Contract Specialist

About the role

The incumbent serves as the District Contracting Officer, exercising a delegation of authority to contract for a variety of services, supplies, and equipment. In addition, the incumbent provides a variety of administrative support services in such areas as purchasing, space management, security, internal controls, mail, records, reproduction services, forms management, and communication services. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Responsibilities

• Responsibility for both pre-award and post-award actions for the acquisition of complex professional services and equipment requirements for the USAO
• Reviewing requisitions and determining the appropriate method of procurement; i.e., contract type, formal advertising, Federal Supply Schedules (FSS), Government-Wide Agency Contracts (GWAC), Requests for Proposals (RFP), etc.
• Developing procurement plans by reviewing market conditions, specifications, and technical requirements
• Preparing Statements of Work (SOW) or Statement of Objectives (SOO), and other documents necessary to insure all appropriate specifications are clear prior to a formal solicitation process
• Evaluating proposals, unsolicited proposals, and other bid documents
• Drafting final contract documents, including specifications, packing and shipping requirements, inspection instructions, and all other special and standard contract clauses
• Performing a variety of ancillary support services in the areas of purchasing, space and telecommunications management, supply/property/inventory management, and records management

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation
• 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

You must possess a Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) or equivalent or be able to obtain and retain at least a Level 1, FAC-C as a Federal contracting professional. FAC-C has specific training requirements with some courses online and in the classroom. To maintain a FAC-C, contract professionals are required to meet a continuous training requirement.

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, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods or organization and management; or
• You have occupied a GS-1102 Contract Specialist position in the Federal government on January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy GS-1102 grades 5 through 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirements. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade 12. However, employees must meet specialized experience requirements when seeking another position.

Minimum Qualifications

GS-09: To be eligible at the GS-09 level, you must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience reviewing requisitions and determining appropriate method of procurement; purchasing supplies/services, preparing contract solicitation and award documentation; or preparing contract documents that include specifications, packing and shipping requirements, inspection, instruction, and contract clauses, providing a variety of routine administrative support services in areas such as purchasing, space management, security, mail, internal controls, records, forms management, reproduction services and communication services.

• Education: Two (2) full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or Master's Degree or equivalent graduate degree, or an LL.B., or J.D. Education was obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.
• Combination of Experience and Education: A combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. To qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of one full year.

GS-11: To be eligible at the GS-11 level, you must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience conducting all aspects of contracting for supplies and services from initiation to award recommendations, preparing statements of work or statements of objectives, and other documents necessary prior to a formal solicitation process; preparing a variety of reports concerning the status of funds, expenses, and obligations; drafting final contract documents to include specifications of bids and proposals; interpreting procurement policies and procedures; participating in the preparation of contract modifications, cost analysis, and acquiring services and supplies and providing a variety of routine administrative support services in areas such as purchasing, space management, security, mail, internal controls, records, forms management, reproduction services and communication services.

• Education: Three (3) full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. Education was obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.
• Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. To qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of 2 full years.

Benefits

The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System.