Summary About the Position: This is a developmental position to learn and apply the contracting and procurement fundamentals necessary to conduct market research, determine acquisition strategy, prepare and issue solicitations, evaluate bids and proposals, and prepare and execute award of contracts. Recruitment/Relocation incentives are not authorized. Responsibilities Performs all pre-award contracting functions which require the use of firm fixed-price, cost-reimbursement, time-and-materials, labor-hour, or a combination of contract methods etc. Provides guidance on the use of the Government Purchase Card (GPC) program to internal customers, and oversees the administration of the overall GPC program for the District, as assigned. Performs all post-award contract management, administrative, and closeout functions on contracts up to the most highly complex, high-dollar services. Prepares responses to congressional inquiries, processes all required documents for insurance, bonds, etc., as required by policy, regulation, applicable law, and/or Executive Orders. Identifies training needs required to improve production or quality of work products / procedures. 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; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. This position has a positive education requirement based on the occupational series under which you are applying. Education above the high school level must have been completed in a U.S. college, university, or other educational institution that has been accredited by one of the accrediting agencies or associations recognized by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education. Applicants must meet one of the below requirements in order to meet the Basic Education Requirement for this position. Basic Requirement for Contract Specialist: Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) from an accredited educational institution and 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. (The 24 semester hour requirement can be obtained within the bachelor's degree OR in addition to the degree.)-OR-Exemption: You are exempt from the education requirements above if (A) you are a current DoD employee, in any occupational series, who has served on or before September 30, 2000, as follows: (1) Served as a GS/equivalent-1102 position or contracting officer position with authority to award or administer contracts above the SAT in any Federal agency, OR (2) Served as a military member in a comparable military occupational specialty; OR (B) you are a current member of the armed forces who occupied a position within an occupational specialty similar to the GS-1102 series 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: One year of specialized experience which includes assisting with preparing bid proposals and awarding contracts and/or subcontracts. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-05). -OR- Education: 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 (https://www.achsnatl.org/). GS-09 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes assisting in resolving contract administration issues in areas such as applying statutory and policy procurement, administration of firm-fixed price contracts, or alternatives for best value supplies and services for various projects. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07). -OR- Education: 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. GS-11 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes assisting in pre award and post award functions such as price/cost analysis, negotiation, and administration of complex contracts, such as multi-million dollar, multi-year projects for construction or services. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09). -OR- Education: 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. GS-12 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes assisting in pre award and post award functions such as price/cost analysis, negotiation, and administration of complex contracts, such as multi-million dollar, multi-year projects for construction or services. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11). Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For the GS-12, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted. 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/ 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. This position requires you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) or a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter. 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 Career Field position - Contracting and Acquisition position. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowance is not authorized.