Contract Specialist

U.S. Coast Guard•Alexandria, VA

13d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a GS-1102-11/12 Contract Specialist position with the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, C5I, located in Alexandria, Virginia. The specialist develops and implements acquisition strategies supporting the Coast Guard C5I Program Executive Officer’s major contracting programs and provides business advice to the C5I-PEO acquisition community. The position performs cradle-to-grave contracting work, including market research, proposal evaluation, acquisition planning, negotiation preparation, and contract administration-related activities. The role also serves as a technical consultant to contracting leadership and collaborates with project officers on acquisition plans and strategies. Mandatory training and Federal acquisition certifications must be completed within the specified timeframes. A positive education requirement applies, in addition to the experience or permitted education substitution requirements for the grade level. The position does not require a security clearance. A one-year probationary period may be required.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Must be registered for or exempt from Selective Service.
Meet the positive education requirement: a bachelor's degree in any field, or at least 24 semester hours in an eligible subject area (accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management).
For GS-11, at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09, including experience such as developing negotiation positions, conducting negotiations, ensuring regulatory compliance, and executing contracts using varied contract types, acquisition strategies, and source-selection methods; alternatively, qualifying graduate education or a combination of education and experience may be used as described in the announcement.
For GS-12, at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11, including experience such as developing negotiation positions, conducting negotiations, ensuring regulatory compliance, executing contracts using varied contract types, acquisition strategies, and source-selection methods, performing contract administration, conducting sophisticated cost and financial analysis, and leading negotiations for modifications involving programs with interrelated contracts.
Submit required transcripts by the announcement closing date if qualifying based wholly or partly on education or if required coursework applies.
Successfully pass a background investigation.
Federal salary payments must be made by direct deposit.
Disclose current or recent covered political appointment status to the HR office, if applicable.
Complete required USA Hire assessments within the deadline stated in the assessment invitation, if required.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement acquisition strategies supporting the C5I Program Executive Officer’s important contracting programs.
Evaluate critical and complex proposals.
Provide business advice to the C5I-PEO acquisition community.
Perform cradle-to-grave contract functions, including market research and analysis to support program objectives, measure accomplishments, evaluate risks, and consider contingencies.
Serve as a technical consultant to the Contracting Officer and Supervisory Contract Specialist on complex acquisition questions.
Collaborate with project officers to develop long- and short-range acquisition plans, strategies, and approaches for program goals.
Develop pre-negotiation positions and prepare acquisition documentation, including Determination and Findings and pre- and post-negotiation memoranda.
Complete mandatory training, including Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers Level I (FAC P/PM-I) or a management-determined equivalent within two years of entry into the position.
Meet the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) Professional certification requirement within 36 months of entering on duty.