Contract Specialist
Defense Logistics Agency
Posted: January 23, 2026 (0 days ago)
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Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys
Department of Justice
Location
Salary
$74,684 - $116,374
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 job involves handling government contracts for the U.S.
Department of Justice, from planning purchases and negotiating deals to managing them after they're signed, focusing on things like services, equipment, and expert help for legal cases.
It's a good fit for someone with a background in business or law who enjoys detail-oriented work and following federal rules for buying things the government needs.
The role is at the GS-11 level in Birmingham, Alabama, and could lead to more advanced positions.
For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit www.justice.gov/usao/. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement.
To be qualified for this position, you must meet both the basic requirement and meet the education and/or specialized experience as specified below. Basic Requirement: A.
Completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree or higher with a major in any field. OR B.
Completed 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.
You must submit your transcripts (unofficial or official) to verify basic qualifications for this position or you will be disqualified.
Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.
GS-11: Specialized Experience is defined as developing and managing all aspects for pre-award and post-award functions, including price/cost analysis, negotiation, and administration for services, materials, and equipment associated with the organization; using solicitation methods or a combination of methods identified in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement regulations, processes and procedures; assisting with the development and preparation of Statements of Work (SOW) typically involving specialized equipment, professional or technical services; reviewing and analyzing requests for the procurement of off-the-shelf items, items that are manufactured to order, specialized services, expert witness, litigative consultant services, construction, IT and complex equipment and services; determining sole source and other required document; preparing solicitation documents and incorporating specific provisions; analyzing proposals for conformance with the solicitation; conducting negotiations before and/or after contract award; negotiating with potential contractors; awarding contracts within delegated contracting officer authority; and/or administering contracts, including monitoring contractor's performance.
OR Education: A Ph.
D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.
OR Combination: specialized experience as described above and education as described above, which when combined equal 100% of the requirements.
Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements.
In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of 2 full years.
GS-12: Specialized Experience is defined as performing and leading contracting specialist with the development of all aspects for pre-award and post-award functions, including price/cost analysis, negotiation, and administration for services, materials, and equipment associated with the organization; using solicitation methods or a combination of methods identified in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement regulations, processes and procedures; developing, preparing and overseeing Statements of Work (SOW) or typically involving specialized equipment, professional or technical services; reviewing and analyzing requests for the procurement of off-the-shelf, items that are manufactured to order, specialized services, expert witness, litigative consultant services, construction, IT and complex equipment and services; determining sole source and other required document; preparing solicitation documents and incorporating specific provisions; analyzing proposals for conformance with the solicitation; conducting extensive negotiations before and/or after contract award; negotiating with potential contractors; awarding contracts within delegated contracting officer authority; and/or administering complex contracts.
Must have successfully completed the applicable certification requirements including mandatory training as prescribed for federal procurement functions, which includes those prescribed as FAC-C (Level I) requirements or equivalent certification.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)- The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.
If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found eligible and qualified for this vacancy.
To be eligible and qualified, you must satisfy all eligibility and qualification requirements for the vacant position as outlined in this announcement.
You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form.
Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)-The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.
If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found eligible and qualified for this vacancy.
To be eligible and qualified, you must satisfy all eligibility and qualification requirements for the vacant position as outlined in this announcement.
You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application.
Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Major Duties:
If selected for this position, you will join a well-respected team that is responsible for providing technical guidance and contracting services.
Typical work assignments will include: Performing pre-award and post-award work on a variety of contract actions.
Developing and documenting acquisition strategy for procuring supplies and services that may require a variety of specialized handling provisions, terms and conditions.
Reviewing requisitions and determines appropriate contract type, competition requirements, contract vehicle and applicable FAR authorities.
Preparing all solicitation documents necessary to support a variety of contract actions. Monitoring contractual milestones.
Developing and maintaining familiarity with Government contracting procedures, business practices, the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and other regulations, policies and procedures.
Performing cost and price analysis, preparing contracts and executing award documents. Preparing statements of work and resolving non-complex problems in the pre-award and post-award phases.
Reviewing technical and cost evaluation reports for accuracy and completeness. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
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