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Contract Specialist

Department of Energy
National Nuclear Security Administration
Pantex Field Office

Summary

A successful candidate in this position will support the Pantex Field Office (PFO) within the office the Assistant Manager for Business & Contract Management (AMBCM). As a Contract Specialist, you will utilize your expertise to serve in a critical role as a primary contracting officer, and as the lead for developing criteria for assessing contractor performance and assessing, rating contractor performance.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
01/27/2026 to 02/17/2026
Salary
$61,722 to - $163,514 per year
Pay scale & grade
NQ 2 - 3
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Amarillo, TX
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
3
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Q Access Authorization
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
26-NA-PFO-XE-00169-DEU
Control number
855566800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This is a Direct Hire Public Notice. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.  Veteran's Preference, category rating, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply under the Direct Hire process.

Duties

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As a Contract Specialist, you will:

  • Perform contract administration. Prepare and maintain current acquisition plans, appropriate milestone charts and related schedules.
  • Conduct regular meetings with contractor personnel to evaluate performance to ensure and maintain a consistently high level of performance.
  • Authorize and delegate the assignment of tasks related to contractor performance. Monitor contractor's progress for the life of the contract.
  • Develop solicitations. Perform pre-award functions for procurements involving complex contracts.
  • Determine quantities to be procured, examine specifications to match requirements to various options available, identify exceptions or changes needed in standard contract provisions, select appropriate contract type, coordinate socioeconomic factors with appropriate activities, and make determinations concerning minimum or maximum order limitations, method of award.
  • Analyze and evaluate cost and pricing data to determine price reasonableness when relevant historical data and pricing precedents are generally not available or require extensive adaptation.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
  • Subject to Random Drug Testing.
  • Must pass a pre-employment drug test.
  • Must be able to obtain/maintain a Q level Security Clearance.
  • Financial disclosure is required.
  • Must be Level III FAC-C certified or must be at least Level II certified in contracting and be able to obtain Level III FAC-C contracting certification within 18 months of placement in the Pay Band 03.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Contracting Officer’s warrant after placement in this position.

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-09 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Performing contracting functions in at least three (3) of the four (4) following areas: 1. Application of contract policies, regulations, principles and requirements; 2. Budgetary process and methods of controlling funds; 3. Providing oversight and evaluation of the Contractor's contract administration and cost performance.; and/or, 4. Providing system level improvement recommendations.

NQ 02 - Example of Specialized Experience:

Plan and conduct detailed contract price/cost analyses to determine cost effectiveness and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

NQ 03 - Examples of Specialized Experience:
Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Performing contracting functions in at least three (3) of the four (4) following areas:1. Application of contract policies, regulations, principles and requirements; 2. Budgetary process and methods of controlling funds;3. Providing oversight and evaluation of the Contractor's contract administration and cost performance.; and/or,4. Providing system level improvement recommendations.

Examples of Specialized Experience for NQ-03:

1. Serve as a contracting officer responsible for pre-award and post-award functions ;2. Collaborate with senior contract specialists in direct oversight of personal property, purchase card, fleet management functional areas, and cost savings activities;3. Serve as a lead for developing criteria for assessing contractor performance.

Education

The Education section MUST be tailored to each vacancy based on the OPM qualifications standard for the position you are posting.


Educational Requirements: 1. NQ-02: 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 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 waiveraction. For more information, please refer to the OPM qualification standards for the 1102 Contracting Series

Additional information

  • The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
  • This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
  • For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

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

This position is announced under a government-wide Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) for Contract Specialist positions in the 1102 series. Under the DHA, applicants who meet the Education and Qualification requirements listed in this announcement will be referred for consideration. Veteran's Preference, category rating, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply under the DHA process.

Appointments made under the DHA are processed as "new" appointments. Current Federal employees may be required to serve a new probationary period (5 CFR 315.802(b).

Successful candidates will possess the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):



Career Transition Assistance Programs: If you are eligible for career transition assistance, such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the Education and Qualification requirements to be referred for consideration.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (02/17/2026) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12861886

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