Contract Specialist

About the Role

The successful candidate will serve as a Contract Specialist in the Administrative Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Additional positions may be filled using this announcement as needed.

Responsibilities

• Reviews requisitions and determines appropriate contract type, competition requirements, and FAR authorities.
• Reviews market conditions, specifications, technical requirements, and conducts market research.
• Develops procurement plans for the district.
• Prepares all solicitation documents necessary for a variety of contract actions.
• Evaluates offers, performs detailed analysis of offers, and prepares necessary documentation for the contract file.
• Performs complex post-award functions, including resolving protests, issuing final decisions, and processing terminations for convenience or default/cause.
• Reviews and analyzes settlement proposals.
• Negotiates settlements for changes and approves contract payments.
• Analyzes contract fund status reports and reviews expenditures.
• Processes travel authorizations, foreign travel packages, and travel vouchers/claims.
• Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as training and experience progress.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
• Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement.
• You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.

Qualifications

To be qualified for this position, you must meet BOTH the Basic Requirements AND the Minimum Qualifications.

Basic Requirements

• A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field.
• OR 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 you occupy and have occupied a GS-1102, Contract Specialist position in the Federal Government on January 1, 2000, in one of the following grade levels: GS-5, GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, or GS-12.

Minimum Qualifications (GS-11)

To be eligible at the GS-11 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions:

• Specialized Experience: One full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level in federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience providing acquisition guidance and assistance regarding procurement requirements, contracting procedures, and acquisition planning; conducting market research; preparing solicitations, requests for quotations, and requests for proposals; reviewing and analyzing audit reports; negotiating with contractors; and reviewing completed official contracts.
• Education: 3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. 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.
• Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. Graduate education must be in excess of the first two years to qualify based on a combination.

Additional Information

• All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university accredited by a recognized accrediting body.
• Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited U.S. educational institution. You must provide proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency.
• Payment of relocation expenses will not be authorized.

Benefits

The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Telework options.
• Life insurance and health benefits.
• Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.