Contract Specialist

Duties
(1) Plans acquisitions for standard or specialized services, supplies and/or construction contracts where specifications are standardized within established competitive markets, and where price competition exists. Reviews requisition package for adequacy and completeness of description, consistency, and compliance with administrative, regulatory, and procedural requirements. Contacts requesters to resolve discrepancies and ambiguities. Provides guidance to customers in the development of the statement of work/performance work statement/statement of objectives and data requirements. Determines appropriate contract type and method of procurement based on the nature of the requirement, urgency of need, estimated cost, market conditions, and applicable procurement policies and regulations. Develops procurement plans by reviewing previous history, market conditions, and specifications or technical data packages. Duties are performed independently within established procedures and with assistance provided on new or unusual assignments. Under close review of senior specialist or supervisor, incumbent is responsible for a variety of contracts which may require special handling provisions or other specialized terms and conditions, some of which cover a period of more than one year. (30%)
(2) Develops solicitations, evaluates responses, and makes award recommendations. Conducts market research and analyses whether commercial items or non-developmental items are available to meet the Government's needs or could be modified to meet the Government's needs. Uses primarily firm fixed price or similar contract types when historical and precedent data are available. Prepares and issues solicitation documents selecting appropriate provisions and clauses, ensuring clear and complete specifications, including packing and delivery requirements or other routine supplemental stipulations. Analyses quotations, bids or proposals for compliance with solicitation, price reasonableness, adequacy of competition, and probability of meeting requirements. Evaluates prospective contract price utilizing basic price analysis techniques by research and review of available historical and precedent data, manufacturer's catalogs, current labor rates, comparison of other competitive quotes/offers received and/or standard industrial cost and price data. On negotiated procurements, contact offering parties or contractors to negotiate prices that appear either excessive or underestimated, to request earlier delivery date, closer conformance to specifications, or similar matters. Determines financial responsibility and performance capability of offering party through review of past awards, requests for performance and/or analysis of pre-award survey information, and/or limited price or analysis for which a considerable amount of historical and precedent data are available. Prepares recommendation for award, documenting selection decisions and justifying basis for award. Award recommendations are reviewed prior to signature for documentation, judgment, and compliance with policies and procedures. Prepares final contract, including specifications and all other special and standard clauses for signature. Enters contractual information into a contract writing system software database. (30%).


(3) Provides advice and assistance to others relating to contracting work and prepares correspondence. Provides advice, guidance, training, and assistance to technical or program personnel, customers, functional commanders, and/or contractors whenever information is needed, or issues need to be resolved. Establishes working relationships with program and contract management personnel. Assists higher grade specialists by performing a variety of tasks. Prepares letters, memoranda, documents, or reports that support contractual actions or recommendations.


(8) Performs other duties as assigned. Requirements Conditions of Employment Participation in direct deposit is mandatory. May be required to successfully complete a probationary period. Federal employment suitability as determined by a background investigation. Must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate security clearance of the position. May occasionally be required to work other than normal duty hours; overtime may be required. Qualifications *Other Requirements: For positions requiring the operation of motor vehicles, candidates must have a valid state driver's license.



EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: Each applicant must fully substantiate (in his/her own words) that he/she meets the requirements of the Specialized Experience listed below: Otherwise, the applicant will be considered unqualified for this position. DO NOT COPY THE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT OR THE POSITION DESCRIPTION. DOING SO MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION FOR THE POSITION. GENERAL EXPERIENCE : Must have experience in positions supporting competencies in business, finance, risk management, project management, or supply chain management. Experience must include competencies such as skill in collecting and analyzing data and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively and other professional competencies in procurement administration or purchase card management.


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SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Must have one year of experience in contracting at the GS-07 grade level that provided exposure to the full scope of contracting and acquisition and a working knowledge in one or more of the following areas: (1) A knowledge of contracting authority and responsibility, (2) Contract principles and knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, (3) Contractor responsibility standards, (4) Regulatory compliance, (5) Knowledge of Federal supply schedule contracting, and (6) Knowledge of acquisition definitions and applicability. In addition to participating in education and training courses, individuals are expected to develop their required competencies through relevant on-the-job experience, which may include rotational assignment.



SKILL & KNOWLEDGE:
- Knowledge of directly applicable statutory provisions, regulations, and procedures to be able to perform well-defined and procurement function precedent exists
- Knowledge of commonly used contracting methods and contract types sufficient to perform pre-award, post-award, and/or contract price/cost analysis functions when the contract actions are well-defined and precedent exists.
- Knowledge of commercial business practices and market conditions that relate to the technical and program requirement to assist customers in developing requirements and to evaluate proposal responsiveness, contractor responsibility, and contractor performance.
- Knowledge of formal advertising sufficient to solicit proposals to procure a variety of requirements ranging from standard to specialized services, commodities, or construction.
- Knowledge of contract price/cost analysis techniques sufficient to perform basic analysis for firm fixed-price or similar contracts, when historical pricing data and precedents are applicable.
- Knowledge of the GPC program to analyze issues and identify alternative courses of action, modify standard procedures and terms to satisfy requirements, and solve a variety of common problems.
- Knowledge of supply regulations pertaining to accountable property.
- Knowledge of public speaking and publicity techniques sufficient to plan or conduct training sessions designed to enhance/facilitate the GPC.
-Knowledge of Contract Regulations to verify contractual documents for compliance and accuracy of terminology. Ability to interpret and clarify regulatory contractual material.
- Knowledge of contract negotiation techniques sufficient to negotiate or administer contracts where the contracting actions are well-defined and precedent exists.
- Knowledge of standard automated systems, non-standard systems, and Web postings that affect the organization's mission execution to review and evaluate of automated systems to determine their overall effectiveness and recommend changes to improve system performance.
- Knowledge of report writing techniques to present factual information clearly, write procurement memoranda, and draft contract provisions and supporting documentation. Education
Minimum education requirement a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees Additional information
If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency ( ). Benefits
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered. How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.


Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application package, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this position. If you are found to be among the top qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. Benefits
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered. Required Documents


As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.


To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:


1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates (including Month and Year, e.g., 02/2017, Feb 2017, etc.) of employment and duties performed.


2. Other supporting documents : SF-50s, transcript, and DD 214s are recommended, but not required. If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .


Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating. How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application/Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To view the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link:


A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.


To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.


Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.


After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process .


You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account ( ), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: .



VETERAN'S PREFERENCE: In order to adjudicate your Veterans' Preference claims, please upload all supporting documentation. Such as: DD214s and/or SF-15, etc



A. ARE YOU A VETERAN CLAIMING SOLE SURVIVORSHIP PREFERENCE OR 5-POINT VETERANS' PREFERENCE?


You should provide legible copy/copies of the following: DD-214 (member 4 copy), "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," showing all dates of service, as well as character of service (Honorable, General, etc.) or Statement of Service/Proof of Service (in lieu of a DD-214) from your command or local Personnel Support office. The Statement of Service/Proof of Service must provide all dates of service, the expected date of discharge and anticipated character of service (Honorable, General, etc.). If you have more than one DD-214, you are strongly encouraged to upload all your DD-214s.



B. ARE YOU A DISABLED VETERAN or CLAIMING 10-POINT VETERANS' PREFERENCE?


Disabled veterans, veterans, widows, spouses or the mother of a veteran, who are eligible for 10-point veterans' preference, should provide legible copies of the following: Applicable supporting documents as noted on Standard Form-15 (SF-15). To obtain a copy of SF-15, go to



C. ARE YOU UNSURE AS TO WHETHER YOU QUALIFY FOR VETERANS' PREFERENCE?


Please review the OPM Vet Guide to determine if you qualify for Veterans' Preference. Please visit: Agency contact information
Mr. William Kast
Phone Email


Address AL USPFO
1740 Congressman Dickinson Dr
Montgomery, AL 36109
US


Learn more about this agency Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application. Fair and Transparent


The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Financial suitability New employee probationary period Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy Selective Service Signature and false statements Social security number request Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:


1. Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates (including Month and Year, e.g., 02/2017, Feb 2017, etc.) of employment and duties performed.


2. Other supporting documents : SF-50s, transcript, and DD 214s are recommended, but not required. If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .


Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating. How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online application/Occupational Questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To view the Occupational Questionnaire, click the following link:


A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.


To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.


Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.


After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process .


You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account ( ), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: .



VETERAN'S PREFERENCE: In order to adjudicate your Veterans' Preference claims, please upload all supporting documentation. Such as: DD214s and/or SF-15, etc



A. ARE YOU A VETERAN CLAIMING SOLE SURVIVORSHIP PREFERENCE OR 5-POINT VETERANS' PREFERENCE?


You should provide legible copy/copies of the following: DD-214 (member 4 copy), "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," showing all dates of service, as well as character of service (Honorable, General, etc.) or Statement of Service/Proof of Service (in lieu of a DD-214) from your command or local Personnel Support office. The Statement of Service/Proof of Service must provide all dates of service, the expected date of discharge and anticipated character of service (Honorable, General, etc.). If you have more than one DD-214, you are strongly encouraged to upload all your DD-214s.



B. ARE YOU A DISABLED VETERAN or CLAIMING 10-POINT VETERANS' PREFERENCE?


Disabled veterans, veterans, widows, spouses or the mother of a veteran, who are eligible for 10-point veterans' preference, should provide legible copies of the following: Applicable supporting documents as noted on Standard Form-15 (SF-15). To obtain a copy of SF-15, go to



C. ARE YOU UNSURE AS TO WHETHER YOU QUALIFY FOR VETERANS' PREFERENCE?


Please review the OPM Vet Guide to determine if you qualify for Veterans' Preference. Please visit: Agency contact information
Mr. William Kast
Phone Email


Address AL USPFO
1740 Congressman Dickinson Dr
Montgomery, AL 36109
US


Learn more about this agency Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application. Fair & Transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Financial suitability New employee probationary period Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy Selective Service Signature and false statements Social security number request