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Acquisition Program Specialist

Department of Transportation
Office of Inspector General

Summary

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), works within the U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to prevent or stop waste, fraud and abuse in departmental programs. This position is located within the Office of Inspector General, Assistant IG for Operations, Office of Organizational and Administrative Services. 

Overview

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Accepting applications
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—This position may be eligible for situational telework. Telework approval will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$102,415 - $133,142 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Promotion potential
13 - The full performance level is GS-13.
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel may be required.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
Yes - OGE 450 Filing Required
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
JO-50-2026-0001
Control number
880509100

Duties

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Major duties include, but not limited to the following:

  • Supports OIG program offices in developing complete procurement packages, including statement of work (SOW), performance work statements (PWS), statement of objectives (SOO) and technical specifications. Advises staff on independent government cost estimates (IGCE), market research, determination and findings (D&F), and justification for other than full and open competition (JOFOC). Prepares and reviews PRISM requisitions to ensure accuracy and funding compliance. Assists leadership in determining resource needs, sourcing strategies, and acquisition timelines.
  • Acts as the primary liaison to the OST Office of Procurement, tracking requisition progress and ensuring DATA Act compliance. Provides administrative and technical support to OIG’s Contract Officer’s Representatives (CORs), helping maintain contract files, monitor deliverables, manage performance timelines, and support post‑award tracking and closeout coordination.
  • Manages OIG internal processes for Interagency Agreements (IAAs), including documentation and milestone tracking. Serves as OIG’s point of contact with ESC for IAA and G‑Invoicing matters. Reviews Working Capital Fund (WCF) reports for billing accuracy and supplies procurement data to leadership for budget planning and acquisition forecasting.
  • Interprets acquisition policies and develops internal guidelines, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and job aids to improve quality and workflow. Performs special administrative projects such as quarterly undelivered order (UDO) reviews, equipment tracking, and process improvement assessments.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Submit application and resume online by 11:59 P.M. EST on the closing date.
  • This position is subject to a background investigation.
  • Relocation is not authorized.
  • Drug Screening may be required.

  

Qualifications

All documents must be received and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.  Your resume must be well documented with the specialized experience, otherwise you may be deemed ineligible.

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE qualifications for the grade(s) at which you are requesting consideration. Applicants must meet qualifications and time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.


SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

For GS-12: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in Federal service performing (obtained in either the public or private sectors) listed below:

  • Applying comprehensive knowledge of Federal administrative procedures, program management principles, and departmental procurement policies—including the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Transportation Acquisition Regulation (TAR), and Transportation Acquisition Manual (TAM) to guide staff in developing compliant SOWs, performance work statements (PWSs), IGCEs, and market research documentation.
  • Managing Interagency Agreements by applying expertise in G‑Invoicing requirements and Enterprise Services Center (ESC) workflows to monitor agreement status, maintain documentation, and coordinate interagency activities.
  • Using automated procurement and financial systems such as PRISM and related databases to prepare requisitions, track lifecycle progress, reconcile expenditures, and analyze acquisition trends.
  • Conducting analytical reviews to assess procurement package completeness, identify administrative bottlenecks, evaluate market research findings, and recommend process improvements.
  • Providing clear and effective written and oral communication to advise program managers, collaborate with CORs and financial personnel, coordinate with contracting officials, and deliver administrative guidance supporting acquisition planning and execution.

Competencies: Your resume will be evaluated on the following competencies in addition to the specialized experience as stated above:

1. Acquisition & Procurement Compliance
Demonstrating the ability to interpret and apply Federal and departmental procurement policies (FAR, TAR, TAM) to ensure program requirements, SOWs/PWSs, IGCEs, and market research packages are accurate and compliant.

2. Interagency Agreement & Financial Coordination
Managing interagency agreements and G‑Invoicing activities with proficiency in ESC workflows, ensuring accurate documentation, status monitoring, and alignment with financial operations.

3. Data & Systems Proficiency for Acquisition Lifecycle Management
Using automated platforms (e.g., PRISM) and financial databases to prepare requisitions, track lifecycle progress, reconcile expenditures, and generate analytical insights that support program decisions.

4. Analytical & Problem‑Solving Ability
Assessing procurement packages, identifying administrative bottlenecks, evaluating market research findings, and recommending process improvements to strengthen acquisition workflows and program efficiency.

5. Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
Providing clear, effective written and oral communication to guide program managers, collaborate with CORs and financial staff, and coordinate with Contracting Officers to ensure accurate interpretation of requirements and successful acquisition execution.

Education

There are no educational requirements for this series. 

Additional information

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL LIKE VACANCIES IN THE ANNOUNCED DUTY LOCATION.

Relocation expenses will not be paid. 

Best qualified candidates will be responsible for arranging and paying for their own travel expenses in conjunction with any required interviews, unless they are already employed by the Office of Inspector General at the U. S. Department of Transportation.

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations 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 the Department of Transportation by email at, careers@oig.dot.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.

All applicants: Your application will be reviewed in two phases to determine how you move forward in the hiring process.

Phase I: Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. ONLY two (2) pages of your resume will be reviewed. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) will not be reviewed. Applicants who do not respond to the application questions may be rated ineligible.

Applicants passing “Phase I” will move on to the “Phase II” of the assessment process where your application will be reviewed and rated based on the KSAs/Competencies listed in the vacancy announcement by a Subject Matter Expert (SME). Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents). Applicants who do not respond to the application questions may be rated ineligible.

Federal employees must meet Time-In-Grade (TIG) requirements for merit promotion consideration.  TIG is the 52-week requirement Federal employees in competitive service, General Schedule (GS) positions at GS-5 and above must serve before they are eligible for promotion to the next grade level. TIG requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Supporting documents may either be uploaded or faxed to 571-258-4052. The requested information MUST be received by fax within 48 hours prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement (not including Saturdays, Sundays or government holidays).

NOTE: If you exaggerate or falsify your experience, education and/or your responses to questions, your ratings are subject to change or you may be removed from employment consideration.

Applicants who fail to submit all the required documentation listed in the announcement, in addition to their resumes, will be considered ineligible for further consideration for this announcement.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Office of Inspector General

   

Agency contact information

Karen Muller
Phone
202-366-1490
TDD
202-366-2136
Email
Karen.Muller@oig.dot.gov
Address
DOT, OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, District of Columbia 20590
United States

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