Contract Specialist

Office of the Secretary•Washington, DC

About The Position

The Contract Specialist works in the Office of the Secretary within the Department of Commerce, providing life-cycle acquisition services for a diverse customer base. The role develops, coordinates, and implements initiatives that advance the agency’s mission through acquisition services. The specialist holds unlimited Contracting Officer warrant authority and serves as a Contracting Officer, negotiating terms and conditions to achieve best value on highly complex, multimillion-dollar contracts. The position directs purchasing and contract administration activities from market research and acquisition planning through solicitation, award, modifications, administration, and closeout. It ensures compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations, statutes, policies, and departmental and local supplements. The specialist collaborates with stakeholders to define business requirements, fosters collaboration among technical, legal, fiscal, and acquisition representatives, monitors office-wide performance and resolves issues affecting acquisition Service Level Agreements, and advises executives and senior leaders on acquisition matters and resource-allocation strategies. This announcement may also be used to fill other Contract Specialist ZA-1102-5, FPL 5 positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical location or local commuting area, with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Successfully pass a background investigation, which may include a credit check and review of financial issues, certain criminal offenses, and illegal use or possession of drugs.
Meet the mandatory contracting training and experience requirements for progression to GS-13/ZA-04 or higher-level contracting positions, including at least four years of contracting or related experience and at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the next lower level, unless the requirements are waived by the senior procurement executive.
Have a four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in an approved field, unless the education requirement is waived by the senior procurement executive.
Obtain FAC-C (Professional) or DoD Contracting Professional Certification.
Have one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-14 level in the Federal service.
Specialized experience must include serving as an advisor or authority on acquisition operations and policies; researching, analyzing, and interpreting the FAR and acquisition-related statutes and policies, including the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul; advising senior executives and officials; performing acquisition planning and pre-award, award, and post-award work for supplies and services, including negotiating and awarding complex, high-visibility contracts and modifications; and evaluating cost/price proposals using cost/price analysis techniques.
Submit copies of required certificates and transcripts to document education and certifications; failure to provide them may result in ineligibility.
Foreign education must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency, with required evaluation documentation submitted with the application.
A probationary period may be required.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with or exempt from Selective Service.
Complete and certify an Optional Form 306 if given a conditional offer.
Federal salary payments must be made by direct deposit.

Responsibilities

Perform life-cycle acquisition services for a diverse customer base.
Develop, coordinate, and implement initiatives that advance the agency mission related to acquisition services.
Serve as a Contracting Officer with unlimited warrant authority and negotiate terms and conditions to achieve best value on highly complex, multimillion-dollar contracts.
Direct purchasing and contract administration, including preparing market research reports, acquisition plans, solicitations, contract awards, and modifications, and administering contracts through closeout.
Ensure compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations, statutes, policies, and Departmental and local office supplements.
Collaborate with stakeholders to define business requirements.
Create a collaborative environment with technical, legal, fiscal, and acquisition representatives to achieve mission success.
Monitor office-wide performance activity and resolve problems needed to meet acquisition Service Level Agreements.
Advise the Director for Acquisitions and other senior leaders on acquisition matters and build stakeholder consensus on strategies for more efficient resource allocation.
Provide acquisition guidance and counsel to senior officials; conduct acquisition planning and pre-award, award, and post-award work; evaluate cost and price proposals; and negotiate and award complex contracts and modifications.