CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS SPECIALIST

Summary

This position is located within the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)), under the Office of the Executive Director and directly supports !he Acquisition Service Office.

Duties

Incumbents typical work assignments may include the following:

• Delivers technical, analytical, and administrative support for contracting, Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs), interagency agreements, and acquisition-of-service actions within the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)).
• Reviews funding-data packages for contract awards, incremental funding actions, and interagency agreements.
• Researches emerging acquisition policies, statutory updates, and national-defense priorities, including small business initiatives and prototyping pathways.
• Refines operational workflows and escalates complex or sensitive issues to the Senior Contract & Agreements Manager, Contracting Officer, or other authorities as needed.
• Compiles and analyzes organizational inventory and spend data for contracted services, identifies trends and cost drivers, seeks efficiencies, and works with program offices to resolve documentation deficiencies before submitting to the SRRB or servicing contracting activities.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
• Total salary varies depending on location of position
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
• Must be determined suitable for federal employment
• Required to participate in the direct deposit program
• This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing
• The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI (Special Sensitive) security clearance.
• This position may require 25% travel away from your normal duty station for official business on military or commercial aircraft.
• Situational telework may be authorized and is subject to the express approval of the supervisor for weather and safety purposes only.
• This position is NOT approved for overtime.
• This critical acquisition position requires certification in the acquisition functional area of contracting. This position requires a Contracting, Practitioner acquisition certification. The incumbent has 36 months to achieve this certification.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements described below.

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1100/general-business-and-industry-series-1101b/

You may qualify at the NH-3 (GS-12/13) level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the NH-2 (GS-11) grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability in:

• Applying knowledge of contracting laws, principles, and regulations.
• Applying knowledge of policies, processes, procedures, and regulations governing budgetary and financial processes.
• Applying knowledge of procurement and non-procurement laws, regulations, and procedures including contracting methods and types of acquisition instruments, business and negotiation strategies, techniques of cost analysis and evaluation of contractor financial capability, methods of monitoring the performance of long-term contracts and agreements with multiple participants, and contract and agreement administration.
• Applying program evaluation factors and techniques to assess program accomplishments and to identify resource and programmatic requirements.

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.

All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.

Your resume may not exceed two (2) pages. For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.

Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission.. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible". Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience.

Additional information

Probationary Periods: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

- your performance and conduct;

- the needs and interests of the agency;

- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and

- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing an online application, you may request an alternative application. Please send an email to the following address for information on how to obtain an alternative application: [redacted]

Reemployed Annuitants: Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. /www.esd.whs.mil/DD/DoD-Issuances/140025/

Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative.

Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.