Contract Specialist
What you'd do
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM) provide the infrastructure and support that enables the U.S. Department of Labor to perform its mission. OASAM provides leadership and support for information technology, human resources management, procurement, business operations, safety and health, space management, civil rights, emergency management, security, budget, and performance.
Major duties
Available offices for this position are located in Washington DC; Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; New York City, NY; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; and Philadelphia, PA. The advertised salary reflects the pay range for the above locations. Upon selection, the salary will be set in accordance with the selectee's assigned duty location. The selectee(s) will report to their assigned DOL office location on a regular basis and be eligible for telework as determined by agency policy. This is not a remote position. The GS-11 Contract Specialist is responsible for contracting actions within contracting divisions, actively engaged in all phases and activities related to the procurement process. Duties include, but are not limited to the following: Perform the full range of pre/post-award functions using primarily negotiation procedures for procurements for complex service contracts that are highly specialized, new or innovative, where guidelines are normally not directly applicable. Responsible for providing and coordinating activities for all pre/post award functions for the acquisition of supplies and services critical to the mission of the Department; actively participates in all phases of the acquisition process. Receive requisitions and determine the appropriate method of procurement; draft determinations and findings; aid in the preparation of justifications and approvals for sole source actions; assemble solicitation documents; conduct market research to determine the availability of products and services. Select the type of contract to solicit based on factors such as potential for price competition, ability to establish a realistic price through price analysis, ability to realistically estimate cost, complexity of the requirement, and urgency of the requirement. Use judgment and ingenuity in interpreting the intent of broad or conflicting guidelines and precedents, developing applications to specific areas of work when guidance is inadequate to deal with the problem at hand. Identify problems and bring to the attention of the supervisor and provides feedback on special and on-going projects and assignments, as necessary. Use initiative, creativity, and judgment in selecting areas for review, interpreting data, and studying trends and patterns in the business environment, including forecasting price trends and economic factors that may affect a given acquisition, Make decisions based on analysis of alternatives, adaptation or modification of procedures, or resolution of incomplete or conflicting technical, program, or contractor data. Discuss and analyze complex procurement issues, resolve disagreements between competing interests, and persuade others of the proper course of action for resolving problems. Has contacts with a wide variety of high-level DOL employees and contractor personnel, including program management, contracting, audit, technical, and legal staff within various government agencies, to discuss and analyze complex procurement issues. Meet frequently with business management, accounting, and technical personnel from private industry in a structured environment to negotiate procurements of extensive services and/or construction projects. Negotiate complex issues in contacts with lateral and higher-level personnel within the government and with representatives of industry, working to resolve disagreements between competing interests and persuade others of the proper course of action. Prepare contract award documents, These documents include formal contracts, BPAs, Task Orders, Delivery Orders, and Purchase Orders. Prepare Negotiations Memorandums; Award Decision Memorandums; Price Fair and Reasonableness Determination; Preliminary Notice to Exercise a Contract. Draft determinations and findings, and aids in the preparation of justifications and approvals for sole source actions. Assemble solicitation documents, Request for Proposals; Request for Quotes; Combined Synopsis /Solicitation; and conducts market research to determine the availability of products and services.
What you need to qualify
You must meet the Basic Education Requirements (the individual occupation requirement, IOR) AND the Specialized Experience to qualify for the Contract Specialist position, as described below. Please read these requirements carefully. Basic Education requirement: 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. 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 a 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 the GS-12. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade 12. However, they will have to meet the basic requirements and specialized experience requirements in order to qualify for promotion to a higher grade, unless granted a waiver. Specialized Experience requirement: In addition to the basic requirement, to qualify for this position you must have at least 52 week of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 which is the next lower grade level of the normal line of progression of this position in the Federal government. Specialized experience is experience that is related to the work of this position and has provided you with the competencies required for successful job performance. Examples of qualifying specialized experience for the GS-11 Contract Specialist includes the following (applicants must meet all to be considered qualified): Experience working with acquisition regulations, contract law, and procedures applicable to acquisition and contract administration including change orders, supplemental agreements, terminations, claims, and close out of contracts. Experience working with various types of contracts, including firm-fixed price, firm-fixed price with economic price adjustments, and cost reimbursement; and contract methods to include simplified acquisitions, sealed bidding, negotiations, cost sharing, multiple awards, commercial items and special provisions. Experience with contract administration principles and practices sufficient to monitor contractor performance and compliance with all terms and conditions of the contract. Experience with negotiation techniques sufficient to negotiate prices, terms and conditions, contract modifications and settlements. Proficiency using an electronic Contract Writing and Management System and ability to fully solicit, award, and administer contracts. OR 3 full academic years of progressively higher graduate education OR 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. OR You may qualify on a combination of education and experience. To combine education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education (in the required areas) in excess of the first 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.
Before you apply
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