Contract Specialist
Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System
Posted: April 7, 2026 (1 day ago)
This job was posted recently. Fresh listings typically have less competition.
Air Education and Training Command
Department of the Air Force
Location
Mississippi
Salary
$50,460 - $116,362
per year
Type
Full-Time
More Procurement & Contracts jobs →Closes
Base salary range: $62,107 - $80,737
Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-10. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 years graduate study.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
This entry-level contract specialist role in the Air Force involves handling the planning, negotiation, and management of contracts for services, supplies, and construction projects, starting with well-defined tasks to build experience.
It's a trainee position that helps you learn pre-award (before signing) and post-award (after signing) duties using standard government methods.
A good fit would be someone with a bachelor's degree and some prior experience in procurement or related fields, eager to work in a military environment in Mississippi.
Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.
The primary purpose of this position is: To perform developmental assignments which are designed to provide the employee, who is serving in trainee capacity, experience in pre-award and post-award functions when they are well-defined and well-precedented, using common contraction methods and contract types, to procure standard or specialized services.
In order to qualify, you must meet the basic requirements defined in 10 United States Code (USC).This standard implements requirements contained in Title 10, United States Code, Sections 1723 through 1733, as amended by Section 861(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92) and implemented on a policy exception basis by Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment memorandum.
BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT: A bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees.
NOTE: You must submit copies of your transcripts. NOTE: The following three exemption to the basic education requirements above apply to DoD civilian employees or Service members who:1.
Served as a contracting officer with authority to award or administer in excess of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) on or before 30 September 2000; OR 2.
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. OR 3.
Are an enlisted member of the Contingency Contracting Force (CCF). This exemption only applies to CCF members in their current or future CCF positions.
The Bachelor's degree exemption does not apply to current CCF members seeking New Hire employment within DoD as a 1102.
In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE- GS07: Applicants must meet the mandated bachelor's degree and have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GS-05) Knowledge of commonly used contracting methods sufficient to perform procurement functions; working with contract negotiation techniques, and the laws, regulations and precedents governing procurements by this method, to perform developmental assignments; formal advertising sufficient to solicit bids to procure a variety of requirements ranging from standard to specialized supplies, services, or construction.
NOTE: You must submit copies of your transcripts.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE - GS09: Applicants must meet the mandated bachelor's degree and have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GS-07) Knowledge of applicable statutory provisions, regulations, and procedures to be able to perform well-defined and well-precedented procurement functions.
Commonly used contracting methods and contract types sufficient to perform pre-award, post-award, and/or contract price/cost analysis functions. NOTE: You must submit copies of your transcripts.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE - GS11: Applicants must meet the mandated bachelor's degree and have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GS-09) knowledge of contracting principles, laws, statutes, Executive Orders, regulations, and procedures applicable to pre-award and post-award duties sufficient to plan and carry out procurement actions and administer contracts for a variety of specialized services, commodities and/or construction using a wide range of contraction methods and contract types.
NOTE: You must submit copies of your transcripts.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE - GS12: Applicants must meet the mandated bachelor's degree and have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GS-11) Knowledge of contracting principles, laws, statutes, Executive Orders, regulations, and procedures applicable to preaward and postaward duties sufficient to develop strategies, goals, and objectives; study problem areas and implement and/or recommend improved methods and operating procedures; and oversee or personally plan and carry out procurement actions, and administer contracts for a variety of specialized services, commodities, and/or construction contracts NOTE: You must submit copies of your transcripts.
FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible.
One year at the GS-05 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-07 level. One year at the GS-07 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-09 level.
One year at the GS-09 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-11 level. One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level.
TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks.
NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.
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: GS07: 1.
Knowledge of commonly used contracting methods sufficient to perform procurement functions when the contract actions are well defined and well precedented. 2.
Knowledge of contract negotiation techniques, and the laws, regulations and precedents governing procurements by this method, to perform developmental assignments; and of business practices and market conditions as they relate to program and technical requirements sufficient to evaluate bid responsiveness, contractor responsibility, and contractor performance.
3. Knowledge of report writing techniques to present factual information clearly, write procurement memoranda, and draft simple contract provisions and supporting documentation. 4.
Skill in solving practical problems relating to supplies, services, and/or construction matters as they relate to the development of specifications or to contract administration involving product quality.
5. Skill in dealing with others in a work relationship to present information orally and to accomplish a given purpose. 6.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; and plan, organize work, and meet deadlines. (Applies to GS09, GS11, GS12). GS09: 1.
Professional knowledge of commonly used contracting methods and contract types for contract actions that are well-defined and well-precedented. 2.
Knowledge of directly applicable Federal contracting laws, regulations, policies, 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 procurement memoranda; and draft simple contract provisions and supporting documents.
KSA's continued in the Education Block 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. Major Duties:
GS-07 Follows established procedures to procure off-the-shelf materials, which are available from numerous commercial sources, and are easily identified by common names for which standard price lists are available.
Prepares Invitation for Bid (IFB) or Request for Proposal (RFP) ensuring that technical descriptions and appropriate contract clauses are included.
Assists in monitoring contract performance and assists in contract termination. Provides advice and assistance to others relating to contracting work and prepares correspondence.
GS-09 Plans acquisitions for standard or specialized services, commodities and/or construction contracts where specifications are standardized within established competitive market, and where price competition exits.
Develops solicitations, evaluates responses, and makes award recommendations. Monitors contract performance and performs contract administration.
GS-11 Plans the overall approach to meet contracting program objectives for procuring a wide variety of requirements. Procures a wide variety of services, commodities, and/or construction.
Executes postaward contract performance management actions on assigned contracts. Provides business advice and guidance to technical personnel and other on contracting work and prepares correspondence.
GS-12 As part of an Integrated Acquisition Team for an installation, or for development or sustainment of a system or smaller multiple systems within an installation, Direct Reporting Unit (DRU), Field Operating Agency (FOA), specialized unit, etc., plans the overall approach to meet contracting program objectives for a variety of requirements with multiple complexities.
Procures complex and/or diversified services, commodities, and/or construction. Executes post-award contract performance management actions on assigned contracts.
Serves as business advisor to a wide range of customers.
Check your resume before applying to catch common mistakes