Contract Specialist

Summary About the Position: This position is in the Lakes Contracting Division which is co-located with the US Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, where you will perform a full range of contract actions including formal contract formulation, preparation, negotiation, and administration of Architect-Engineer (A-E), professional services, construction, maintenance services, commercial items and services, utilities, cooperative and interagency agreements and emergency management. Responsibilities Apply knowledge and utilization of both efficient procurement processes and good business management to ensure timely delivery of goods and services to the customer. Utilize innovation for strategic decision-making in the acquisition process. Conducts negotiated contract actions; including initial contract award, delivery orders, and modifications during administration. Perform cost and price analysis for all negotiations to determine fair and reasonableness of price. Throughout the life of the A/E, supply, and service contracts, maintains liaison with the contractor to interpret contractual obligations and to resolve problems. Terminate contracts for default or convenience and negotiates settlements. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience and your transcripts are required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Basic Requirement for Contract Specialist GS-5/7/9/11: A Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees. OR Exemption: You are exempt from the education requirements above if (A) you are a current civilian employee in DoD who occupied GS-1102 positions or contracting positions with authority to award or administer contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold in an Executive Department on or before September 30, 2000; OR (B) you are a current military member who occupied a similar occupational specialty to the GS (or equivalent)-1102 on or before September 30, 2000. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: For GS-5: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees. OR Exemption: You are exempt from the education requirements above if (A) you are a current civilian employee in DoD who occupied GS-1102 positions or contracting positions with authority to award or administer contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold in an Executive Department on or before September 30, 2000; OR (B) you are a current military member who occupied a similar occupational specialty to the GS (or equivalent)-1102 on or before September 30, 2000. For GS-07: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes performing contracting and procurement work such as: assisting in applying contracting methods to perform pre-award, post-award, and/or price analysis functions; assisting in researching market conditions to evaluate bid responsiveness, contractor responsibility, and/or contractor performance; utilizing statutes and regulations to perform procurement functions; or similar contracting work. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05). OR One full year of graduate level education in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. OR Superior Academic Achievement: Successful completion of all the requirements for a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement. In order to be creditable under this provision, Superior Academic Achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled, such as that identified in Education above. Superior Academic Achievement is based on: (1) Class Standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses; OR (2) Grade-Point Average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of either (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.; OR (3) Honor Society Membership - Applicants may be considered eligible based on membership in one of the approved national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (chsnatl.org/). For GS-09: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes performing contracting and procurement work such as: applying contracting methods to perform pre-award, post-award, and/or price analysis functions; researching market conditions to evaluate bid responsiveness, contractor responsibility, and/or contractor performance; utilizing statutes and regulations to perform procurement functions; or similar contracting work. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07). OR Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. For GS-11: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes performing contracting and procurement work such as: procuring a wide variety of products and services; administering terms and conditions of contracts; follow-up with vendors on delivery, invoicing, and payment; performing price/cost analysis to determine price reasonableness; or similar contracting work. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09). OR A Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. Education FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: d.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/ Additional Information Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. One year trial/probationary period may be required. Direct Deposit of Pay is required. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. This is a Contracting and Acquisition Career Field position. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.