Contract Specialist

If selected at the GS-12 level, the below responsibilities will be performed in a developmental capacity.

Responsibilities

• Provides contract oversight support by serving as liaison on behalf of an assigned Branch/Team, contractors, and management to ensure prompt and accurate handling of contracting transactions.
• Leads and performs contract actions including acquisition planning, solicitation, evaluation, cost and price analyses, negotiations, contract administration, and contract award.
• Develops policies, procedures, or unique contract clauses due to the innovative nature of the acquisitions. Coordinates those policies with peers at Depot Level Reparable sites, Defense Logistics Agency Supply Chain centers, and DLA Headquarters.
• Performs both pre- and post-award acquisition functions relating to more complex, higher dollar value procurements that are unusual, unique, non-routine, or otherwise difficult to accomplish.
• Creates solicitations, exercises options, and prepares any documents necessary to facilitate the maintenance of long-term contracts and the award of purchase orders and contracts.
• Ensures the organization’s strategic plan, mission, vision, and values are communicated.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Tour of Duty: Flexible.
• Security Requirements: Non-Critical Sensitive with No Access.
• Appointment is subject to the completion of a favorable suitability or fitness determination; unfavorably adjudicated background checks will be grounds for removal.
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt.
• Selective Service Requirement: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.
• Selectees are required to have a REAL ID or other acceptable identification documents to access certain federal facilities.
• Defense Acquisition Workforce position. Must complete DoD certification and other requirements.

Qualifications

To qualify for a Contract Specialist, your resume and supporting documentation must support:

• Basic Contracting Requirement:
  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees, OR
  • A current civilian employee in DoD or member of the Armed Forces, who occupied an 1102 position, contracting officer position, or comparable military contracting position with authority to award or administer contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold on or before September 30, 2000.
• Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position and is directly in or related to this position.
  • For the GS-13 grade level, specialized experience must be at the GS-12 grade level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service, military, or private sector. Creditable specialized experience includes:
    • Developing acquisition strategies and/or determining methods of procurement and ensuring proper performance.
    • Planning and conducting negotiations on price, technical requirements, terms, and conditions of the contract.
    • Interpreting and applying current Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations (DFAR) Supplement, Agency directives, and local agency purchasing regulations, policies, and procedures.
    • Performing work associated with a wide range of contract types and methods.
    • Performing market research, identifying potential vendors, and creating the solicitation package.
  • For the GS-12 grade level, specialized experience must be at the GS-11 grade level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service, military, or private sector. Creditable specialized experience includes:
    • Applying acquisition strategies and/or determining methods of procurement and ensuring proper performance.
    • Evaluating proposed costs, prices, technical requirements, terms, and conditions of the contract.
    • Applying current Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations (DFAR) Supplement, Agency directives, and local agency purchasing regulations, policies, and procedures.

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.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

If you are using education to qualify, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Additional Information

• Position requires DoD Acquisition Contracting (C) / CON, Professional (Foundational) certification within required timeframes. Selectee must also achieve 80 hours of Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) every 2 years.
• This position does not meet criteria for appointment of Reemployed Annuitants.
• Information for Veterans is available at: https://www.dla.mil/Careers/Programs/.
• As of 23 December 2016, Military retirees seeking to enter federal service in the Department of Defense now require a waiver if they would be appointed within 180 days following their official date of retirement.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Drug-Free Workplace Policy

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is committed to maintaining a safe, drug-free workplace. All DLA employees are required to refrain from illegal drug use on and off duty. DLA conducts pre-employment, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, and random drug testing. Applicants tentatively selected for employment in testing-designated positions will undergo a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Refusal to undergo testing or testing positive for illegal drugs will result in withdrawal of the tentative job offer and a six-month denial of employment with DLA from the date of the drug test.

Employees in drug-testing-designated positions are subject to random drug testing. A negative drug test result must be received by HR within 30 calendar days after the EOD (i.e., start date). The selectee's inability to successfully pass or refusal to conduct the test may result in the tentative or final job offer being withdrawn during the recruitment process or subsequently being removed from Federal service for failure to meet a condition of employment.

You may be required to sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding" if you are selected for this position. The DLA drug-testing panel tests for the following substances: marijuana, cocaine, opiates, heroin, phencyclidine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, fentanyl, norfentanyl, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), and opioids.

Advisory: Use of cannabidiol (CBD) products may result in a positive drug test for marijuana. DLA employees are subject to Federal law, and under Federal law, Marijuana is illegal.