This position serves as a Contract Specialist for the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with responsibility for performing professional work involving the procurement of supplies and services using procedures outlined in the Federal Acquisition Regulations, VA Acquisition Regulations, Public Laws, and agency policy.

Duties

Candidates may be referred to the selecting official based off the number of applicants. The first 100 applicants to apply will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. If more than 100 applications are received in one day, everyone who applied on or before the day 100 applicants was reached will be referred. Only those candidates selected for further review by the hiring manager and/or their designees(s) will have their application package reviewed for qualifications prior to the issuance of the certificate of eligibles. Based on hiring needs, additional groups of the next 100 applicants to apply to this vacancy may be reviewed for minimum qualifications and be referred to the hiring manager. This announcement is for one vacancy that may be filled at one of the following duty locations: St. Louis, MO; Jefferson Barracks, MO; Kansas City, MO; Columbia, MO; Topeka, KS; Leavenworth, KS; Wichita, KS; Marion, IL; or Poplar Bluff, MO. Selected applicant must live within 50 miles of one of the advertised duty locations. This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-9. At the GS-5 and/or GS-7 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-9. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. Major Duties and Responsibilities Include: Assists the requiring activities by serving as a member of acquisition planning teams. Aids requiring activities in performing market research, reviewing specifications and statements of work, and approving acquisition milestone plans, ensuring that specifications and statements of work are prepared in a manner which adequately describes the Government's requirements without restricting competition. Conducts negotiations for competitive and noncompetitive procurements. Conducts cost and/or price analysis of offerors' proposals and considers all information in developing an overall pricing negotiation strategy. Prepares price negotiation memoranda, outlining in writing the details of negotiations with contractors in competitive and noncompetitive negotiations. Serves as contract administrator on awarded contracts. Conducts post-award conferences with Contractor and Government personnel to provide information and to clarify standard and special contractual provisions of the contract. Closes out contract upon completion of the contract, resolution of all conflicts, and final disposition of payment and obtains adequate release of claims documents to protect the agency. Utilize contract writing system, contract reporting system, financial management system, and application suite in accordance with agency policies. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Position Description Title/PD#: Contract Specialist/PD11001A and PD11002A Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework (up to 80% per pay period) upon supervisory approval. If selected, applicants must be located within the commuting area of the duty location. Eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Retention Incentive/Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP): 10% Retention Incentive and SLRP may be authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Required. Selected applicants will be required to complete a financial disclosure within 30 days from their start date. Physical Requirements: The position is primarily of an administrative nature in an office setting, however where travel to work sites is required, there may be light physical work requires, such as walking over uneven surfaces or assisting technical personnel in taking measurements or elevations. Government travel for training, meetings, or customer interactions will be required in this position. Work is normally performed in an office setting with periodic visits to the field offices. Occasionally the employee may be exposed to hazardous working area/conditions when visiting contractor's facilities or sites.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• May serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirements (Basic Qualification Requirements for GS-5 through GS-12): Possess a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field. (Transcripts Required) OR Possess 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. (Transcripts Required) OR Possess an occupied 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.(SF-50 Required) Applicants who meet the basic requirement, meet the qualification requirements at the GS-5 level. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, you must also meet one of the following to qualify at the GS-7 level: Superior Academic Achievement: Superior Academic Achievement at the GS-7 level: (SAA) at the baccalaureate level in the coursework detailed above is fully qualifying. Applicants who wish to apply under this provision must submit proof from their educational institution that they meet one of the criteria listed below. To qualify for SAA, applicants must have completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled and meet one of the following: 1. Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university or major subdivision. 2. A grade-point average of "B" (a GPA of 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. 3. A grade point average of "B+" (a GPA of 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. 4. Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. For a list of recognized honor societies please visit http://www.achsnatl.org/quick_link.asp. For more information regarding SAA please visit http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-II/s2-e5.asp#e4f. (Transcripts Required) -OR- Specialized Experience at the GS-7: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 level in federal service. Specialized experience for this position is experience in: acquisition regulations, contract law, and procedures applicable to acquisition and contract administration; various types of contracts and contract methods; negotiation techniques sufficient to negotiate prices, terms, and conditions of contracts; business practices to identify sources, analyze cost and pricing data; and experience monitoring contractor performance and compliance with all terms and conditions of the contract. -OR- Substitution of Graduate Education for Specialized Experience: One full academic year of graduate education or law school. 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. (Transcripts Required) -OR- Combination of Graduate Education and Specialized Experience: An equivalent combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above to meet the qualification requirements for this position. (Transcripts Required) Please note: If selected for this position, you must meet all eligibility requirements to receive and maintain a Level I FAC-C certification within 12 months upon appointment into the position. When requested by the supervisor, you must apply for up to a Level 1 Contracting Officer Warrant, accept contracting officer warrant, and provide the signatory authority for contracts within their warrant authority. Warrants will be granted based on workload, needs of the agency, and upon recommendation of the supervisor. 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; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Contacts

• Address VHA Service Center - 2 6100 Oak Tree Blvd Independence, OH 44131 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]