This vacancy is for a CONTRACT SPECIALIST-DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY position in ACQUISITIONS, located at the U.S. Census Bureau Headquarters in Suitland, Maryland. The Census Bureau is accessible from the Metro Rail Green Line - Suitland Station. This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other CONTRACT SPECIALIST-DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY, 1102, 11/12/13, FPL GS-13 positions within the Census Bureau in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Duties

Responsible for pre-award and/or post award functions for a variety of contract requirements frequently involving critical and/or sensitive program efforts to support the US Census Bureau mission. Reviews proposals to determine the competitive range in negotiations, coordinates preproposal conferences with industry in relation to the US Census Bureau mission and acquisition objectives. Communicate complex acquisition matters effectively with internal and external customers and stakeholders on matters of Census Bureau acquisitions activity.

Requirements

• Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• U.S. Citizen
• Suitable for Federal employment.
• Registered for Selective Service if applicable. (www.sss.gov)
• A one-year probationary period may be required.
• This is a BARGAINING unit position.
• This position may be covered by one or more of the following bargaining units: American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2782(HQ) or AFGE Local 1438(DN). If you have specific questions, please contact the HR Specialist.

Qualifications

Minimum Education Requirement: Basic Requirements for GS-5 through GS-12: (Must provide Transcripts). Degree: 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. AND In addition, to meeting the education requirement above you must possess the specialized experience outlined below. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: For GS-11, applicant must have one (1) year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal services. The purpose of work is to perform preaward and/or postaward contracting activities to procure diverse customer requirements covering a wide range of technical services, and/or equipment. Effective and timely procurements enable the serviced organizations to accomplish their various missions. To be fully qualified for this position a candidate must meet ALL of the below specialized experience: Experience providing business advice to customers, reviewing price estimates, performing market research, or completing pre-award or post-award contract actions. Experience serving as a contract specialist responsible for preaward and/or postaward functions for a variety of supplies and services contracts for several activities. Demonstrated experience with a variety of contracts which frequently require special handling provisions or other specialized terms and conditions; examples include equipment or services needed to support a research and development activity, software, and related services; negotiated contracts with disadvantaged business firms. OR Three full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or PH. D (or equivalent doctoral degree) SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: For GS-12, applicant must have one (1) year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal services. The purpose of the work is to provide expertise as a Contract Specialist in a functional area of contracting by furnishing advisory, planning, or reviewing services on specific problems, projects, or programs. To be fully qualified for this position a candidate must meet ALL of the below specialized experience: Experience performing all pre-award functions such as developing acquisition strategies and documents to procure a variety of common goods and services. Experience communicating with internal customers and industry, proposal review and evaluation, preparation of source selection decision documents, and preparation of contract award documents. Experience planning, coordinating, and/or leading negotiations for a variety of complex contracts, contract modifications, or termination actions, e.g., those which accommodate possible changes in program requirements, involve subcontractors, require accounting for Government equipment, or involve consolidated requirements for several agencies or departments. Proficient in formulating approaches to procurement problems or issues when the problems require extensive analysis of a variety of unusual conditions, questions, or issues. Experience establishing procedures for implementing procurement policies or regulations; participating in the development and/or review of policies and procedures including the merging of subsystems and components and the meeting of scheduled goals. Education: Education cannot be substituted for specialized experience at this grade level. Basic Requirements for GS-13 and Above A. Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS-13 or higher-level contracting positions, including at least 4-years' experience in contracting or related positions. At least 1 year of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level of the position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of the position. AND B. A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, that included or was supplemented by 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, C. Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. This also applies to positions at the same grade in the same agency or other agencies if the specialized experience requirements are met. However, they will have to meet the basic requirements and specialized experience requirements in order to qualify for promotion to a higher grade, unless granted a waiver under Paragraph D. D. Waiver: When filling a specific vacant position, the senior procurement executive of the selecting agency, at his or her discretion, may waive any or all of the requirements of Paragraphs A and B above if the senior procurement executive certifies that the applicant possesses significant potential for advancement to levels of greater responsibility and authority, based on demonstrated analytical and decision-making capabilities, job performance, and qualifying experience. With respect to each waiver granted under this Paragraph D, the senior procurement executive must document for the record the basis of the waiver. If an individual is placed in a position in an agency on the basis of a waiver, the agency may later reassign that individual to another position at the same grade within that agency without additional waiver action. AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: For GS-13, applicant must have one (1) year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal services. To be fully qualified for this position a candidate must meet ALL of the below specialized experience. Experience performing and leading pre-award functions, to include communication with internal customers, other government entities and industry, proposal review and evaluation, preparation of source selection decision documents, conducting negotiations, and issuing awards. Experience planning and negotiating procurements for long-term systems, programs, or projects (i.e., five years) Experience administering long-term contracts, with delegated final authority to obligate funds in connection with most transactions and, as required, serving as team leader over a group of specialists whose services and advice are used in order to arrive at a decision. Proficient in negotiating termination settlements and approving contractor's proposed settlements with subcontractors for contracts in which several years of work have been expended, or which involve extensive proposals and/or claims of prime and subcontractors and large amounts of inventory and Government property. Experience developing innovative contractual arrangements to resolve critical procurement problems and satisfy unusual procurement situations. Education: Education cannot be substituted for specialized experience at this grade level. 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). 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.

Contacts

• Address Acquisition 4600 Silver Hill Road Washington, DC 20233 US
• Name: Catherine Butler
• Phone: 301-763-3824
• Email: [email protected]