Business Specialist (Contracting Officer's Representative)

Customs and Border Protection•Harpers Ferry, WV

8h•Onsite

About The Position

This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Training and Development, Financial Operations Division, in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The Business Specialist supports CBP’s mission by managing acquisition and procurement requests and providing contract oversight. Additional selections may be made for other organizational divisions or units at the listed duty location. The role creates and reviews purchase request packages and related acquisition materials; coordinates with budget staff, site points of contact, subject matter experts, Contracting Officers, Local Property Officers, vendors, project managers, and program offices; supports contract awards; and monitors assigned contracts. Within delegated authority, the incumbent serves as a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), conducting surveillance, verifying contractor performance, processing approved invoices, documenting performance issues, supporting modifications, and preparing performance narratives and ratings. The position is advertised at GS-11 through GS-12, with a salary range of $85,447 to $133,142 and promotion potential to GS-12. The incumbent must have or obtain DHS FAC-COR Level II certification, or complete the required reinstatement requirements, within 90 days of employment. This is a bargaining-unit position represented by the National Treasury Employees Union. New federal employees generally serve a one-year probationary period.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
For males born after December 31, 1959, registration with Selective Service.
For applicants not currently employed by CBP, physical residence in the United States or its protectorates for at least three of the last five years, subject to possible waiver exceptions.
Ability to complete all pre-employment processes in English and pass a background investigation; CBP drug testing procedures apply.
Meet applicable qualification and time-in-grade requirements by October 16, 2026. Current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band.
GS-11 experience route: one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, including supporting reviews of purchase request packages, funding documents, or acquisition materials; supporting acquisition or award activities; tracking procurement or contract activities; using financial, procurement, or business systems such as SAP or similar systems; and helping resolve routine procurement or contract administration issues.
GS-11 education substitution: a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. from an accredited college or university. Proof is required.
GS-11 applicants may combine qualifying post-high-school education and experience, with the combined percentages totaling at least 100 percent of the applicable requirement.
GS-12 experience route: one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, including independently reviewing acquisition and contract materials for accuracy and compliance; coordinating technical bid or quote evaluations and award documentation; administering contracts as a COR or equivalent; resolving complex procurement or contract issues; and supporting contract modifications and performance inputs.
The resume must explicitly demonstrate how the applicant meets the specialized experience requirement; otherwise the applicant will be found ineligible.
Obtain DHS FAC-COR Level II certification or complete the required DHS FAC-COR Level II reinstatement requirements within 90 days of employment.
New federal employees must serve a one-year probationary period during the first year of their initial permanent federal appointment; current or former federal employees may also be required to serve or complete a probationary period.
Employees must comply with applicable government ethics standards, including obtaining approval for outside employment or business activities when required.

Responsibilities

Create and review purchase request packages for accuracy, completeness, and compliance, including Bills of Materials, Independent Government Cost Estimates, Statements of Work or Performance Work Statements, market research reports, executive summaries, funding documentation, and related acquisition materials.
Coordinate with budget staff, site points of contact, subject matter experts, Contracting Officers, Local Property Officers, vendors, project managers, and program offices to resolve procurement discrepancies, obtain funding approvals, support equipment delivery, and document contract-related issues and resolutions.
Support the contract award process by assisting with technical reviews of bids or quotes, updating purchase request documentation, adjusting procurement lines in official systems to reflect final award pricing, and notifying stakeholders of awards, equipment arrivals, or service start dates.
Monitor assigned contracts, periods of performance, deliverables, contractor payment requests, activities, costs, and performance to support continuity of services, timely completion, and compliance with cost, schedule, and performance requirements.
Within delegated authority, conduct contract surveillance as a Contracting Officer’s Representative, verify contractor performance, process approved invoices, document performance issues, support contract modifications, and prepare official contract performance narratives and ratings.
At the GS-12 level, independently analyze procurement and acquisition materials for compliance; coordinate technical evaluations and align technical, funding, schedule, and pricing information for awards; administer assigned contracts; resolve complex administration issues; and support modifications and contractor performance assessments such as CPARS narratives or ratings.