subpart I USOGE, 6/08). Executive Branch Personnel Confidential Financial Disclosure Report upon entering the position and annually, in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7-R, Joint Ethics Regulation, dated 23 March 2006.

1. May be required to travel by military or commercial aircraft in the performance of TDY assignments.
2. May be required to work comp time or overtime and may be required to work hours outside the normal duty schedule.
3. Required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise.
4. The incumbent must meet the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements applicable to the duties of the position.
5. The incumbent must meet the continuing acquisition education, training and experience requirements IAW DoDI 5000.66.
6. In accordance with the Ethics in Government Act, 1978, incumbent is required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
7. The incumbent must obtain and maintain secret security clearance.
8. May be required to pass the Contracting Officer Review Board (CORB) and hold a warrant.
9. This position is designated as Essential Personnel and may be subject to duty in preparation for, or in response to, a state of emergency or disaster declaration. This designation will not exceed 14 calendar days per year unless otherwise approved in advance by the TAG.

Qualifications

GENERAL EXPERIENCE:
Must have experience in positions supporting competencies in business, finance, risk management, project management, or supply chain management. Experience must include competencies such as skill in collecting and analyzing data and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively and other professional competencies in procurement administration or purchase card management.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
Must have one year of contracting experience at the GS-11 level. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following:
(1) Performing acquisition planning including market research and knowledge of a wide variety of contracting methods that satisfy mission needs and meet customer requirements,
(2) Advising Contracting Officer Representatives and advising customers on procurement preparation and development of contractually acceptable specifications, work statements, and quality assurance criteria,
(3) Reviewing procurement requests to assure clarity, adequacy, and completeness, and
(4) Reviewing contract terms and technical specifications to identify any special requirements.
Must have Level 1, DAWIA Foundational Certification or equivalent.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:

  • Knowledge of contracting principles, laws, statutes, Executive Orders, regulations, and procedures applicable to pre-award and post-award duties sufficient to plan and carry out procurement actions and administer contracts for a variety of specialized services, commodities and/or construction using a wide range of contracting methods and contract types.
  • In-depth knowledge of commercial business practices and market conditions to evaluate offer acceptability, contractor responsibility, and/or contractor performance, and to determine acquisition strategy and sources.
  • Knowledge of up-to-date market research procedures.
  • Knowledge of a wide range of contracting methods and contract types sufficient to perform pre-award, post-award, and price/cost analysis functions.
  • Knowledge of negotiation techniques and technical requirements sufficient to procure complex and/or diversified services, commodities, and/or construction.
  • Knowledge of contract administration sufficient to monitor a group of diverse contracts, understanding quality assurance, inspection, acceptance, and corrective action terms and conditions.
  • Knowledge of contract termination procedures sufficient to recommend or determine allowable costs, profit to be allowed, disposal of government property, and similar issues and to negotiate settlements with contractors.
  • Knowledge of contract cost analysis techniques sufficient to gather and evaluate price and/or cost data for a variety of pre-award and/or post-award procurement actions.
  • Knowledge of the GPC program to analyze issues and identify alternative courses of action, modify standard procedures and terms to satisfy requirements, and solve a variety of common problems.
  • Knowledge of public speaking and publicity techniques sufficient to plan or conduct training sessions designed to enhance/facilitate the GPC.
  • Knowledge of Contract Regulations to verify contractual documents for compliance and accuracy of terminology. Ability to interpret and clarify regulatory contractual material.
  • Knowledge of standard automated systems, non-standard systems, and Web postings that affect the organization's mission execution to review and evaluate of automated systems to determine their overall effectiveness and recommend changes to improve system performance.

Education

REQUIRED EDUCATION:
Bachelor's Degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees.

DUTIES CONTINUED:
3. Executes post-award contract performance management actions on assigned contracts. Appoints Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs) within delegated authority and manages the COR program as required. Evaluates contractor performance for compliance with terms and conditions of contracts and ensures timely submission of contract deliverables and performance metrics. Makes field site visits, if necessary, detecting and correcting labor standards violations, taking appropriate action to expedite delivery or performance when required by mission changes, monitoring the contractor's use of government-furnished property inventories, and issuing change orders as necessary. Obtains additional funds or de-obligates funds as necessary. Analyzes a variety of unusual conditions, questions, or issues including complex contract administration problems, e.g., disputes, labor violations, and claims, and identifies alternative courses of action which may depart from previous approaches. Determines the reasonableness of claims. Researches and recommends appropriate action for resolution of difficult problems or claims through interpretation of contract requirements. Negotiates and prepares contract modifications including those caused by changes in technical requirements, in quantities, ordering unpriced options, and similar issues. Maintains records to identify adverse trends in contractor performance, and documents contractor past performance. When deficient performance is identified, determines appropriate contractual remedy and negotiates with contractor to obtain correction of defects, re-performance, contract price reduction, or other appropriate consideration. Prepares contract modifications, administrative change orders, and supporting documents for all contract actions including termination. Recommends or issues cure or show cause notices in accordance with delegated authority. Determines liquidated or actual damages for nonperformance and/or recommends termination action. Monitors and reviews contractor's invoices/payment applications for completeness, allow ability, ability to locate, use of proper approved rates and conformance with contract terms and conditions, and approves/disapproves payment, as appropriate. Reviews completed official contract file to determine that all contractual actions are satisfied, there are no pending administrative actions to be resolved, all file documents are signed, there are no litigation actions pending, and the contract is complete in every respect and ready to be closed. Signs modifications in accordance with delegated warrant authority. (20%)

4. Serves as business advisor to a wide range of customers. Represents the interest of the organization in a professional manner in meetings and various contacts outside the agency on a variety of issues that often are not well defined. Provides business advice, guidance, training, and assistance to team members, technical or program personnel, functional commanders, and/or contractors on contractual language, legal responsibilities, acquisition and business-related issues. Assists in providing interpretation/clarification to contractors and customers on contractual language, contractual and federal/state/local regulatory requirements, and business opportunities. Prepares correspondence, reports, memoranda or other documents and briefings (scheduled or ad hoc) that support contractual actions or recommendations. Participates in or oversees special projects and initiatives and performs special assignments. Identifies the need for and initiates special milestones and goals. Researches and recommends appropriate action or interpretation of issues.

May serve as the primary or alternate Government Purchase Card (GPC) Agency/Organization Program Coordinator. Functions as the principal liaison between program participants and the banking institution. Interacts with higher headquarters to ensure program compliance. Analyzes program regulatory requirements and develops internal procedural guidance. Provides training for billing/approving officials and cardholders participating in the program. Monitors cardholder activity to determine adherence to GPC policies by generating and analyzing bank reports. Performs compliance reviews and prepares reports for submission to higher headquarters.

May serve as a System Administrator. Provides technical leadership and consultation regarding operation automated acquisition systems. Provides technical and functional guidance to contracting personnel in the use of software, prepares reporting documents, and coordinates the transfer of data between organizations. Ensures systems are responsive to data input and processing during the acquisition process. Responsible for providing functional, technical, and system administration support for various joint acquisition/contracting systems, financial business systems, and associated contracting applications/systems. Coordinates with respective system helpdesks for technical problems. Identifies trends and recommended areas where closer management control/oversight is needed based on data reporting compliance (anomaly/error reports). (20%)

Performs other duties as assigned.

Additional information

Veterans Information: Veterans' preference must be validated by formal submissions including all necessary supporting documentation. You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility. Acceptable documentation may be:

1. A copy of your DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions.
2. A "certification" that is a written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed.
3. You may obtain a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center or online.

NOTE: Prior to appointment, an agency will require the service member to provide a copy of the DD-214.

If claiming 10 point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form, SF-15, "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference."

If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency (https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx).

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

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