Clarification from the agency

• Federal employees serving on career or career-conditional appointments • Former federal employees with reinstatement eligibility • Individuals with disabilities, peace corps, former overseas employees, military spouses, 30% disabled veterans, and those eligible under other special hiring authorities • Persons eligible under Interchange Agreements • Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA)

Serving as a Contract Specialist GS-1102-7/9/11 makes you a valuable member of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) team and mission. These positions are located in the Procurement Division under the Mission and Readiness Support Directorate (MRSD).

Typical duties include:

• Acquiring supplies, services and construction requirements using applicable procedures from the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and agency regulations as well as associated guidance.
• Preparing and issuing Request for Proposals (RFPs), Invitation for Bids (IFBs), and Requests for Quotations (RFQs); analyzing Purchase Requisitions (PRs) and working with requisitioners to clarify requirements and documentation; coordinating alternate items with requisitioners to determine adequacy.
• Analyzing purchase requisitions (PR's) and work with requisitioners to clarify requirements and documentation, along with requisitioners to determine adequacy.
• Developing negotiation positions and negotiating with contractors; and determining the best overall value to the Government, price and other factors considered.
• Evaluating the proposals/bids or quotations received in response to the solicitations; performing contract administration including preparation of modifications, coordination with requiring activities and vendors on delinquent deliveries, taking appropriate administration action to resolve delivery problems, and providing status to requisitioners and others such as finance or receiving; and assisting in processing of claims and protests.
• Determining the appropriate contracting methods and types to be used and determining the appropriate clauses and provisions to be included in contact actions.
• Assisting requisitioners in preparing adequate requirement documents such as statements of work (SOWs) or Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition; researching and identifying proper mandatory sources of supply as defined in FAR prior to starting solicitation process; and assisting in training requisitioners on documentation requirements and general procurement knowledge that facilitates effective PR processing.

View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• Current and former federal employees within the General Schedule (GS) must meet the time-in-grade requirements outlined in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement.
• Bargaining Unit: This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU).
• You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.
• Complete the initial online assessment and USAHire Assessment, if required.
• Required to complete an OGE 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, within 30 days of starting your federal employment and annually thereafter as long as you occupy a position that requires financial disclosure reporting.
• Must meet position requirements for Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) Professional certification within 36 months as of entrance on duty.
• This position is eligible for telework based on agency policy. (This is not a remote position)

Qualifications

A resume must be no more than two pages. If an applicant's resume exceeds two pages, the USAJOBS database will not allow the application to be submitted. For additional assistance, please visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirements

If you submit more than one resume, only the most recent will be reviewed. The "most recent" is considered the resume with the latest timestamp.

For all Contracting Series, 1102 positions at GS-5 through GS-12: Selectee must meet position requirements for Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) Professional certification within 36 months as of entrance on duty.

Specialized Experience:

You qualify for the GS-07 grade level if you possess one of the following:

• One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in Federal service, providing assistance to technical specialists of the requesting program/project office in the preparation/development of contractually acceptable specifications, work statements, and quality assurance criteria. OR
• One full year of graduate level education at an accredited or pre-accredited college or university; OR
• A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application, OR
• A bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement, which is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership:
  1. Class standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
  2. Grade-point average (GPA) - Applicants must have a GPA of:
     • 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or
     • 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum
  3. Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies. Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.

You qualify at the GS-09 grade level if you possess one of the following:

• One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in Federal service developing procurement objectives for the project(s) in terms of competition and price range, and constructs the contractual vehicle (solicitation) including use of pricing arrangements, subcontracting policy, set-aside policies, and similar considerations utilizing advice from technical representatives such as the Small Business Specialist, Engineers, Attorneys, etc. OR
• A master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D. OR
• A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above that, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application.

NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of the first year may be used to qualify for the GS-09 level.

You qualify at the GS-11 grade level if you possess one of the following:

• One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in Federal service, that demonstrates the ability to procuring and administering contracts and orders for supplies, services, equipment and/or construction requirements; performing market analysis, requesting and evaluating Requests for Proposals, Invitation for Bids and Requests for Quotations; and determining appropriate simplified acquisition method and/or contracting method to be used. OR
• A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related; OR
• A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above that, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application.

NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of the first two years may be used to qualify for the GS-11 level.

All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Time-in-grade: Current General Schedule (GS) federal employees, and those that have served in GS positions within the last 52 weeks, must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade, or a combination of the next lower grade level and an equivalent band in the federal service by the closing of this announcement.

Note: Current or former Federal employees MUST submit a copy of their SF-50 Form which shows competitive service appointment ("position occupied" block 34 on the SF-50 should show a "1"), tenure group (block 24 should show a 1 or 2), grade, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 Form which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, With-in Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s dated a year apart within the same grade/job). If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof. Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent appointment. IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CONSIDERATION AS A STATUS CANDIDATE.

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.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP/ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be placed in the well-qualified category for this position, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

This position may be filled at the GS-07, GS-09 or GS-11 level. If selection is made at the GS-07 or GS-09 level, promotion to the GS level may occur without further competition.

How you will be evaluated

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

A resume must be no more than two pages. If an applicant's resume exceeds two pages, the USAJOBS database will not allow the application to be submitted.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position.

To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process, including the application, USA Hire.

Online assessment: Applicants must complete the online USA Hire Competency Based Assessments measuring critical general competencies required to perform the job. Examples used in the assessment may include general situations not directly related to customer experience. Applicants submitting complete application packages and completing the online assessment will move on to the next phase of the assessment process.

Additional assessments may be utilized as part of the recruitment process.

If you are the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. To preview the application questionnaire, click: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12819786

Due weight will be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards in merit promotion selection decisions in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3).

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veteran must be 1) be a preference eligible; or 2) be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement. (Note: Veteran's preference does not apply under Merit Promotion procedures. View VEOA information on Feds Hire Vets.)

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to fletc-jobinfo@fletc.dhs.gov.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, FLETC requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation for suitability as a condition of placement in this position. This review may include financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.