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Posted: December 30, 2025 (16 days ago)

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Contract Specialist

Justice, Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System

Department of Justice

Older

Salary

$54,226 - $78,075

per year

Closes

January 22, 2026

GS-11 Pay Grade

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).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves working as a contract specialist in a federal prison in Minnesota, where you'll handle purchasing supplies and services to keep the facility running smoothly and securely.

You'll review bids, negotiate deals, and ensure everything complies with rules to support safe operations and inmate rehabilitation.

It's a good fit for someone with a business or law background who enjoys detail-oriented work in a government setting focused on public safety.

Key Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in any field, or at least 24 semester hours in areas like accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, or management
  • For GL-07 level: One full year of graduate education in relevant fields (e.g., accounting, business, law, contracts), or superior academic achievement
  • Alternatively, one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, such as procuring supplies through advertising or negotiation, reviewing requisitions, evaluating bids, or coordinating contracting activities
  • Combination of education and experience that meets the GL-07 qualifications
  • U.S. citizenship and ability to pass a background check for federal prison employment
  • For current or former federal employees: Documentation like SF-50 from January 1, 2000, to verify exception to education requirements if applicable

Full Job Description

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following: Basic Requirements: A. A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field.

A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree is defined as possession of a bachelor’s degree conferred or approved by an accredited U.S.

college or university based on a 4 year course of study. Simply being enrolled and working toward a degree does not meet the qualification standard. OR B.

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: Basic requirements noted above qualify applicants for the GL- 05 level.

AND In addition to the basic requirements, you must have one of the following: Education: GL-07: One (1) full academic year of graduate education or law school or superior academic achievement.

Graduate Education: To qualify for GS-1102 positions on the basis of graduate education, graduate education 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.

Acceptability of Higher Education: Education such as foreign education, home study and correspondence courses, academic credit for work experience, military education, continuing education units, life experience, etc, is acceptable to the extent that it is determined to be equivalent to conventional higher education program of U.S.

institutions. Such education must be accepted for college level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university.

Exception to Mandatory Education Requirement: Employees in GS- 1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000.

Employees who occupy GS-1102 positions at grades 5 through 12 will be considered to have met the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified at the GS-12.

This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade 12. However, employees must meet specialized experience requirements when seeking another position.

NOTE: Current federal employees not employed by the Bureau of Prison and former Bureau of Prison Employees MUST submit documentation (i.e., SF-50(s) covering the period from January 1, 2000) for verification of the above referenced exception criteria to receive consideration.

Failure to provide these documents will result in non consideration for this vacancy.

OR Experience: GL-07: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level.

To be creditable, this experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular qualifications to perform successfully the duties of the position and must typically be in or related to the position to be filled.

Some examples of qualifying experience are: Experience procuring supplies or services primarily through formal advertising, or through limited use of negotiation techniques.

Experience reviewing requisitions to determine proper specifications or purchase descriptions are included in solicitation documents.

Experience evaluating bids or proposals for compliance with specifications or purchase descriptions and applicable clauses.

Experience meeting with commercial representatives to discuss procurement needs, quality of items or services, current market prices, or delivery schedules.

Experience in coordinating contracting activities, obtaining wage information, requesting audit reports or pre-award surveys, and obtaining clearances.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: GL-07: Have a combination of education and experience.

This experience must have equipped you with the qualifications to perform the major duties of this position as described above. If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience.

To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities.

**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.** Major Duties:

Responsible for performing all aspects of procurement transactions up to and including awards.

Primary responsibility involves the administration and execution of personal service contracts, non-personal service contracts, formally advertised and negotiated procurement involving a wide range of materials, services and equipment.

Responsible for meeting with contractor’s representatives to negotiate formal contracts.

Prepares and submits various procurement reports required by General Services Administration, Department of Justice, etc.

Responsible for developing new sources of supply by stimulating interest in the bidding.

Prepares, evaluates and administers complex procurement actions such as the following: firm fixed price with redetermination or escalation provisions, cost sharing, fixed price incentive, etc.

Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with the responsibility for maintaining security of the institution.

The staff correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 12/30/2025 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 12/31/2025

Source: USAJOBS | ID: SST-2026-0004