CONTRACT SPECIALIST

Duties

• Plans, negotiates, leads, and/or administers complex procurements through use of a wide variety contract types and methods.
• Develops and/or reviews complex contractual pricing arrangements and incentives characterized by multiple incentives requiring sophisticated contracting techniques.
• Audits or reviews major acquisitions of similar complexity, presents findings, recommends corrective actions and policy or procedure improvements.
• Communicates effectively with internal and external customers, stakeholders, and the public on matters of major Census acquisitions activity.
  
  

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• 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).
• Time-in-grade/band requirements must be met by closing date.
• 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.
• You may be required to complete a financial disclosure (OGE-450).
  
  

Qualifications

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other CONTRACT SPECIALIST, 1102-14, FPL GS-14, positions within the Census Bureau in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Basic Requirement

• 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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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 the GS-14, you must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-13 in the Federal service. Experience for this position includes: Monitoring procurement activities to ensure meeting acceptable timelines, quality, and cost effectiveness; Serving as a subject matter expert (SME) on procurement related activities and providing advisory services to customers on major acquisition issues; Interpreting and applying Federal Acquisition Regulations, policies, and procedures as they related to organizational and other federal acquisition activities; and Managing highly complex pre- and post-award activities associated with a variety of contract types;

Education: Education cannot be substituted for experience at this grade leve.

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.

Additional information

If hired for this position with the Census Bureau, at its headquarters office located in Suitland, Maryland, you will be expected to temporarily telework to maximum extent while the headquarters building is being renovated. Once renovations are completed for your area, you will be notified when to return to the office. At that time, you will be expected to work from your duty station, and you may be eligible to telework, up to 8 days a pay period depending on your respective work schedule, with approval from your supervisor.

Additionally, the following links provide information on various hiring authorities that may enable you to apply through merit assignment procedures, or be eligible for a non-competitive appointment.

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The Department of Commerce provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Human Resources Office. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. TTY users can contact the Human Resources Office via the Federal Relay Service, 1-800-877-8339.