Contract Specialist (Direct Hire)

If selected for this position, you will serve as a Contract Specialist in the United States Attorney's Office (USAO), Southern District of Texas. Typical duties include:

• Provides guidance to technical personnel involved in the development of routine statements of work, performance work statements and/or statements of objectives.
• Maintains funds status to ensure that sufficient funds are obligated on the contract; monitors funds expenditures to ensure over- or under-obligation does not occur on awards.
• Ensures timely closeout of contracts to include final acceptance and payment documentation.
• Evaluates, in conjunction with subject matter experts, technical personnel and other staff, offers
  including technical analysis, past performance review and price analysis.

Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress

Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen or National.
• Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory pre-employment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation
• You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
• If selected, you may be required to complete a one year probationary period.
• You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
• Incumbent must be able to obtain the appropriate Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) certification.

Qualifications

***Must be able to attain and retain at least a level 1 (one) Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) as a federal contracting professional. FAC-C has specific training requirements with some courses online as well as classroom courses. The person selected is expected to obtain a FAC-C within one year of the date of hire. To maintain a FAC-C, contract professionals are required to meet the continuous training requirement.***

To be QUALIFIED for this position, you must meet BOTH the basic requirements and the minimum qualifications.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have ONE (1) of the following:

• A four (4) year course of study leading to a Bachelor's Degree in any field of study from an accredited college or university;

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 from an accredited college or university.

OR

• Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy GS-1102 positions at grades 5 through 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified at GS-12. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade 12. However, employees must meet specialized experience requirements when seeking another position.

You must submit your transcripts (unofficial or official) to verify basic qualifications for this position or you will be disqualified.

In addition to meeting the Basic Qualification Requirements as described above, applicants must also meet the minimum qualifications as defined below:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

To be eligible at the GS-09 level, you must meet at least ONE of the following conditions, as defined below: Specialized Experience, Education, or a Combination of Specialized Experience and Education.

Specialized Experience: To be qualified at the GS-09 level you must possess one full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the GS-7 level in the federal service, or equivalent experience in the private or public sector that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position.

Specialized experience is defined as experience assisting with preparing contract solicitation and/or award documentation; purchasing supplies and/or services; assisting with contract negotiations; reviewing requisitions and/or documents to determine appropriate method of procurement.

OR

Education: One of the following types of graduate education in one or a combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management: a master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or an LL. B or J.D.

OR

Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. In order to qualify based on a combination, graduate education must be in excess of one full year.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE CAN NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

This position has promotion potential to the GS-11. At the full performance level, GS-11, you will be required to obtain and retain the appropriate FAC-C Professional certification. FAC-C has specific training requirements with some courses online and in the classroom and a proctored credentialing exam. To maintain a FAC-C Professional certification, contract professionals are required to meet a continuous training requirement.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) - The ICTAP provides eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your ICTAP eligibility; 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement; and 3) you are found eligible and qualified for this vacancy. To be eligible and qualified, you must satisfy all eligibility and qualification requirements for the vacant position as outlined in this announcement. You must provide proof of eligibility to receive selection priority. Such proof may include a copy of your written notification of ICTAP eligibility or a copy of your separation personnel action form. Additional information about ICTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) - The CTAP provides eligible surplus and displaced competitive service employees in the Department of Justice with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. If your Department of Justice component has notified you in writing that you are a surplus or displaced employee eligible for CTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority if: 1) this vacancy is within your CTAP eligibility, 2) you apply under the instructions in this announcement, and 3) you are found eligible and qualified for this vacancy. To be eligible and qualified, you must satisfy all eligibility and qualification requirements for the vacant position as outlined in this announcement. You must provide a copy of your written notification of CTAP eligibility with your application. Additional information about CTAP eligibility is at: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.