The Contracting Series, series code 1102, covers federal jobs whose work is buying what the government needs. The purchases can cover supplies and services, construction, and research and development. People in these jobs may do the buying themselves, supervise others who do it, or write the policies and procedures that guide the work.
Purchases are made either by formally advertising the requirement or by negotiating with sellers. The work also includes reviewing the price proposals that companies put forward. Once a contract is in place, employees in this series administer it, and they handle ending a contract early or closing it out at the end.
The job calls for knowing the laws and regulations that apply to government contracting, along with the methods used to carry it out. It also calls for knowing how businesses and industries work, where supplies come from, what affects costs, and the characteristics of what is being bought.