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Contract Specialist (Direct Hire)

Railroad Retirement Board
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Railroad Retirement Board's Office of Administration, Acquisition Management. The incumbent will be responsible for procurement functions involving highly specialized and more complex IT procurements of significant importance to the RRB Modernization Program.

This job announcement may be used to fill one or more vacancies.

This is a non-bargaining unit position.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
12/06/2024 to 12/11/2024
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$104,604 to - $135,987 per year

The salary range indicated in this announcement will be adjusted to include locality payment once a candidate is selected.

Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)
Remote job
Yes
Telework eligible
Not applicable, this is a remote position.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Term - NTE 24 Months. This appointment may be extended up to a maximum of 3 years.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
250005DE-12632301-LS
Control number
822506600

Duties

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As a Contract Specialist (Direct Hire), you will:

  • Develop new or innovative acquisition plans, source selection plans, and contract terms, conditions, or financial arrangements that serve as models for future major system acquisitions.
  • Conduct pre-proposal conference(s) with prospective contractor(s) to arrive at a clear understanding of what is required under the proposed contract.
  • Serve as lead negotiator. Plan the negotiation strategy, coordinate strategy with negotiation team and lead the negotiations which are conducted with potential contractors to develop the contract prices and terms.
  • Using Agile Contracting techniques, work with the Bureau of Information Services as well as other agency bureaus and offices as a key representative of the Acquisition Management Division to support the agency's IT Modernization Program goals.
  • Represent Chief of Acquisition Management in conferences with high level Board and Corporate executives and managers in the accomplishment and coordination of the pre-award acquisition program.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Must possess Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C)-(Professional), in accordance with Office of Federal Procurement Policy requirements; or Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Contracting Certification.
  • Must have experience with using Agile Contracting methods.

Qualifications

Basic Requirement:

A. 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 of 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

B. 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.

C. 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 under Paragraph D.

D. 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.

In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must meet the minimum qualifications below.

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service

Specialized experience is demonstrated by accomplishment in planning, directing, and administering complex acquisition project assignments that required in-depth knowledge of a wide range of procurement and contracting principles and technical program requirements and techniques performing procurement planning; expert knowledge in using Agile contracting methodologies; advising project personnel on effective implementation and time frames required; developing new or innovative acquisition plans, source selection plans, and contract terms, conditions, or financial arrangement; performing contract administration activities; conducting extensive and sophisticated cost and financial analysis; and serving as lead negotiation for contract modifications.

Other Requirements:

Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C)-(Professional)
or
Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Contracting Certification

Experience with using Agile Contracting


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.

Only experience obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement; therefore, transcripts are required.

Please be advised that an official transcript will be required if you are selected for the position. Please include a copy of your transcript (unofficial or official) that demonstrates that you meet the education requirement listed above prior to the closing date of the announcement. If you do not include this information prior to the closing date of the announcement, your application will be marked as incomplete unless your SF-50 shows that you were/are already in the 1102 job series.

You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated, unofficial transcripts are acceptable. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, click here.

Additional information

INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PLAN (ICTAP):

  • ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority for competitive service vacancies. You must be determined to be well-qualified for the vacancy to be eligible for special selection priority. After submission of an acceptable application which meets ICTAP eligibility, you will be determined to be well-qualified for a vacancy if your rating places you in the best qualified category.
  • ICTAP eligibles must submit proof of eligibility for special selection priority, such as: a separation notice; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; or a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456. You must also submit a "Notice of Personnel Action" (SF-50) notating your current position, grade level, and duty location, and a copy of your most recent Performance Rating. Click here for more information on ICTAP.

If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 you 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.

Applying online is highly encouraged. If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement to be entered into the system prior to its closing.

How you will be evaluated

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

This position will be filled using direct hire procedures. You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply to this vacancy. Applications will be evaluated against the basic qualifications and specialized experience. Qualified candidates will be referred for consideration in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management direct hire guidelines. Veterans' preference does not apply to direct-hire recruitment procedures.

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