CONTRACT SPECIALIST

Summary

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DOD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. About the Position: This announcement will fill a few vacancies for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with duty locations as specified in the announcement. The incumbent serves as a Contract Specialist managing full-lifecycle pre-award and post-award civil works procurement actions.

Duties

• •Perform acquisition planning and develop contractual strategies with technical teams to support regional civil works, construction, and service requirements.
• •Draft solicitation packages, analyze proposals, and perform cost or price analysis to ensure compliant, fair, and reasonable contract awards.
• •Plan, prepare, and lead contract negotiations for competitive and sole-source actions to establish solid technical terms and pricing objectives.
• •Manage post-award contract administration by monitoring contractor performance, reviewing invoices, and conducting site visits to verify compliance.
• •Negotiate contract modifications, resolve complex disputes or claims, and execute closeouts or terminations for convenience or default.

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; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Basic Requirement for Contract Specialist: Degree: 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: GS-07 Specialized Experience Requirement: To qualify for the GS-07 grade level, applicants must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service in at least 3 of the following areas: 1. Assist in conducting basic market research by searching databases and contacting vendors to identify potential sources for routine supplies or services. OR 2. Prepare and assemble standard solicitation packages and simple contract files, ensuring all required routine clauses and administrative documents are included. OR 3. Review contractor invoices and payment requests against terms to verify accuracy and confirm delivery receipt before recommending payment. OR 4. Maintain and organize official pre-award and post-award contract files, tracking key milestones and deadlines to assist with timely contract closeouts. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level (GS-05) position in the federal service. GS-09 Specialized Experience Requirement: To qualify for the GS-09 grade level, applicants must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service in at least 3 of the following areas: 1. Assist with draft solicitations, amendments, and public notices for standard supplies or services, ensuring compliance with established procurement regulations. OR 2. Perform price analyses on competitive quotes and bids by comparing vendor prices to historical data, independent estimates, or current market rates. OR 3. Draft routine contract modifications, such as administrative changes, extensions, or funding actions, for review and signature. OR 4. Monitor contractor performance on active awards, checking delivery schedules and communicating with technical staff to resolve routine delivery or service issues. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level (GS-07) position in the federal service. GS-11 Specialized Experience Requirement: To qualify for the GS-11 grade level, applicants must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service in at least 3 of the following areas: 1. Develop pre-award documentation (i.e.; acquisition plans, and/or solicitations for procurements, services, or contracts). OR 2. Conduct cost and price analyses on non-competitive proposals, including reviewing subcontractor cost structures, evaluating historical audit data, and preparing pre-negotiation positions. OR 3. Participate in or lead contract negotiations on competitive and sole-source actions to establish fair and reasonable pricing, clear performance terms, and acceptable profit margins, or draft pre/post-negotiation documentation. OR 4. Manage and evaluate multi-year contracts, performance, modifications, negotiating equitable adjustments, and resolving contractor claims or disputes. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level (GS-09) position in the federal service. GS-12 Specialized Experience Requirement: To qualify for the GS-12 grade level, applicants must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service in at least 3 of the following areas: 1. Performing pre-award, post-award and close-out work for various contracting projects, and monitor contract performance OR 2. Serve as lead contracting representative or assist in guiding stakeholders through proposal evaluation, price/cost analysis and contract award. OR 3. Participate in high-value negotiations, including modifications, profit analysis and audits. OR 4. Performing work associated with contractual issues such as contractor defaults, terminations for convenience, and /or major claims. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11). Qualification requirement: Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/