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Contract Specialist

Department of Homeland Security
DHS Headquarters
Office of Procurement Operations (OPO)
This job announcement has closed

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Summary

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Procurement Operations.

The primary purpose of this position is to manage critical procurements, and resolve problems or develop new approaches, and to negotiate, procure and administer complex requirements for the agency.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
01/13/2021 to 01/19/2021
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$103,690 to - $159,286 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13 - 14
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Washington, DC
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
ST-10980938-21-OPO
Control number
589314100

Duties

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As a Contract Specialist GS 1102 13/14, your typical work assignments may include:

  • Serves as point of contact for program officials on acquisition and administrative matters affecting major procurement supplies and services.
  • Manages complex, sensitive, and critical DHS procurement programs and initiatives.
  • Ensures that all requirements of law, executive orders, regulations and other applicable procedures including clearances and approvals have been met.
  • Provides authoritative recommendations to improve procurement operations and customer service.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • You must successfully pass a background investigation.
  • You must be able to obtain a (Public Trust) Security Clearance.
  • You must submit to a pre-employment drug test.
  • Current federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements.
  • Selectee may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
  • Must have a FAC-C III or DAWIA or equivalent certificate to qualify for the GS-13 level position. Certificate must be uploaded to be considered.

Qualifications

Basic requirements for the GS-13 and GS-14:

A. 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 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 perform successfully the work of the position.and

B. 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. NOTE: Must submit college transcript(s) to verify that the education requirements has been met, in order to be considered for this position.

C. Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. This also applies to positions at the same grade in the same agency or other agencies if the specialized experience requirements are met. 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.

D. Waiver: When filling a specific vacant position, the senior procurement executive of the selecting agency, at his or her discretion, may waive any or all of the requirements of Paragraphs A and B above if the senior procurement executive certifies that the applicant possesses significant potential for advancement to levels of greater responsibility and authority, based on demonstrated analytical and decision making capabilities, job performance, and qualifying experience. With respect to each waiver granted under this ParagraphD, the senior procurement executive must document for the record the basis of the waiver. If an individual is placed in a position in an agency on the basis of a waiver, the agency may later reassign that individual to another position at the same grade within that agency without additional waiver action.

PLEASE NOTE: Management will not waive any of the position requirements.

In addition to the basic qualifications for this position, there are additional qualifications for this Contract Specialist position:

Specialized Experience:
You also qualify for the GS-13 grade level
(starting salary $103,690) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal government or equivalent. Specialized experience is defined as gathering, assembling, and analyzing information to draw logical conclusions about price/cost information and the soundness of a vendor's proposal.

You also qualify for the GS-14 grade level (starting salary $122,530) if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal government or equivalent. Specialized experience is defined as having knowledge of a wide range of procurement methods and practices that include special/unusual provisions, terms and conditions that can be incorporated in contracts in order to determine which contracting methods and terms are most advantageous to the Government.

You must also have a FAC-C III or DAWIA or equivalent certificate to qualify for the GS-13 level position. Certificate must be uploaded to be considered.

Substitution of education in lieu of specialized experience may not be used for this grade level.

All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Time-in-grade
Current General Schedule (GS) federal employees, and those that have served in GS positions within the last 52 weeks, must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade, or a combination of the next lower grade level and an equivalent band in the federal service by the closing of this announcement.

Note: Current or former Federal employees MUST submit a copy of their SF-50 Form which shows competitive service appointment ("position occupied" block 34 on the SF-50 should show a "1"), tenure group (block 24 should show a 1 or 2), grade, and salary. If you are applying for a higher grade, please provide the SF-50 Form which shows the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, With-in Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s dated a year apart within the same grade/job). If you have promotion potential in your current position, please provide proof. Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent appointment. IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE CONSIDERATION AS A STATUS CANDIDATE.

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, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Education

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage.

Additional information

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include: flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and DHS policy, DHS is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at DHS Headquarters are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.

This position may be filled at the GS-13 or GS-14 level. If selection is made at the GS-13 level, promotion to the next level may occur without further competition.

Selectee may be required to serve a one-year probationary period.
Selectee will be required to complete an OGE 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Form.
Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses will (NOT) be paid.

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration of Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Multiple selections may be made from this announcement.

Interviews are required for this position. Failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Land Management Eligible: Applicable to Merit Promotion JOAs that are accepting applications from individuals within or outside the agency's workforce. Please include the hiring path for Land and Base Management: Current and former employees of a land management agency who were initially hired at a land management agency under a time-limited appointment in the competitive service.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education and training will be rated https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10980938 based on the following competencies or knowledge, skills and abilities needed to perform this job:
Contracting/Procurement, Organizational Awareness, Planning and Evaluating, and Problem Solving

If you are the best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. To preview the job questionnaire and application, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10980938

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veteran must be 1) be a preference eligible; or 2) be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement. (Note: Veteran's preference does not apply under Merit Promotion procedures. View VEOA information on Feds Hire Vets.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you will be removed from consideration or your score will be lowered.

Consideration may be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards as an indicator of quality of prior experience. No points will be awarded.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps / VISTA volunteers, and people with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility and to understand the documentation that would be required with your application, click on the links above and contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

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