For more information on the Department of Justice and the United States Attorneys' Offices, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/. As needed, additional positions may be filled using this announcement. This position is also being announced to All U.S. Citizens and Nationals under 23-SDTX-12066175-DE.

Duties

As a Contract Specialist in the United States Attorney's Office (USAO), you will provide support to administrative, support, and litigative teams by procuring supplies and services that may require a variety of specialized handling provisions, terms and conditions; and advising technical personnel on the development of requirements documents. - Procures supplies or services using a knowledge of basic procurement procedures and techniques to carry out recurring assignments; - Performs duties that require knowledge to procure supplies and services such as office equipment or special purpose equipment, or such services as repair, rental, educational, and maintenance of machines and equipment; - Reviews requisitions to determine that proper specifications or purchase descriptions are included in solicitation documents using knowledge of procurement procedures, and the laws, regulations, and precedents governing procurements; - Reviews invoices and delivery orders using a knowledge of basic procurement procedures and techniques sufficient to carry out recurring assignments; and - Assists higher level employees by preparing routine administrative documents. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. 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.
• Time-in-Grade: Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement.
• You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.
• Must be able to obtain and retain a Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C)

Qualifications

To be qualified for this position, you must meet BOTH the Basic Requirements and the Minimum Qualifications for either GS-09 or GS-11. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: A 4 year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field. -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. -or- You occupy and/or have occupied a GS-1102, Contract Specialist position in the Federal Government on January 1, 2000, in one of the following grade levels GS-5, GS-7, GS-9, GS-11 or GS-12. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: GS-09: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCED: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: analysis of cost and pricing data, acquisitions, contract administration, and monitoring contractor performance and compliance with all terms and conditions of the contract. This experience required knowledge of acquisition regulations, contract methods, and contract law. -or- EDUCATION: Possession of 36 graduate semester hours (or your school's definition of two years of graduate study). To qualify for GS-1102 positions on the basis of graduate education, graduate education in one or a combination of the following fields is required: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. -or- COMBINATION OF SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: A combination of specialized experience as described above and graduate-level education as described above which when combined equal 100% of the requirements. To calculate your percentage of graduate education, first determine the total number of graduate hours that exceed 18 semester hours (or your school's definition of one year of graduate study), then divide the total number of your excess graduate semester hours by 18 (or your school's definition of one year of graduate study). To calculate your percentage of qualifying experience, divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by 12. Now, add the two percentages together. ***It is preferred that the applicant has a current Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) or equivalent*** All applicants must be able to obtain and retain a Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C). FAC-C has specific training requirements with some courses online as well as classroom courses. To maintain a FAC-C, contract professionals are required to meet the continuous training requirement. GS-11: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCED: At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in Federal service. Qualifying experience involves in-depth knowledge of various contracting methods, contract types, regulations, policies, procedures, and requirements; established knowledge of business and industry practices sufficient to evaluate and monitor contractors' performance and provide direction and leadership as the Government's principal representative. In-depth knowledge of customers purchasing practices, equipment review processes, distribution, processing, and payment requirements and cycles. This experience required knowledge of acquisition regulations, contract methods, and contract law. -or- EDUCATION: Possession of 54 graduate semester hours (or your school's definition of three years of graduate study). To qualify for GS-1102 positions on the basis of graduate education, graduate education in one or a combination of the following fields is required: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. -or- COMBINATION OF SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: A combination of specialized experience as described above and graduate-level education as described above which when combined equal 100% of the requirements. To calculate your percentage of graduate education, first determine the total number of graduate hours that exceed 36 semester hours (or your school's definition of two years of graduate study), then divide the total number of your excess graduate semester hours by 18 (or your school's definition of one year of graduate study). To calculate your percentage of qualifying experience, divide your total number of months of qualifying experience by 12. Now, add the two percentages together. 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 the announcement; and 3) you are found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. 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 well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well qualified, you must satisfy all qualification requirements for the vacant position and receive a score of 85 or better on established ranking criteria. 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/. Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) -VEOA allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for positions announced under merit promotion procedures when the hiring agency is recruiting from outside its own workforce. To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed three (3) or more years of continuous active military service. If you are applying for a Merit Promotion announcement and wish to be considered under VEOA, you must submit a copy of the Member Copy 4 of your DD-214, in addition to any other required documents listed on this announcement. Special Employment Consideration - Persons with disabilities, veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more, certain other veterans, spouses of certain members of the armed forces, and returning Peace Corps volunteers are examples of individuals who are potentially eligible for non-competitive appointments. For further information, click on the links provided below . You must specify in your online questionnaire under what authority you wish to be considered and submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility. Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities Links: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Types-of-Appointments

Education

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov
OR
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to timely provide such evidence by submitting proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency with your application materials. More information may be found at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Contacts

• Address Southern District of Texas 1000 Louisiana Street Suite 2300 Houston, TX 77002 US
• Name: Michelle Suarez
• Phone: 713-567-9000
• Email: [email protected]