CONTRACT SPECIALIST

Duties

• Plans acquisitions for standard or specialized services, commodities and/or construction contracts where specifications are standardized within established competitive markets and where price competition exist.
• Develops solicitations, evaluates responses, and makes award recommendations.
• Monitors contract performance and performs contract administration.
• Provides advice and assistance to others relating to contracting work and prepares correspondence

Qualifications

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must meet the basic requirements as defined in 10 USC 1724 and as stated in this announcement.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees AND at least 24 hours in business-related courses in any of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. (This requirement can be obtained within the degree or in addition to the degree). NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF OFFICIAL COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS.

NOTE:  The education requirements listed above apply only to individuals entering DoD 1102 positions on or after October 1, 2000. Current members of the armed forces (that self-nominate prior to retirement/separation), and Current DoD employees are exempt from the basic requirements if:  current members of the armed forces (that self-nominate prior to retirement/separation), and Current DoD employees are exempt from the basic requirements if:  served as a contracting officer with authority to award or administer in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold on or before 30 September 2000; served, on or before 30 September 2000, in a position as either an employee in the GS-1102 series or as a member of the Armed Forces in a similar occupation specialty. 

IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the GS-07 grade level in one or more of the following: (1) soliciting, evaluating, negotiating, and awarding contracts; (2) administering contracts by assuring compliance with the terms and conditions; (3) terminating contracts by analyzing, negotiating, and settling claims and proposals; (4) analyzing and evaluating cost/price proposals and accounting systems; (5) planning, establishing, or reviewing contracts, programs, policies, or procedures; (6) formulating and administering policies and procedures to insure achievement of socioeconomic goals; (7) developing acquisition strategies and directing or managing procurements; and/or (8) providing functional staff advisory services within the contracting occupation.  Duties performed are usually developmental in nature involving few complexities designed to increase skill and knowledge with assignments selected with a view to developing advanced skills.  Assignments are usually designed to provide diversified experience as a foundation for future responsibility.

OR

EDUCATION:  Master's or equivalent graduate degree OR Juris Doctor (J.D>) or LL.B.(2) full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. This education includes one or a combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. 

NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF OFFICIAL COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS.

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:  I have successfully completed some graduate level education and I have some specialized experience; therefore, I have a combination of specialized experience and graduate level education to qualify for this position.

Federal Time-In-Grade (TIG) Requirement for General Schedule (GS) Positions: Applicants must have served at least 52 weeks at the GS-07 or higher grade (or equivalent in an alternate pay system) within the Federal Civil Service to be considered for referral.  TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs):  Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: 

1.    Knowledge of commonly used contracting methods and contract types for contract types for contract actions that are well defined and well-precedented.

2.    Knowledge of directly applicable Federal contracting laws, regulations, and procedures.

3.    Knowledge of business practices and market conditions as they relate to program and technical requirements to assist customers in developing requirements and to evaluate proposal responsiveness, contractor responsibility, and contractor performance.

4.    Ability to perform basic price/cost analysis sufficient to compare prices on recurring types of procurements.

5.    Ability to plan, organize work, and meet deadlines.

6.    Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; present factual information; clearly write procurements memoranda and draft simple contract provisions and supporting document.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE**:** Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work.  You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. 

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE:  Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social).  Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.  You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims.  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional xml:namespace prefix = "st1" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /U.S. education program.  It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.