Contract Specialist

Full Job Description

DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority If you are interested in a career as a Contract Specialist, where you will serve as a valued member of the Pretrial Services Agency procurement team, focusing on planning, negotiating, awarding, and managing government contracts, then this job is for you!

Bargaining Unit Status: Covered, AFGE Local 1456 This is not a law enforcement position This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic professional requirements, and specialized experience requirement below. Basic Requirement: A.

A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field; 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; OR C.

Exceptions: 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 meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified at 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.

AND Specialized Experience: You must have at least one year (52 weeks) experience that equipped you with the skills needed to perform the job duties.

Specialized experience is defined as experience in pre-award to post-award phases of cradle to grave contracting duties such as negotiating with vendors to acquire products/services and addressing technical requirements; cost/pricing, statement of work, working with procurement plans, and serving as a contract administrator on awarded contracts.

NOTE: Your resume must clearly show the specialized experience related to this position.

Failure to demonstrate how you possess the experience requirements will result in an "Ineligible" rating. Major Duties:

As a Contract Specialist, you will: 1. Manage contracting programs and processes to acquire complex and specialized services in treatment, supervision and other areas that support the pretrial mission.

Advise management and work with program staff to define and document requirements and develop procurement objectives; prepare determination findings and prepare and maintain plans and schedules for contract actions.

2. Determine contract vehicles, competition and pricing; oversee pre-award processes including advertisement, solicitation, pre-proposal conferences and evaluation of proposals. 3.

Serve as lead negotiator; plan and coordinate negotiation strategy and lead negotiations with contractors to develop contract prices and terms; award the contract. 4.

Perform contract administration, making decisions or recommendations on issues such as incremental funding, modifications, coordination of time extensions, incorporation of change orders, evaluation of contractor performance, identification and resolution of possible noncompliance issues, payment approval and contract closeout.

5.

Evaluate assigned areas of the contracting program; develop and apply performance measures and other evaluation criteria; analyze results and recommend changes in procurement strategies or plans to address deficiencies.

6. Develop or administer interagency agreements, in coordination with program staff. Represent PSA in negotiation on agreements, ensuring that PSA requirements are met.

Advise program staff in administration of agreements and resolve issues that arise during the term of the agreement. 7.

Subject to the limitations identified on the individual's Certificate of Appointment as a Contracting Officer, individual may legally bind the agency and commit agency funds by entering into, administering, and /or terminating contracts.