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Contract Specialist (Direct Hire)

Department of Justice
Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys
Office of Acquisitions

Summary

For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit www.justice.gov/usao/.

As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/04/2026 to 05/08/2026
This job will close when we have received 75 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$61,722 - $116,362 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Columbia, SC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
26-EOUSA-12947803-DH
Control number
867603800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens and Nationals

Duties

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If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for providing acquisition and logistical support to all United States Attorneys Office (USAOs) and the Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA). Typical work assignments will include:

  • Administering the terms and conditions of contracts, including preparing contract modifications.
  • Performing acquisition contract support for pre-award and post award actions of complex service contracts for EOUSA and the USAOs.
  • Evaluating contractor performance and contract termination.
  • Administering the terms and conditions of contracts, including preparing contract modifications.
  • Conducting training in the contracting function for technical, administrative and contract support personnel.
  • Reviewing technical and cost evaluation reports for accuracy and completeness.
  • Assisting program offices and USAOs with preparation of statements of work (SOW).
Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a United States Citizen or National.
  • Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation
  • You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
  • If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
  • You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

To be qualified for this position, applicants must meet ONE of the following basic requirements.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

a. 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field; OR
b. 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.; OR
c. 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.

**You must submit your transcripts (unofficial or official) to be considered for this position. Failure to submit your transcripts may result in disqualification for this position.**

In addition to meeting one of the basic requirements as described above, applicants MUST also meet the following grade specific qualification requirements below.


GS-9: To be qualified at the GS-9 level, you must meet Specialized Experience, Education, OR a combination of Education and Experience.
Specialized Experience: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as assisting with drafting contract documents to include bids and proposals; interpreting procurement policies and procedures, participating in the preparation of contract modification; evaluating bids or requests for proposals; performing cost analysis and recommending awards to the best value received.
-OR-
Education: You must have two full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or a masters or equivalent graduate degree in one or a combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management, or an LL.B or J.D.
-OR-
Combination of Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements.. Only graduate education in excess of the first year may be used to meet total qualification requirements.

GS-11: To be qualified at the GS-11 level, you must meet ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education, OR a combination of Education and Experience.
Specialized Experience: You must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector. Specialized experience is defined as developing procurement plans and strategies by reviewing market conditions, specifications, and technical requirements; preparing statements of work (SOW)and/or Statement of Objectives(SOO); reviewing requisitions for adequacy of the statement of objectives and/or statement of work by determining allowable expenditures of appropriated funds, soliciting price quotations or proposals; awarding purchase orders; preparing final contract documentation to support award decisions and resolving contractor performance issues.
-OR-
Education: You must have three full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or PhD. or equivalent doctoral degree in one or a combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.
-OR-
Combination of Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. Only graduate education in excess of the first two years may be used to meet total qualification requirements.

GS-12: To be qualified at the GS-12 level, you must have one full year of specialized experience at the GS-11 level.
Specialized experience is defined as developing procurement policy; compiling procurement data; reviewing requisitions for adequacy of the Statements of Work (SOW) and/or Statement of Objectives(SOO); determining allowable expenditures of appropriated funds; soliciting price quotations or proposals; awarding purchase orders; preparing documentation to support award decisions; and resolving contractor performance issues.

*** Must be able to attain and retain at least a level 1 (one) Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) as a federal contracting professional. FAC-C has specific training requirements with some courses online as well as classroom courses. To maintain a FAC-C, contract professionals are required to meet the continuous training requirement.***

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)- The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found eligible and qualified for this vacancy. To be eligible and qualified, you must satisfy all eligibility and qualification requirements for the vacant position as outlined in this announcement. You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)-The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found eligible and qualified for this vacancy. To be eligible and qualified, you must satisfy all eligibility and qualification requirements for the vacant position as outlined in this announcement. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Education

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see www.ed.gov.
OR
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Additional information

Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized.

A relocation incentive may be considered as appropriate based on qualifications.

The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.

Veterans' Preference - Since Direct Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified preference eligibles will be given full consideration for this position. While veterans' preference does not apply in Direct Hire Authority, preference eligibles can submit their supporting documentation listed as Optional in the Required Documentation section of this vacancy announcement.

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.

Political Appointees (Current and Former): Political Appointees (Current or Former): 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 or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Federal Agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline.

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.

Your resume and all supporting documentation you submit, to include your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire, will be used to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications listed in this announcement. If you rate yourself higher than what is supported by the documentation you submit, you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If it is determined you meet minimum qualification requirements, you will be referred to the selecting official. Under the provisions of the Direct Hire Authority, category rating and veterans' preference do not apply; therefore, your responses to the assessment questionnaire will not be used to determine a scored rating. Instead, all applicants that are determined to meet minimum qualifications, as defined by this vacancy announcement, will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Qualified, eligible CTAP and ICTAP applicants will be referred to the selecting official under the selection priority placement program. If you are basically qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the Occupational Questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than what is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.

The Occupational Questionnaire will take you approximately 10 minutes to complete.

Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys

This announcement is being used to recruit qualified individuals under the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Direct Hire Authority authorized by 5 United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 3304 and 5 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) Part 337, Subpart B. Therefore, Category Rating, Veterans' Preference, and traditional rating/ranking of applicants do not apply to this Public Notice.

If you are looking for an exciting and challenging career, this is the position for you! With a talented workforce of over 100,000 people, the mission of the Department of Justice is to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, and protect civil rights. You will be part of a dedicated team helping to enforce Federal criminal and civil laws that protect life, liberty and the property of citizens.

Agency contact information

Coleene Rychalski
Phone
202-252-5391
Email
Coleene.Rychalski@usdoj.gov
Address
Office of Acquisitions
175 N Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
US

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Learn more about what it's like to work at Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/

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