Contract Specialist

Positions under this announcement are being filled using a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) .

For information on the Recruitment Incentive please reference the Additional Information section of this announcement.

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OTHER IRS CAREERS? Visit us on the web at .

WHAT IS THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT DIVISION?

Vacancies will be filled in the following specialty areas: PROCUREMENT.

The following are the duties of this position at the full working level:

1. Advises and supports OCPO Senior Managers and Executives in developing and directing controls for IRS procurement and contract programs. Consults with and furnishes authoritative advice and guidance to staff. The employee is responsible for devising sophisticated pricing arrangements and for managing all contractual aspects of the services and systems acquisition process. Primary point of contact and authority for OCPO Senior Managers and Executives on acquisition approaches and alternatives, market analysis and outcomes that drive the acquisition approaches for major procurement of supplies, services (including information technology, architectural and engineering, or research and development) using broad authority and oversight within warrant level to legally bind and obligate agency funding through contract issue cure notices and terminate contracts for convenience or default.
2. Takes a leadership role in coordinating and representing the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer on complicated and controversial acquisition issues with all impacted parties. The employee must be prepared to defend the acquisition strategy, competition approach, or award summary or other positions due to challenges from a variety of entities such as congressional staff members, state government, or other federal government authorities such as Government Accountability Office. Serves as a leader for the short- and long-range planning, development, coordination, and implementation of very broad and complex procurements that impact support services and information technology for Internal Revenue business units. Knowledge of related disciplines and functions involved in the acquisition process, such as design or system engineering, integrated logistics support, financial management, and their interrelationships with contracting. Advises and supports the OCPO Senior Managers and Executives, Program Managers, and COR's in developing and directing controls for IRS procurement and contract programs.
3. Develops and maintains innovative contractual language, terms, and conditions. Serves as a program contractual authority and advisor on the acceptability and applicability of contractual matters related to procurement actions. Interprets and applies Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Department of Treasury Acquisition Regulations (DTAR), and Internal Revenue Service Acquisition Procedures (IRSAP) to every acquisition regardless of type of procurement and dollar threshold. Responsible for reviewing acquisitions strategies recommended by program officials to ensure accuracy, quality, adherence to FAR, DTAR, and IRSAP prior to approving streamlined and innovative acquisition strategies that bring the greatest value to the IRS mission.
4. Serves as the subject matter expert for other contracting professionals in the Office of Procurement Operations by utilizing experience, knowledge, and training to guide, coach, and mentor contracting professionals through establishing acquisition strategies, navigating challenging procurements, responding to protests, responding to Freedom of Information Act requests, responding to congressional inquiries, drafting negotiation strategies, drafting award decisions, analyzing the impact of new legislation, and procurement policies on procurement actions.
5. Approves acquisition strategies, evaluation criteria, appoints contracting officer technical representatives, award decisions, negotiation strategies. Participates and collaborates with IRS senior executives, program managers, attorneys, small business specialists, procurement policy, and senior procurement executives on contract review board prior to approving acquisition strategy.

Federal experience is not required. The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector, or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.

You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement:

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADE 13 & ABOVE:

You must have completed 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' experience in contracting or related positions. At least 1 year of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level of the position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of the position.

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.

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 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, 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.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-15 LEVEL:

To be minimally qualified for the position you must have one (1) year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-14 level. Specialized experience is defined as experience demonstrating mastery of the principles and practices of acquisition planning, contract formation, partnering with government and industry, administration, and resolution of disputes and claims, and providing procurement advice and counsel to agency program managers and executives; Responsible for overseeing the development and execution of the contracting portion of project management plans; Ensuring the award and administration of contracts complies with applicable contracting laws, directives, and policies; Managing the procurement of all types of equipment, supplies and/or services using multiple acquisition strategies including competition or contracting by negotiations, settlement of terminations for convenience and default, claims for delay and disruption, and resolution of contractor performance issues. Experience applying communicative techniques to interact with internal and external customers effectively and diplomatically.

For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards .