Contract Specialist with Security Clearance

Duties Plans the overall approach to meet contracting program objectives for procuring a wide variety of requirements. Performs market research/analysis to determine availability of the requirement; analyzes market trends, commercial practices, conditions and technological advances. Determines appropriate method of procurement using a wide range of contracting methods and contract types. Selects appropriate contracting approaches, techniques, and procedures to solve a variety of acquisition problems. Analyzes contracting issues and recommends best course of action. Performs acquisition planning along with the program manager/customer, technical, legal, and finance personnel to develop market research, acquisition strategy, milestones, evaluation/source selection criteria, and/or incentive or award fee provisions, as applicable. Exercises latitude in dealing with problems arising during the pre-award phase of the procurement action. Plans and carries out the work, selecting the approaches and techniques to be used, and determines actions to be taken on assigned contracts. Uses judgment in interpreting guidelines, in adapting procurement procedures to specific situations and in recommending solutions to problems encountered. Provides business advice and assistance to technical personnel involved in the development of the performance work statement/statement of work/statement of objectives or data requirements. Reviews requisition packages for adequacy and compliance with administrative, regulatory, and procedural requirements and consistency with current market practices and conditions. Reviews procurement requests to determine whether, based on market analysis, the requirement can be performed by small businesses; actively solicits Small Businesses and a wide range of socioeconomic groups. If appropriate, initiates action to have all or part of a procurement set-aside exclusively for small business/socioeconomic performance. Prepares applicable determinations and findings. Assists with the development of evaluation criteria to use in determining source selection and best value requests for quotations/proposals which include utilization of past performance data and technical qualifications for awards based on other than lowest price. Procurements usually involve a variety of considerations such as socioeconomic, market conditions and strategy, difficult-to-define scopes of work, legal conditions, rigid deadlines, or incentive arrangements. Resolves problems that limit competition that discourage potential offerors. Conducts site visits/pre-proposal/pre-bid conferences and modifies requirements as necessary. Serves as the point of contact for assigned procurements. Executes post-award contract performance management actions on assigned contracts. Trains and monitors appointed Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs) as required. Monitors and evaluates contractor performance for compliance with terms and conditions of contracts and ensures timely submission of contract deliverables and performance metrics. Makes field site visits to detect and/or correct labor standards violations, takes appropriate action to expedite delivery or performance when required by mission changes, monitors the contractors' use of government-furnished property inventories, and prepares change orders as necessary. Evaluates and requests additional funds or de-obligates funds, as required. Analyzes a wide variety of contract administration problems. Provides business advice and guidance to technical personnel and others on contracting work and prepares correspondence. Represents the interest of the organization in a professional manner in meetings and various contacts outside the agency on a variety of issues that often are not well-defined. May serve as the primary or alternate Government Purchase Card (GPC) Agency/Organization Program Coordinator for the local Contracting Office. Functions as the principal liaison between program participants and the banking institution. Interacts with higher headquarters to ensure program compliance. Analyzes program regulatory requirements and develops internal procedural guidance. May serve as a System Administrator. Provides technical leadership and consultation regarding operation automated acquisition systems. Provides technical and functional guidance to contracting personnel in the use of software, prepares reporting documents, and coordinates the transfer of data between organizations. Ensures systems are responsive to data input and processing during the acquisition process. Performs other duties as assigned. Requirements Conditions of Employment 1. May be required to travel by military or commercial aircraft in the performance of TDY assignments. 2. Irregular and/or overtime (compensatory) hours may be required to support operational requirements or contingencies or may be required to work hours outside of the normal duty day.3. Required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise.4. The incumbent must meet the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements applicable to the duties of the position.5. The incumbent must meet the continuing acquisition education, training and experience requirements IAW DoDI 5000.66.6. In accordance with the Ethics in Government Act, 1978, incumbent is required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.7. The incumbent must obtain and maintain secret security clearance.8. This position is designated as Essential Personnel and may be subject to duty in preparation for, or in response to, a state emergency or disaster declaration. This designation will not exceed 14 calendar days per year unless otherwise approved in advance by the TAG. Must maintain a contracting warrant Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation. May be required to successfully complete a probationary period. Participation in direct deposit is mandatory. Qualifications GENERAL EXPERIENCE : All on-board Title 5 Excepted Service employees assigned to Series GS-1102 positions, must be certified at the next higher grade-level before considered as eligible for merit promotions to that level; and, must have a minimum of one year on-the-job experience in the grade immediately below the next higher level. However, a new hire applicant must have competent experiences that are commensurate/equivalent to the contracting program business with demonstrated understandings of the complex principles and concepts defined by the NG Title 5 Excepted Service Series GS-1102 positions. evaluate the applicant's competencies (Skills, Knowledge, Abilities, and Behaviors), military and civilian experiences, completed education, learned skills, obtained knowledge, endorsed abilities, and training program accomplishments. The following six basic qualification factors are applicable to the Title 5 Excepted Service Series GS-1102, Grade GS-07 through GS-13 positions: Skilled in collecting and analyzing contracting data effectively, efficiently, and accurately; Ability to clearly enunciate English without impediment of speech that would interfere or prohibit effective communication; Ability to write English in reports and presentation formats; Ability to communicate clearly and effectively; Skilled in presenting formal training presentations and briefings; and, Skilled in applying procedures and directives by reading and interpreting program material. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE : Must have one year of contracting experience at the GS-09 level performing work in the following areas as applicable to the position being filled: (1) Pre-award of contracts related to development of a solicitation. Acquisition planning, requesting offers, and developing offers by evaluation of solicitation and finalizing offers, (2) Award of contracts that includes forming a contract, and (3) Post-Award actions to administer the contract. Competencies at the practitioner category emphasize functional specialization in contracting. Specialized experience may have been gained while providing business advice to customers and performing all pre-award/post-award functions, using a wide range of contracting methods and types to procure complex and/or diversified commodities, services and/or construction. Individuals at this category are expected to have and apply journeyman level acquisition-related skills. Quality of Experience - Length of time is not of itself qualifying. Candidates' experience should be evaluated on the basis of duties performed rather than strictly on the rank of the individual; however, established compatibility criteria/assignments must be followed. The applicant's record of experience and/or training must show possession of the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to fully perform the duties of the position. Education If you are using Education to qualify for this position, If you are using Education in lieu of specialized experience to qualify for this position, Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree You must provide transcripts or other documentation to support your Educational claims. To receive credit for Education, you must provide documentation of proof that you meet the Education requirements for this position. Additional information If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency ( Register Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov) ). Benefits Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your fam