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Contract Specialist (GS-09)

U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
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Refer to job announcement link on the USA Jobs website at https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/608143100 for full details.




Overview

Open & closing dates
 07/20/2021 to 08/02/2021


Pay scale & grade
GS 09 (Salary $53,977)


Promotion Potential
GS 12 (Salary $78,277)

Location of Position:
Federal Acquisition Service (FAS), Heartland Acquisition Center
Kansas City, MO


Responsibilities

  • Performs procurement planning tasks, including researching market conditions and identifying within assigned programs the sub-systems, components, supplies and services to be acquired by the contract.
  • Evaluates technical submissions, bids, or offers for responsiveness to the solicitation.
  • Performs the full range of pre-award and post-award activities.
  • Executes modifications and supplemental agreements.
  • Closes out contracts.
  • Serves as a warranted contracting officer, required to obtain and/or maintain a warrant.



Requirements

Conditions of Employment

US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)If selected, you must meet the following conditions:
  • Receive authorization from OPM on any job offer you receive, if you are or were (within the last 5 years) a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch.
  • Register with the Selective Service, if you are a male born after 12/31/1959.
  • Serve a one year trial period, if required.
  • Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 4 investigation level). 
  • Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee. We will use the Department of Homeland Security’s e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.
  • Signed participant agreement is required for employment under this Program.


Qualifications

For each job on your resume, provide:
  • the exact dates you held each job (from month/year to month/year)
  • number of hours per week you worked (if part time).  

If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.
 


Basic Requirements for GS-5 through GS-12

  1. A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field;
  2. or
  3. 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

In addition to the basic requirement, to qualify, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level or higher in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as experience performing recurring and developmental contracting assignments to procure supplies and/or services. Procurement of these supplies and/or services at this level include:
  • Determining appropriate contracting methods and contract type;
  • Performing work related to the pre-award and/or post-award process;
  • Preparing solicitation documentation and drafting the final contract;
  • Evaluating vendor offers for responsiveness;
  • Identifying excessive or underestimated prices and negotiates prices;
  • Responding to and resolving common acquisition issues.

OR

Possess 2 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or masters or equivalent graduate degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related, in one or a combination of the following fields is required: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.

OR

Combination of graduate education and specialized experience that when combined together qualify you for this position.

This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcript(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcements to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.  


Education

Note: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html



How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
We will use a method called Category Rating to assess your application. Here’s how it will work:
  • You will be scored on the questions you answer during the application process, which will measure your possession of the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities:
  1. Basic knowledge of commonly used contract types, laws, regulations, principles, and methods of contracting to acquire and administer contracts for a wide range of services, supplies and equipment
  2. Knowledge of cost and price analysis and cost accounting standards sufficient to perform the full range of strategic, analytical, and technical procurement assignments.
  3. Knowledge of common source selection procedures as well as procurement integrity and ethics requirements.
  4. Knowledge of post-award procedures to administer contracts for a wide range of services, supplies and equipment.
  5. Skill in basic contract negotiation techniques sufficient to negotiate prices, terms and conditions, contract modifications and settlements on less complex contracting actions.
  6. Skill in both written and oral communication to keep GSA management, customers, and contractors apprised of procurement issues.
  7. Basic knowledge of business practices sufficient to identify sources, recent developments and trends, economic factors affecting procurements and anticipated requirements of Federal agencies; to analyze cost and pricing data and contract proposals; and to evaluate the offers for responsibility.
  • Your answers to the questions will be used to place you in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified
  • We will verify your answers to the questions in your resume. If your resume doesn’t support your answers, we may lower your score, which could place you in a lower category.

Within each category, veterans will receive selection priority over non-veterans.



Required Documents


ALL required documents must be submitted before the closing date. Review the following list to determine what you need to submit. 

Current or Former Political Appointees: Submit SF-50.

If you are claiming veterans preference:
(a) Copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD-214 that shows the dates of your active duty service. If selected, a DD-214 showing your type of discharge (member 4 copy) will be required prior to appointment. 
(b) If you are claiming 10-point preference, submit both of the following in addition to the DD-214: (1) completed SF-15 form; and (2) proof of your entitlement (refer to SF-15 for complete list). 

If you are active duty military- Certification on a letterhead from your military branch that includes your rank, character of service (must be under honorable conditions) & military service dates including discharge/release date (must be no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted).

College transcripts: Your transcripts must show a, b, and c:
(a) Proof of recent graduate status (within past 2 years or on track to graduate by 8/31/2021; or within past 6 years if you were prevented from applying due to your military service)
(b) Name of your college or university
(c) Date your degree was awarded

If you are currently pursuing a graduate degree, but you are claiming Recent Graduate eligibility based on a previous degree, you must also include those transcripts.

If you completed your education outside of the U.S., see Foreign Education information for guidance on what we can accept.

If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.

How to Apply

Submit a complete online application including any required documents prior to 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement. You can modify or complete your application any time before the deadline. Simply return to USAJOBS, select the vacancy, and update your application. 

To begin, click the Apply Online button on the vacancy announcement.
  • Sign in or register on USAJobs and select a resume and documents to include in your application.
  • Once you have clicked Apply for this position now, you will be taken to the GSA site to complete the application process.
  • Click the Apply To This Vacancy and complete all steps in the application process until the Confirmation indicates your application is complete. If you click Return to USAJobs or get timed out prior to receiving confirmation, your application will not be submitted and cannot be considered for this job.
  • Note: Review the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section of this announcement to determine which apply to you and must be submitted online. You may choose one or more of the following options to submit your document(s): Upload (from your computer); USAJOBS (click the "USAJOBS" link to complete the transfer process) or FAX (read the “Fax instructions” provided prior to printing the Fax Cover Sheet and faxing your information).