Contract Specialist

Western Area Power Administration • Lakewood, CO

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Contract Specialist performs pre- and post-award functions for simplified and complex multidisciplinary procurements supporting WAPA’s mission. The work covers supplies, services, information technology, construction, Architect-Engineer (A&E) contracts, and interagency agreements (IAAs). This is not a remote position; the selectee must be physically present at one of the identified duty locations.

The specialist advises program officials on acquisition planning, market research, socioeconomic programs, and contract strategy. The position plans, negotiates, leads, awards, and administers complex procurements under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), coordinating actions with program and support offices. It also involves comprehensive contract administration, including modifications, claims, disputes, contractor performance, COR direction, payment approvals, and closeouts.

The position is at the GS-12 level and full performance level. Applicants must meet the stated education or coursework requirement, have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11, and hold a Federal Acquisition Contracting-Certification (FAC-C) Professional or DAWIA Professional certification upon selection and maintain it. A valid, current state driver’s license is required. The selectee may be required to complete an annual financial disclosure. The position may be eligible for a recruitment or relocation incentive, subject to an employment agreement; PCS costs are not authorized.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Must be suitable for Federal employment as determined by a background investigation.
• Must have a valid and current state driver’s license.
• Must obtain and maintain FAC-C Professional certification through FAI or DAWIA Professional certification through DAU upon selection.
• For GS-12 qualification, must have a four-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree in any field, or at least 24 semester hours in a specified combination of fields including accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.
• Must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11 performing pre- and post-award functions on simplified and complex contracts in one or more listed procurement areas.
• Must provide college transcripts to verify education; education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Resume must be no more than two pages.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• A financial disclosure (OGE-450) may be required upon reporting and annually thereafter.
• Selected applicants from outside DOE under the DHA must serve a mandatory one-year probationary period; some DOE career status employees may be required to serve a new one-year probationary period.

Nice To Haves

• Applicants are encouraged to respond to four short, free-response essay questions in the questionnaire; answers are not scored or rated.

Responsibilities

• Advise program officials on acquisition planning, market research, socioeconomic programs, and contract strategy to support mission objectives.
• Plan, negotiate, lead, award, and administer complex procurements for supplies, services, IT, construction, A&E requirements, and interagency agreements under the FAR.
• Coordinate procurement actions with relevant personnel, program offices, and support offices.
• Serve as lead negotiator for highly complex acquisitions when needed.
• Administer contracts, including managing modifications, processing claims, settling disputes, monitoring contractor performance, directing CORs, approving payments, and conducting closeouts.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for employees and their families.
• Potential eligibility for a recruitment or relocation incentive, subject to signing an employment agreement.
• Potential creditable service toward annual leave based on qualifying prior federal service, job-related non-federal experience, or active-duty uniformed military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level