SUPERVISORY CONTRACT SPECIALIST
About This Position
The Office of Procurement is tasked to procure supplies and services on behalf of the Agency in accordance with Federal and CSOSA acquisition regulations.
This position is being filled under the Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) authorized under 5 U.S.C Section 3304 and 5 CFR Part 337, Subpart B. Veterans Preference: Veterans preference does NOT apply under this DHA. This announcement will close after 75 applications have been received or at the specified closing date. Whichever comes first.
Qualifications
To minimally qualify for this position, Supervisory Contract Specialist, you must meet all three requirements stated below. Selective Placement Factor (SPF) Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting - FAC-C (Professional) or higher.
This position requires the applicant to possess a current FAC-C (Professional) or an equivalent DAWIA Contracting Certification at the time of application. This certification is essential to perform the duties of the position, which include providing expert acquisition policy guidance, leading complex procurement actions, conducting compliance reviews, and advising senior leadership on contracting matters.
Note: Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) is a law that requires standardized training, certification, and career development for DoD acquisition professionals. Important Notice:Applicants must upload proof of certification with their application. Failure to provide documentation will result in an ineligible rating.
- BASIC REQUIREMENTS Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS-13 or higher-level contracting positions, including at least 4-years of experience in contracting or related positions. At least 1 year of that 4-years of experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level of the position, GS-13, and must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position. and A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, that included or was supplemented by 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.
Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. This also applies to positions at the same grade in the same agency or other agencies if the specialized experience requirements are met. However, they will have to meet the basic requirements and specialized experience requirements in order to qualify for promotion to a higher grade, unless granted a waiver under Paragraph D.
Waiver: When filling a specific vacant position, the senior procurement executive of the selecting agency, at his or her discretion, may waive any or all of the requirements of Paragraphs 1 and 2 above if the senior procurement executive certifies that the applicant possesses significant potential for advancement to levels of greater responsibility and authority, based on demonstrated analytical and decision making capabilities, job performance, and qualifying experience. With respect to each waiver granted under this Paragraph 4, the senior procurement executive must document for the record the basis of the waiver. If an individual is placed in a position in an agency on the basis of a waiver, the agency may later reassign that individual to another position at the same grade within that agency without additional waiver action.
- SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT To minimally qualify for the GS-1102-14 Supervisory Contract Specialist position, applicants must demonstrate one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience must demonstrate all of the following: Leading or performing the full range of pre-award and post-award contracting functions for complex, high-dollar, or high-risk acquisitions, including acquisition planning, solicitation development, evaluation of proposals, negotiation, award, administration, modification, and closeout.
Applying expert knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA), and related federal procurement statutes and policies to develop acquisition strategies, resolve complex contracting issues, and provide authoritative guidance to contracting officers, program officials, and senior leadership. Developing, interpreting, or implementing acquisition policies, procedures, or agency-wide procurement guidance, including integrating acquisition processes with financial or automated procurement systems and ensuring compliance with federal reporting requirements. Managing or overseeing major procurement programs or complex contract actions such as research and development, prototype systems, long-term service contracts, construction or renovation projects, or real property lease acquisitions.
Conducting or overseeing contract administration and compliance activities, including performance monitoring, evaluation of contractor cost and progress, resolution of performance issues, and review of complex or unusual contract actions for regulatory and policy compliance. Supervising or leading contracting staff, including assigning work, evaluating performance, providing technical direction, resolving employee issues, and contributing to workforce planning or organizational improvements. Engaging with senior government officials, industry representatives, and stakeholders to negotiate acquisition objectives, resolve disputes, and secure agreement on complex or sensitive contracting matters.
Communicating complex acquisition concepts, policies, and recommendations through written guidance, reports, briefings, or presentations to senior leadership or cross-functional teams. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and 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
The incumbent is the Supervisory Contract Specialist and is a Deputy Director in the Agency's Office of Procurement and shares full responsibility and authority with the Director for planning, directing, and supervising the full range of procurement operations. The incumbent is recognized as a technical expert in acquisition policies; provides guidance in acquisition efforts to ensure compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation, the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act, and other statutes, executive orders, and initiatives affecting federal procurement. The incumbent serves as the agency-wide expert in a functional area of procurement.
The incumbent is the recognized agency procurement expert and advises on contracting actions, including policy interpretation. As a Deputy Director in the Office of Procurement, the incumbent may serve as the Agency's Deputy Head of the Contracting Activity (HCA) and consults with and advises the Senior Procurement Executive (SPE). The incumbent plans, directs, supervises, and performs the full range of pre-award and post-award contract functions and leads the development and implementation of acquisition policies and procedures.
The incumbent manages and administers procurement actions for large, complex acquisitions in major agency components. The incumbent is the Deputy Head of the Contracting Activity and provides expert technical leadership and consultation in contract compliance and contractor performance for high-risk agency programs and projects. Supervises a group of employees performing work up to the GS-14 level.
Provides administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the unit. Performs the administrative and human resource management functions relative to the staff supervised. Plans, schedules, and assigns work to subordinates.
Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff members, provides feedback, and periodically evaluates employee performance. Provides advice, counsel, and/or instruction to staff members. Recommends or approves appointments, selections, or reassignments to positions appropriate to the selection authority delegated.
Effects disciplinary measures as appropriate to the authority delegated in this area. Carries out Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and program activities.
Education
Education is not substitutable for specialized experience at this grade level. ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY?
You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.
PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis.
If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
How You Will Be Evaluated
Once the announcement has closed, a review of your reΜsumeΜ and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified, your reΜsumeΜ and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. If, after reviewing your reΜsumeΜ and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position.
Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics): To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.
In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies.
You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered.
You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Veterans' Preference and Category Rating: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.
Additional Information
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.
If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.
You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/28980686389652-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information) If you are an eligible Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicant, you may apply for special selection over other applicants for this position. Individuals who have special priority selection rights under the CTAP or ICTAP must be well qualified for the position.
To be well qualified, applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and meet the mid-level (scoring between 85 and 89) of the rating criteria for all factors or the established cutoff score. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice; a "Notice of Personnel Action" (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456. Additional information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
This vacancy announcement may be used to fill future vacancies for identical positions within the next year. Relocation expenses are not authorized. Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position. CSOSA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Position is Mission Essential and is not subject to administrative dismissal in emergencies based on inclement weather conditions, or other emergency situations, as appropriate. A Mission Essential employee is required to report for, or remain at, work in emergency situations; dismissal or closure announcements do not apply to him/her unless his/her supervisor instructs otherwise.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email.
The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link.
Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments.
You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/.
Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.
Required Documents
You must submit a complete Application Package which includes: -Your responses to the Online Occupational Questionnaire (This is completed automatically during the apply online process). To apply for this position, - Your resume' showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed. - Other supporting documents: - Cover Letter, optional - College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education - Most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held (if applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service) - DD-214, SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities. https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans. - Noncompetitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable - Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program Documentation, if applicable (e.g. Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and will not be considered any further.