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CONTRACT SPECIALIST (Title 5)

Department of the Army
Army National Guard Units

Summary

This position is located within the USPFO at Camp Mabry in Austin, TX. The primary purpose of this position is to ensure successful market research, acquisition planning, contract award, contract performance management, and interpretation of contract law in order to provide the best, most efficient contracting strategies in support of the organization's vision, mission, goals, and objectives.



Texas is one of 9 states with NO state income tax.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted today · Apply by 06/20/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 20, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy if funds are available.
Salary
$92,023 - $119,633 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Secret
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
TX-12973487-T5
Control number
871812100

Duties

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As a Contract Specialist with the Texas National Guard, your duties will include, but will not be limited to:

  • Plans the overall approach to meet contracting program objectives for a variety of requirements with multiple complexities. Analyzes difficult/controversial contracting issues, determines, recommends and/or implements course of action which may depart from previous approaches for long-term contract performance or short-term contracts with extremely stringent time frames. Provides business advice and assistance to technical personnel involved in the development of the performance work statement/statement of work/statement of objectives or data requirements. Reviews a diverse variety of requisition packages for adequacy and compliance with administrative, regulatory, and procedural requirements and consistency with current market practices and conditions. Serves as a contracting authority and advisor to management, customers, and contractors in assignment area relative to the market, the industry, specifications, socioeconomic concerns, and similar matters. Performs acquisition planning, along with the program manager/customer, technical, legal, and finance personnel to develop market research, acquisition strategy, milestones, evaluation/source selection criteria, and/or incentive or award fee provisions, as applicable. Exercises experienced judgment, initiative, and resourcefulness to identify regulations and laws which do or do not apply to the particular procurement, to consider financial arrangements and incentives, and to develop justifications for adopting a contractual posture.
  • Oversees the procurement of a wide variety of services, supplies, construction and architect and engineering. Researches, interprets, analyzes, and applies all regulations, business and industry practices, market trends, Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Comptroller General decisions, public law, case law, and precedents. Devises special terms, provisions, clauses, and conditions applicable to the solicitation and contract as required. Ensures that the price schedule is properly structured and determines sources to be solicited. Prepares solicitation, amendment, and contract documents incorporating applicable terms, conditions, provisions and clauses. Receives and performs oversight of quotes/bids/proposals evaluations and determines the acceptability of offers based on an analysis of financial and technical information gained.
  • Executes post-award contract performance management actions on assigned contracts. Appoints Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs) within delegated authority and manages the COR program as required. Evaluates contractor performance for compliance with terms and conditions of contracts and ensures timely submission of contract deliverables and performance metrics. Makes field site visits, if necessary, detecting and correcting labor standards violations, taking appropriate action to expedite delivery or performance when required by mission changes, monitoring the contractor's use of government-furnished property inventories, and issuing change orders as necessary. Obtains additional funds or de-obligates funds as necessary. Analyzes a variety of unusual conditions, questions, or issues including complex contract administration problems, e.g., disputes, labor violations, and claims, and identifies alternative courses of action which may depart from previous approaches.
  • Serves as business advisor to a wide range of customers. Represents the interest of the organization in a professional manner in meetings and various contacts outside the agency on a variety of issues that often are not well defined. Provides business advice, guidance, training, and assistance to team members, technical or program personnel, functional commanders, and/or contractors on contractual language, legal responsibilities, acquisition and business-related issues.
  • May serve as the primary or alternate Government Purchase Card (GPC) Agency/Organization Program Coordinator. Functions as the principal liaison between program participants and the banking institution. Interacts with higher headquarters to ensure program compliance. Analyzes program regulatory requirements and develops internal procedural guidance. Provides training for billing/approving officials and cardholders participating in the program. Monitors cardholder activity to determine adherence to GPC policies by generating and analyzing bank reports. Performs compliance reviews and prepares reports for submission to higher headquarters.
  • May serve as a System Administrator. Provides technical leadership and consultation regarding operation automated acquisition systems. Provides technical and functional guidance to contracting personnel in the use of software, prepares reporting documents, and coordinates the transfer of data between organizations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Appointment Factor(s): This is a Title 5 Excepted Service position.

Applicants who meet one of the DoD Priority Placement Program categories below are eligible to apply with this preference. (See Required Documents section)

  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR)

  • National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible

  • Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement

  • Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade



Remarks:

  • If the GS-12 position is advertised requiring the selectee to hold a warrant as a condition of employment, the selectee must have Professional certification and must go before a Contracting Officer Review Board (CORB) within 12 months of employment.
  • The Texas Military Department is an Equal Opportunity employer.
  • Direct deposit is mandatory.
  • Veterans' preference is applicable to this position.
  • Trial period required (see additional information)

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT & NOTES:

1. May be required to travel by military or commercial aircraft in the performance of TDY assignments.
2. Irregular and/or overtime (compensatory) hours may be required to support operational requirements or contingencies or may be required to work hours outside of the normal duty day.
3. Required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise.
4. The incumbent must meet the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements applicable to the duties of the position.
5. The incumbent must meet the continuing acquisition education, training and experience requirements IAW DoDI 5000.66.
6. In accordance with the Ethics in Government Act, 1978, incumbent is required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
7. The incumbent must obtain and maintain secret security clearance.
8. Will be required to pass the Contracting Officer Review Board (CORB) and hold a warrant.
9. This position is designated as Essential Personnel and may be subject to duty in preparation for, or in response to, a state emergency or disaster declaration. Head of Agency requests to exceed 14 days in a calendar year must be approved in advance by the National Guard, Director of Manpower and Personnel (NGB-J1).

Qualifications

In describing your experience in your resume, please be clear and specific. Assumptions regarding your experience will not be made.
To be considered for qualification, your resume must include relevant experience with beginning and ending dates of employment/experience reflecting the following:


Specialized Experience Required

Must have one year of contracting experience at the GS-11 level. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: (1) Performing acquisition planning including market research and knowledge of a wide variety of contracting methods that satisfy mission needs and meet customer requirements, (2) Advising Contracting Officer Representatives and advising customers on procurement preparation and development of contractually acceptable specifications, work statements, and quality assurance criteria, (3) Reviewing procurement requests to assure clarity, adequacy, and completeness, and (4) Reviewing contract terms and technical specifications to identify any special requirements. If the GS-12 position is advertised requiring the selectee to hold a warrant as a condition of employment, the selectee must have Professional certification and must go before a Contracting Officer Review Board (CORB) within 12 months of employment.

Education

Positive Education Requirement:
Must have a Bachelor's degree.

Applicant must attach a copy of college transcript to receive consideration for this vacancy announcement.

You MUST upload a copy of your transcript. Failure to do so will result in automatic disqualification for this position.

Additional information

Trial Period:

As a condition of employment, you will be required to serve a 1- 2 year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

- your performance and conduct;

- the needs and interests of the agency;

- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and

- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.



Veterans Information:

Veterans' preference must be validated by formal submissions including all necessary supporting documentation. You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility prior to the close date of the job announcement. Acceptable documentation may be:

1. A copy of your DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of Active Duty service and discharge under honorable conditions.

2. A "certification" that is a written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed.

3. You may obtain a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center or visiting their website.

4. If claiming 10 point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form, SF-15, "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference".

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 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), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

Contracting/Procurement

The resume/documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job. Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume. BASIS OF RATING: The assessments for this job will also measure

  • Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) as listed under Qualifications are based on the extent to which the quality, depth, and complexity of your experience and education relate to the qualification requirements.

Your application will be rated in the appropriate numeric value group and ranked according to preference eligibility and non-preference eligibility. Veterans' preference points, as prescribed, are added to each veteran applicant's final numeric value score. All qualified preference eligibles are placed ahead of non-preference eligibles Veteran's Preference is considered where applicable. To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Army National Guard Units

TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT

DUTY:
Bear true faith and allegiance to the state and nation; cultivate an environment for all to excel; prepare mentally, physically and spiritually to deploy at home and abroad.

HONOR: Hold the public trust in the highest regard; exceed standards and expectations; act with understanding, innovation, resourcefulness, flexibility and urgency. Do all you can, where you are, with what you have and always place the welfare of those you lead first.

TEXAS: Embrace the courageous spirit of our people, history and culture.

Agency contact information

Rashay Liedecke
Phone
512-782-5000
Email
rashay.g.liedecke.civ@army.mil
Address
TX USPFO
2200 West 35th St
Austin, TX 78703
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Army National Guard Units, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://tmd.texas.gov/tmd-jobs

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