Contract Specialist
What you'd do
At the Indian Health Service, Contract Specialists acquire supplies and services that support healthcare for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. They manage acquisitions from planning through closeout while ensuring compliance and mission success. Reports to IHS Headquarters. Duty stations available in Rockville, MD, and nationwide at IHS Area Offices and field locations. A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).
Major duties
Total Compensation Package - Check out IHS's outstanding total compensation package for this job: Contract Specialist Total Compensation | Pay (ihs.gov) Plans and manages complex pre award and post award contracting activities for healthcare related supplies, services, construction, and information technology acquisitions. Develops acquisition strategies, prepares solicitation documents, conducts market research, evaluates proposals, negotiates contract terms, and recommends contract awards. Administers complex contracts by negotiating modifications, monitoring contractor performance, resolving contract issues, and completing contract closeout activities. Interprets and applies Federal acquisition regulations and agency policies while advising program officials on acquisition planning, procurement strategies, and regulatory compliance. Collaborates with program officials, legal counsel, finance staff, and technical experts to deliver acquisition solutions that support the Indian Health Service mission.
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying. 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; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. BASIC REQUIREMENT(S): Basic Requirements for GS-5 through GS-12 A. 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field; or B. At least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitativemethods, or organization and management. Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy GS-1102 positions at grades 5 through 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified at GS-12. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade 12. However, employees must meet specialized experience requirements when seeking another position. In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: GS-12: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Developing acquisition strategies and acquisition plans. Analyzing requirements and determining appropriate contract type, source selection method, competition strategy, pricing arrangement, and socioeconomic considerations. Preparing complex solicitations, awards, modifications, task orders, or delivery orders; conducting detailed cost and price analysis. Developing negotiation objectives and conducting negotiations; evaluating contractor responsibility, past performance, technical proposals, and pricing; administering contracts involving performance, funding, schedule, scope, or compliance issues. Resolving complex contract administration matters. Advising program officials on acquisition approaches, procurement lead times, documentation, and regulatory requirements and ensuring compliance with the FAR, agency supplements, procurement statutes, policies, and procedures. SELECTIVE FACTOR: Selective factors are knowledge, skills, abilities, or special qualifications that are in addition to the minimum requirements in a qualification standard, but are determined to be essential to perform the duties and responsibilities of a particular position. Applicants must possess a current Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC C) Professional certification OR a Legacy FAC C Level III Certification OR a current Department of Defense (DoD) Contracting Professional Certification. Applicants claiming a DoD Contracting Professional Certification must also submit a current Defense Acquisition University (DAU) /FAI Cornerstone on Demand Continuous Learning Individual Progress Dashboard (Acquisition Career Record Brief transcript). A copy of the required certification and supporting documentation, if applicable, must be submitted with the application. Time In Grade Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP). You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.