Contract Specialist

You must meet the Basic Education Requirements (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 under Paragraph D of the Individual Occupation Requirement. Specialized Experience: In addition to the basic requirement, to qualify for this position you must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 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 experience are (candidates must have all): Experience analyzing pre-award and post-award functions involving acquisitions; AND Experience evaluating responses to solicitations for price reasonableness, compliance with terms and conditions, and adequacy of competition; AND Experience conducting acquisition planning and contract pre-award functions to include: determining method of procurement and contract type, documenting the acquisition strategy, and obtaining appropriate approvals; AND Experience administering contracts to include contract scope determinations, contract modifications, supplemental agreements, justifications, approval reviews/fair opportunity evaluations and claims disputes, and contract terminations; AND Experience interpreting and applying the Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Overhaul (RFO), relevant laws, regulations, policies, standards, or procedures to specific contracting issues.

There are 2 vacancies available. These positions may be filled in any of the following cities: Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; New York City, NY; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; or Philadelphia, PA.. The positions are located in the Department of Labor's (DOL), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM), Office of the Senior Procurement Executive (OSPE). OSPE is responsible for the management and direction of DOL's acquisition system and mission; providing effective, ethical, and prudent business advice; and robust acquisition policies and services. The GS-12 Contact 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: Conduct initial planning through requirements definition, testing, prototype procurement, initial and full production, spare and repair parts acquisition, construction, architecture and engineering, and information technology acquisition. Conduct procurement planning by considering acquisition background and objectives, determining the method of procurement, and establishing milestones. Research trends in supply/demand, production lead times, information technology, and factors that affect market prices. Consider special contracting methods such as incrementally funded long-term contracts and indefinite-quantity contracts. Evaluate and select the appropriate contract type by considering factors such as the level of price competition, the ability to determine a realistic price through price analysis, the feasibility of estimating costs, the complexity of the requirement, and the urgency of the need. Coordinate with appropriate personnel to exercise contract options, including preparation of preliminary notice by the Government to exercise an option; review and critique of the technical performance evaluation prepared by the program office; evaluation of the option price/estimated cost; preparation of the required determination and findings; and preparation of the contract. Other duties as assigned. This position has a full performance level of GS-13. Promotion to the GS-13 is not automatic nor guaranteed and requires additional qualifications. Applicants must meet additional educational and training requirements to be eligible for promotion to the GS-13 grade level. Below are the additional requirements for the GS-13 grade level. Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS-13 or higher-level contracting positions, including at least 4-years of experience in contracting or related positions. At least 1 year of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level of the position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of the position. AND A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, that included or was supplemented by 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.