Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to All U.S. Citizens and is being filled under the Direct Hire Authority (DHA) for Certain Personnel of the Department of Defense.

This position is being filled under the memorandum from the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)) "Expansion of Direct Hire Authority for Certain Personnel of the Department of Defense," dated October 15, 2021.

As a Contract Specialist at the NH-1102-3 some of your typical work assignments may include:

• Performs preaward functions for procurements and assistance awards involving complex requirements of highly specialized, extensive, new or innovative research, related materials and services of significant importance to the agency.
• Ensures appropriate funding and required waivers, certifications, approvals and compliances have been obtained for purchase requests. Coordinates with responsible officials to obtain funding, waivers, certifications and approvals that are lacking.
• Selects appropriate award mechanisms, contract types, methods of solicitation and options. Determines, options, milestones, and sources to be solicited. Develops and issues solicitations with appropriate provisions and well-defined statements of work, broad agency announcements, research announcements and structures appropriate award factors.
• Evaluates responses to solicitations, including price reasonableness, adequacy of competition, compliance with solicitations, and probability of meeting requirements. Negotiates prices, terms, and conditions.
• Performs cost and price analyses and prepares price negotiation memoranda. Makes awards consistent with established award factors. Prepares award documentation, including delineation of responsibilities of Government officials (CORs, ACO, etc).
• Provides guidance and assistance to peers and lower level employees. Serves as point of contact for assigned procurements. Serves as Contracting Officer when applicable. Promotes teamwork and total quality customer services on a continuing basis.
• Develops alternatives to produce best value supplies and services, as well as manage all aspects of the life cycle of a contract or other vehicle (e.g. orders, basic ordering agreements etc.). Administers long-term, complex contracts and assistance awards for procurements of extensive, highly specialized new or innovative research, and related materials and services affecting major agency programs and having significant impact on recipients' operations and on local geographic areas.
• Develops systems for evaluating and monitoring performance of contractors. Develops plans with milestones for administration of each assigned contract. Monitors contractors' performance for compliance with terms and conditions of contracts. Issues delivery orders as provided in contracts. Determines extent to which subcontracting plans comply with regulatory guidelines.
• Monitors subcontracting for compliance with plans. Issues consents to subcontract. Requests and evaluates proposals. Performs cost and price analyses. Assures compliance with cost accounting standards. Identifies potential funding and production problems and initiates remedial or corrective actions. Resolves and dispositions contract audit recommendations in a timely manner, while fully protecting the Government's interest. Negotiate settlements of disputes. Negotiates proposals and executes modifications.
• Analyzes and evaluates cost and pricing data to determine price reasonableness when relevant historical data and pricing precedents are generally not available or require extensive adaptation. Develops cost/pricing data, proposals and counter-proposals for use in negotiations. Analyzes contractor proposals to determine reasonableness, allowability, and allocability of costs. Determines appropriateness and reasonableness of proposed labor and overhead rates and labor escalation factors based on audit reports or other available sources. Documents results of cost and price analyses and market surveys.
• Resolves and dispositions contract audit recommendations in a timely manner, while fully protecting the Government's interest. Negotiates cost, price, and related factors. Presents price information and proposals at negotiation sessions. Develops data for use in pricing trends analyses. Promotes teamwork and total quality customer services on a continuing basis.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Selective Service requirements apply. Please visit http://www.sss.gov for more information
• Suitable for Federal employment determined by required background investigation
• Must obtain/maintain Secret security clearance
• Drug Testing Designated position: Yes
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Financial Disclosure: Required
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt

Qualifications

You may qualify at the NH-03 if you fulfill the following qualifications:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the NH-02 or GS-11 grade level in the Federal service as listed below:

1. Interpret and utilize Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), or applicable acquisition regulations supplement and local policies in the administration, selection, and negotiating strategy of a contract or procurement;
2. Compile and evaluate service, requirements, and/or cost data for a variety of preaward and postaward procurement activities to negotiate procurements of a new or innovative research, related materials, equipment and/or service;
3. Evaluate bid responsiveness, contractor responsibility, and contractor performance;
4. Performing the full range of pre and post award contractual actions required in the procurement of services and supplies utilizing negotiated and/or simplified acquisition.

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.

In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 1102, series as listed below:

Basic Contracting Requirement: A.) Bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees. OR B.) Current civilian employee in DoD, who occupied a GS-1102 position or contracting position with authority to award or administer contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold in an Executive Department on or before September 30, 2000. SF-50s must be provided to show applicant is a current 1102 and has been in this series since October 1, 2000 if using this exception. OR C.) Current civilian employee in DoD, who served as a military member in a similar occupational specialty to the GS-1102 on or before September 30, 2000.

**NOTE: Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your resume and supporting documents, to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and evaluate your relevant work experiences as it relates to fundamental competencies, identified below, required for this position.

Traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply to this vacancy. Your application (resume and supporting documentation) will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required as listed on the announcement under qualification requirements.

Veterans Preference: If you are entitled to veterans preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency.

For information on entitlement see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx

Appointment of Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612) (NonComp Mil Sp): To receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the " Appointment of Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612) (NonComp Mil Sp)" eligibility. If you are claiming Military Spouse eligibility and are determined to be Well Qualified (score of 85 or above) for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager. Information and required documentation for claiming Military Spouse eligibility may be found at the General Applicant Information and Definitions link below.