The position of Contract Specialist is located in the Office of Budget, Finance, and Awards Management (BFA), Division of Acquisition and Cooperative Support (DACS), and serves as one of several contract specialists responsible for pre-award and post-award functions, including price/cost analysis, negotiation, and administration for services, materials and equipment associated with research, development, test, evaluation, and/or production activities of one or more organizations.

Duties

As a Contract Specialist with DACS,you will perform the following duties: Serves as a Contract Specialist responsible for pre- and post-award functions for a variety of contracts. Functions may include cost/price analysis and the negotiation and administration of services, materials, and equipment associated with the research, development, testing, evaluation, and/or production activities of one or more organizations. Reviews requests for the procurement of equipment, services, and/or construction. Analyzes the requirement and recommends revisions and/or specifications to the statement of work as necessary. Prepares solicitation documents. Incorporates provisions such as cost accounting standards, requirements for technical proposals with appropriate weighing factors, testing procedures, cost escalation factors, cost data requirements, and socioeconomic programs under the guidance of a higher graded specialist. Solicits proposals from prospective contractors. Analyzes proposals for conformance with the solicitation. Performs cost or price analysis including review of cost breakdowns to determine reasonableness. Obtains audits and pricing reports to develop negotiation strategies. Negotiates with potential contractors. Awards contracts within their delegated contracting officer authority. Makes award recommendations to the appropriate contracting officer on contracts outside of their delegated authority. Assists contract administration offices in activities including: Performing termination actions until final delivery and payments are completed and the contract is closed and retired and; Monitoring contractor performance by communicating through telephone conversations, correspondence, reports, vouchers, and visits for status of completion, scheduling, problems and proposed solutions, verification of deliveries, and similar activities. Interprets contract provisions for contractors and for officials of the agency. Researches and prepares initial agency position on protests from unsuccessful bidders under the guidance of a higher graded specialist. Closes out the contract, issues termination notices, and reviews settlement proposals as necessary.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for a GS-12 level, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service participating in and initiating the Federal procurement process from identification of a requirement through contract closeout. Specialized experience for this position may include: Evaluating responses to solicitations for price reasonableness, compliance with terms and conditions, and adequacy of competition.; AND Applying acquisition, contract, and procurement regulations to prepare solicitations containing appropriate provisions, clauses, terms, and conditions that communicate the requirements.; AND Administering contracts to include contract scope determinations, contract modifications, supplemental agreements, justifications, approval reviews/fair opportunity evaluations, claims disputes, or contract terminations. Performing procurement life cycle requirements to include researching market sources, preparing solicitations, evaluating proposals, drafting contract awards, and processing modifications. Supporting development of acquisition strategy for procurement of services and supplies. Utilizing procurement collaboration practices and techniques such as contract negotiations. NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12 level. To Qualify for the GS-13 level, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service participating in and initiating the Federal procurement process from identification of a requirement, negotiations, and through contract closeout. Specialized experience for this position must include: Analyzing, evaluating, approving, or redirecting the strategy, plans, and techniques of pre-award and post-award functions involving highly specialized acquisitions.; AND Conducting acquisition planning and contract pre-award functions.; AND Administering contracts to include contract scope determinations, contract modifications, supplemental agreements, justifications, approval reviews/fair opportunity evaluations, claims disputes, and contract terminations; AND Interpreting and applying relevant laws, regulations, policies, standards, or procedures regarding contracting issues; AND Developing and implementing acquisition strategies for procurement of services and supplies; AND Serving as advisor for program office customers in collaboration with senior management to carry out assignments involving acquisition programs: AND Evaluating cost/price proposals utilizing cost/price analysis techniques. NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-13 level. Experience refers to paid/unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) & other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, & skills & can provide valuable training/experience that translates directly to paid work. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

You must submit proof of meeting the basic education requirement described in the QUALIFICATIONS paragraph. Therefore, you MUST submit TRANSCRIPTS (unofficial copies are acceptable) or a DIPLOMA that verifies that the requirement is met.

Contacts

• Address NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, DIVISION OF ACQUISITION AND COOPERATIVE SUPPORT 2415 Eisenhower Ave Alexandria, VA 22314 US
• Name: Staffing and Classification Branch
• Email: [email protected]