Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

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This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-13. At the GS-12 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-13. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds. Promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of promotion is implied.

• Perform market research to aid in acquisition planning.
• Review specifications and statements of work to ensure they do not restrict competition.
• Advertise all applicable contract requirements to promote maximum competition.
• Conduct cost analyses or price analyses for contract proposals or change order proposals.
• Conduct necessary market analyses to test the noncompetitive assumptions of requisitions.
• Determine the offer or that represents the best value based on price and other factors.
• Conduct post-award conferences with customers to clarify contractual provisions.
• Review contractor performance to assure compliance with applicable labor laws.
• Resolve contract performance problems concerning excusable delays.
• Administer payment provisions on contracts for partial payments, progress payments, and final payments.
• Issue show cause letters and cure notices as a prelude to terminations.
• Issue contract terminations for convenience or default
• Select the appropriate method of procurement such as simplified acquisition procedures, sealed-bidding, or negotiations.
• Review specifications and statements of work to develop acquisition strategies.
• Review acquisition milestone plans for approval. Develop an overall pricing negotiation strategy considering all relevant information.
• Establish technical evaluation boards to determine acceptability and ranking of technical proposals.
• Review auditors' reports for adequacy of analysis and conclusions.
• Prepare price negotiation memorandum detailing negotiations with contractors.
• Prepare federal procurement data system (FPDS-NG) for contract awards.
• Prepare solicitation and award synopses for contract awards.
• Prepare electronic contract management system documents for contract awards.
• Prepare solicitation documents using contract writing systems for issuance.
• Conduct negotiations for competitive and noncompetitive procurements.
• Conduct debriefings with unsuccessful offerors or bidders.
• Advise technical personnel of inadequate, ambiguous, or vague specifications to avoid liability.
• Negotiate additional time required for contract performance.
• Negotiate settlements related to contract terminations for convenience or default.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: Not applicable, this is a remote position
Duty Location Status: Will work remotely from home
Position Description Title/PD#: Contract Specialist/PD44132A and PD44172A
Physical Requirements: The subject position is primarily of an administrative nature in an office setting, however where travel to work sites is required there may be light physical work required, such as walking over uneven surfaces, or assisting technical personnel in taking measurements or elevations. Government travel for training, meetings, or customer interactions will be required in this position.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• Selectees are subject to a background/suitability investigation.
• Selectees may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• A complete application package, i.e., Resume, Transcripts, etc., as required by job announcement.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/14/2023.

AND

Applicants must meet the basic requirements in the individual occupational requirements to be fully qualified for the Contracting Specialist, GS-1102-12.

Basic Requirements for the GS-12:
A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field;
or
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.

Note - For positions at GS-7 through GS-12, applicants who are qualifying based on experience must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level, applying knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position, in addition to meeting the basic requirements in paragraph A or B, above.

Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy GS-1102 positions at grades 5 through 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified at GS-12. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade 12. However, employees must meet specialized experience requirements when seeking another position.

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.

AND

Specialized Experience for the GS-12
One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Applying knowledge and experience in the following:acquisition regulations and contract law; fully soliciting, awarding and administering to include: change orders, supplemental agreements, terminations, claims, close out of contracts, cost/price analysis techniques, change order proposals, firm-fixed price and firm-fixed contracts, simplified acquisitions, sealed bidding, negotiations, cost sharing, multiple awards, contract modifications and settlements; architect-engineering services, or construction services; monitoring contractor performance and compliance with all terms conditions of the contract; communicating orally and in writing in a clear and concise manner; interpersonal skills to communicate with internal and external customers; electronic Contract Writing and Management System (i.e. e-CMS).
Preferred requirements are available on the following FAC link: www.fai.gov/drupal/certification/contracting-fac-c

There is no educational substitution for the GS-12 level.

Per Office of Personnel Management General Schedule Qualification Policies, federal employees are assumed to have gained experience by performing duties and responsibilities appropriate for their official series and grade level as described in their position description. Experience that would not normally be part of the employee's position is creditable when documented by satisfactory evidence (e.g., a memorandum from the manager, human resources director, or official documentation such as SF-52, SF-50 documenting an official detail/assignments, or other comparable documentation). The documentation must indicate whether the employee performed the duties full time or, if part-time, the percentage of times the employee performed the additional duties.

To receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your position, you must provide official documentation of such experience as indicated above.

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.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit OPM's web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/alph-ndx.asp.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be rated on the following competencies based on your application for this position:

Contracting/Procurement: Knowledge of various types of contracts, techniques or requirements (for example, Federal Acquisitions Regulations) for contracting or procurement, and contract negotiation and administration.
Contract Administration: Uses knowledge acquired through extensive on the job experience to develop solicitation documents, create appropriate evaluation factors, review and analyze vendor submissions; is able to appropriately determine award recommendation.
Contract Administration: Knowledge and application of contract administration principles and practices sufficient to monitor contractor performance and compliance with all terms and conditions of the contract and deliverables; resolves discrepancies; performs contract closeout functions.
Acquisition Strategy: Knowledge of the principles and methods for developing an integrated acquisition management plan that describes the business, technical, and support strategies, including the relationship between the acquisition phases, work efforts, and key program events (for example, decision points, contract awards, test activities).

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. 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.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. 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.