Contract Specialist

Where You Will Work:

Sigma Science, Inc. (Sigma) is a New Mexico-based, small business that provides comprehensive engineering and technology services to federal and commercial clients. We solve our client’s most demanding challenges by hiring best-in-class leaders and employees, and partnering with trusted companies, industry leaders, and universities. Since 1996, we have delivered technical expertise and innovative solutions to complex problems across the national security enterprise, with a focus on the nuclear industry. The key to our success is our people. Join our dynamic team as we provide industry recognized experts in a wide variety of technical fields including nuclear surety & safety, information technology & cybersecurity, mission assurance, nuclear security & non-proliferation, and environmental management.

What You Will Do:

Contract Specialist position will provide support to the Contracting Officer, the Contracting Officer's Representative, and other Contract Specialists including supporting pre-award and post-award functions for both contracts and financial assistance instruments, including price/cost analysis, and administrative duties for a variety of services and supplies, using differing contract types (pricing arrangements) and in support of a wide variety of efforts such as research, development, testing, evaluation, and/or production activities. The contract specialist is expected to demonstrate initiative in performing all assigned tasks, identify problem areas, and take action to solve problems with a minimal amount of management oversight.

Assisting other contract specialists and the contracting officer, in the close-out of grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts. The close-out process involves assuring that final rate agreements have been obtained and final invoices processed resolving issues, due to the difference between provisional rates and final rates. The process involves several additional steps as follows: Reconciling fiscal data between the recipient/Awardee and the DOE fiscal system; Tracking down government property and assuring final disposition; Obtaining copies of final audit reports; Obtaining a statement from the Program Manager as to the acceptance of the final deliverable; Obtaining a patent clearance from the Chicago Patent Office; De-obligating any remaining funds; Assuring that cost share requirements are met; and working with General Counsel when unusual circumstances occur. Close-out tasks often involve providing information to the CO concerning indirect costs, property, and collecting final reports on financial assistance awards.

Contract Specialist duties and responsibilities may include any or all the following:

• Assisting in preparing and coordinating approval Requests for Proposals (RFPs); Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs); and other required solicitation documents that define to prospective contractors the nature and extent of the work to be performed, the anticipated contractual approach or assistance approach, the selection and negotiation process, and other information which would assist in the preparation of the requested solicitation.
• Supporting the development of contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other types of contractual or financial assistance arrangements that set forth the project scope of work, cost clauses, general terms and conditions, special requirements clauses, etc. for approval by the Contracting Officer (CO).
• Gathering information about potential awardees for the Determination of Responsibility. This involves obtaining copies of past performance data, confirming the Central Contractor Registration, obtaining lists of actions on the Procurement and Assistance Data System (PADS), checking the General Services Administration Excluded Parties Listing, verifying deliverable history, obtaining copies of financial audits and following up on any findings, and doing ad hoc research about the awardee.
• Assisting with the administration of grants and cooperative agreements by tracking the receipt of required deliverables. Coordinating acceptance of the final deliverable with the CS. Maintaining records of extensions on deliverables, providing information to the CS concerning extensions/waivers, and making phone calls or sending emails to collect deliverables.
• Assisting with the administration of grants and cooperative agreements by noting changes in principal investigators, business officers, phone numbers, email addresses, mailing addresses, etc. of the awardees. Assuring the CS is aware of the changes and prepares administrative amendments to reflect the changes; Assuring that the key data fields are complete, and the data provided is consistent. Notifying the CS and contacting the Awardee when the awardees are not keeping Central Contractors Registry (CCR) current.

What You Need (Minimum Requirements)

• Knowledge of administrative management principles and practices with knowledge of the principles and techniques required to plan and carry out the procurement and administration of contracts and financial assistance.
• Working knowledge of federal laws and regulations pertaining to contracting.
• Working knowledge of:
• (i) the principles and theories of management and administration
• (ii) accounting principles and practices
• (iii) cost and pricing theories and techniques
• (iv) economic and financial analysis
• (v) the business acumen to utilize this knowledge in the most prudent manner
• Knowledge to compile, analyze, and evaluate data in the procurement and contracts field to use in the development of contractual and financial assistance arrangements.

Desired:

1) Possession of one year of specialized DOE/Federal Contract Specialist experience. Specialized experience is defined as: experience applying contracting regulations that may require extensive adaptation and a significant degree of interpretation to perform a full range of pre-award and post-award Federal contracting and financial assistance duties.

2) Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees and/or 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. (This requirement can be obtained within a degree or outside a degree.)

Benefits and Salary:

• $104-175k depending on experience
• 10 holidays and 15 days of PTO
• Medical, dental, and vision
• FSA, HSA, and 401K
• STD, LTD, and AD&D
• Supplemental Voluntary Insurance Options and EAP
• Tuition Reimbursement and Professional Development
• Profit Sharing and Incentive Bonuses

EEO/AAP Statement:

Sigma Science Inc. (Sigma) is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer that strives to develop and maintain a diverse workforce. Whatever your intersection of identities, you are welcome at Sigma. We are committed to inclusivity and promoting an equitable environment that values and respects the uniqueness of all members of our organization.