Washington Headquarters Services Logo
Position Title
Contract Specialist
Agency
Washington Headquarters Services
Announcement Number
ST-11172642-21-CS Opens in new window
Open Period
Tuesday, July 20, 2021 to Thursday, July 22, 2021
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
2.
  • Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
  •  
    • Position title;
    • Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);
    • Agency; and,
    • Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
  •  
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3. You are eligible for this hiring category if you are currently employed on a permanent appointment in the competitive service with a federal agency.

Supporting documentation: You are required to submit acceptable documentation of your appointment eligibility, by submitting a copy of your last or most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, (block 24 must be a "1" or "2" AND block 34 must be a"1").

NOTE:  If you are serviced by WHS you are not required to submit an SF-50.
*If you are currently working on a temporary or term appointment, or are serving on active duty in the U.S. military service, you are NOT eligible for this hiring category.
*If you are currently working for a private sector company performing work related to a contract with a federal agency, you are NOT eligible for this hiring category.
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4. You are eligible for this hiring category if you are a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who has permanent change of station (PCS) orders (not for training).
  • Limited to the geographic area as specified in the PCS orders. This includes the surrounding area which people reasonably can be expected to travel daily to and from work.
  • Must relocate with the service member to be eligible.
  • Must be currently located in the commuting area to be authorized preference.
Supporting documentation: You are required to submit acceptable documentation of your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference which includes:

Documents required to be submitted with Application for Military Spouse Preference Eligible:
(NOTE: DoD agencies may require additional documentation. Please refer to the announcement to ensure that all required documentation is submitted with your application. It is highly recommended that you save all these documents to your USAJOBS account in order to facilitate applying to multiple positions.)

Military Spouses with prior Federal work experience:
  • Narrative resume
  • PCS orders
  • Marriage certificate or license
  • SF-50s, if applicable (e.g., LWOP, highest grade held, overseas appointments, etc.)
  • Documentation of performance rating of record (dated within the last 12 months), if applicable
  • Signed self-certification checklist
  • Veteran's preference documentation (e.g., DD-214, VA letter, Statement of Service), if applicable
  • Transcripts, if applicable
Military Spouses without prior Federal work experience:
  • Narrative resume
  • PCS orders
  • Marriage certificate or license
  • Signed self-certification checklist
  • Veterans' preference documentation (e.g. DD 214, VA letter, Statement of Service), if applicable
  • Transcripts, if applicable
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5. You are eligible for this hiring category if you have completed 52 weeks in an appropriated fund position, performed under a local hire appointment overseas. Work must have been performed during the time the family member was accompanying a sponsor, officially assigned to an overseas area and the eligible family member must have received a fully successful or better (or equivalent) performance rating. Creditable service may have been under more than one appointment and need not be continuous.

An individual must have been a family member at the time s/he met the overseas service requirement, but does not need to be a family member at the time of non-competitive appointment in the United States. A family member is a spouse or unmarried child under the age of 23.

Any law, Executive Order, or regulation that disqualifies an applicant for appointment in the competitive service also disqualifies the applicant for appointment under E.O. 12721.

An individual is eligible for temporary, term, or career-conditional appointment(s) under E.O. 12721 for a period of 3 years following the date of return from the overseas to the United States to resume residence.

Supporting documentation: You are required to submit acceptable documentation of your eligibility for E.O. 12721 which may include: A copy of your last or most recent SF-50, "Notice of Personnel Action," reflecting 52 weeks of creditable service or 26 weeks of creditable service if the sponsor's tour was curtailed.

For more information visit the Department of State website: http://E.O. 12721
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6. Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position?

If yes, confirm:
• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy
• your grade is equivalent to or below the grade level of the vacancy and
• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

You will be required to submit supporting documentation to validate your claim of ICTAP eligibility such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.  For more information, review https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/
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7. You are eligible for this hiring category, if you are: 
  • A current non-appropriated fund (NAF); OR 
  • Other Interchange Agreement eligible employee; AND 
  • served continuously for at least one year under a permanent appointment; OR 
  • Former Interchange Agreement eligible (e.g., NAF) employee who served under an appointment described above, and was involuntarily separated within the past year without personal cause (i.e., not because of unacceptable conduct or performance).
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8. Are you eligible under this authority for appointment?
• Current or former Land Management Agency employee (i.e. the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture; the Bureau of Land Management of the Department of the Interior; the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior; the Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior; the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior; or the Bureau of Reclamation of the Department of the Interior); and
• Who currently are or formerly were under time-limited competitive appointments at certain land management agencies.

Current land management agency appointees:
must have initially been hired under competitive examining procedures to the time-limited appointment,
must have served under 1 or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years, and
must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service.

Former land management agency employees:
must have initially been hired under competitive examining procedures to the time-limited appointment,
must have served under 1 or more time-limited appointments by a land management agency for a total period of more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years,
must have performed at an acceptable level throughout the service period(s),
must apply for a position covered by these provisions within 2 years after their most recent date of separation, and
must have been separated, with respect to their most recent separation, for reasons other than misconduct or performance.

Supporting documentation: You are required to submit acceptable proof of your appointment eligibility by submitting a copy of your most recent SF-50 (block 24 must be a "0" or "3" AND block 34 must be a"1"), Notification of Personnel Action, documenting your Land Management eligibility for a competitive service appointment AND performance rating showing you have performed at an acceptable level.
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9. You are eligible for this hiring category if you:
  •  Are a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who has permanent change of station (PCS) orders (not for training).
  •  Limited to a maximum of 2 years from the date of the orders for the PCS.
  •  Limited to the geographic area as specified in the PCS orders. This includes the surrounding area which people reasonably can be expected to travel daily to and from work.
  • Must relocate with the service member to be eligible.; OR
  • Are a spouse of a 100 percent disabled service member injured while on active duty; OR
  • Are the un-remarried widow or widower of a service member who was killed while performing active duty.
Supporting documentation: You are required to submit acceptable documentation of your eligibility for E.O. 13473 which may include:
  • the service member's permanent change of station orders, including a statement authorizing the spouse to accompany the member to the permanent duty station, the specific location to which the member is assigned, reassigned, or transferred to permanent change of station orders, and the effective date of the permanent change of station;
  • verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage);
  • verification of the member's 100 percent disability; and/or
  • verification of the member's death while on active duty.
Additionally, you may need to submit a Standard Form-15 (SF-15), an Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, and applicable supporting documents as noted on the form.

To obtain a copy of SF-15, go to:http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf 

***Eligibility for EO 13473 does not require permanent change of station orders with dependents authorized listed. You are required to provide orders that reflect the sponsor's duty location is within the commuting area of the vacancy.
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10. The Washington Headquarters Service (WHS) is currently operating under an approved reengineered Priority Placement Program (PPP) pilot for all positions in its serviced workforce.  This pilot is application based and current PPP registrants who are registered for activity codes 293A and 295A are required to apply to the job announcement via USAJobs in order to exercise their priority placement status.  This pilot permits priority candidates to be assessed with other competitive applicants.  Anyone claiming priority status must provide a copy of their PPP registration and supporting documentation (e.g. RIF notice, Certification of Expected Separation) at the time of application to verify priority placement and eligibility. Are you claiming priority consideration under the WHS, PPP Pilot? (limit characters)
11. Were you formerly employed as a federal civilian on a permanent competitive appointment but are not currently a permanent competitive federal employee? 

If eligible, submit a copy of your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 or equivalent personnel action form reflecting your permanent, competitive status. 
• Your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect career or career-conditional (Tenure 1 or 2) AND
• Your separation Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (or equivalent personnel action form) must reflect your status was in the competitive service (Position Occupied is 1).

NOTE:  If you are serviced by WHS you are not required to submit an SF-50.
 
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12. You are required to submit proof of your eligibility. Examples of special appointment authority include appointment of people from Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service, General Accounting Office, Panama Canal Commission, Peace Corps, Postal Career Service/Postal Rate Commission, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), VISTA/ACTION Volunteers, Schedule A 5 CFR 213.3102 (u), etc. You are required to provide acceptable documentation of your appointment eligibility, by submitting a copy of proof of employment, from the appropriate agency, on official letterhead, with your complete application. (limit characters)
13. Are you a veteran whose discharge was under honorable conditions and you AND:
• served three or more years of continuous active duty service in the military (NOTE: if released shortly before completing a 3-year tour, you are considered to meet the eligibility) OR
• a preference eligible veteran

If eligible, submit a copy of your latest Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214 (copy indicating character of service) or other proof of your service which includes character of service. If currently on active duty and within 120 days of separation, in lieu of a DD-214, submit certification from your military personnel office verifying retirement/separation date and type/character of discharge.

Note: Current or former Federal employees (i.e., an individual who within the previous 52 weeks held a GS position under nontemporary appointment in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch) applying under VEOA eligibility will be subject to time-in-grade restrictions IAW 5 CFR 300.604. If applying to a GS position in the competitive service, you are required to provide a SF-50 or SF-50s that show that you have held the next lower grade level of the position to which you are applying for at least one year OR held the same or higher grade level. 

For more information, review https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/ 
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Assessment 1
Thank you for applying to the Contract Specialist position, NH-1102-3, with the Washington Headquarters Services, Acquisition Directorate. (limit characters)
1. BASIC REQUIREMENT:
Please select the response below which indicates how you meet the educational requirements for this position. NOTE: This position has a positive educational requirement and Transcripts MUST be provided with your application unless you meet the exception as outlined in B below.
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In addition to the basic requirement, you must also meet the one year of specialized experience requirement. (limit characters)
2. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Select the one statement that best describes the experience that you possess that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of a Contract Specialist at the 03 pay band level or equivalent in the Federal Service or equivalent experience in the private or public.
(limit characters)
This position has Conditions of Employment that must be obtained prior to your start date and maintained for the duration of this employment. (limit characters)
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
3. This position requires you to pass screening for illegal drug use prior to appointment and subsequent periodic drug screening thereafter. Are you willing to meet the drug testing requirements? (limit characters)
4. This position requires you to obtain and maintain a SECRET security clearance. Are you willing to meet the security clearance requirements? (limit characters)
5. This position may require you to work other than normal hours, which may include evenings, weekend, and/or holidays and/or overtime.   Are you willing to work other than normal hours? (limit characters)
6. This position may require travel away from your normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft. Are you willing to meet the travel requirements? (limit characters)
7. This position requires that the selectee must be eligible for Acquisition Corps membership at the time of selection. Are you willing to meet this condition of employment?
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8. DAWIA Certification:
This position requires the incumbent to possess and continuously maintain the DAWIA Level III certification in contracting, to include satisfying the requirement for eighty hours of continuous learning credits each two-year period. The incumbent will be required to become certified at Level III in the Contracting career field within 12 months, unless a Position Requirements Waiver is approved to extend the 12 months. Are you willing to meet this requirement?
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9. In accordance with the provisions of OGE SF 450, the incumbent of this position is required to submit initial and annual confidential statements of affiliations and financial interests. Are you willing to meet this requirement? (limit characters)
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
10. Analyzes cost and price data to negotiate and award contracts. (limit characters)
11. Supports special cost, price, and finance efforts by researching positions that are in the best interests of the Government (limit characters)
12. Supports special cost, price and finance efforts by analyzing and providing recommended positions that are in the best interest of the Government. (limit characters)
13. Issue task or delivery orders after ensuring fund availability and obtaining reviews and approvals (limit characters)
14. Applies the laws, regulations, concepts, principles, practices, and instructions applicable to acquisition and contracting. (limit characters)
15. Ensures appropriate funding and required waivers, certifications, approvals and compliances have been obtained for purchase requests. (limit characters)
16. Formulates the negotiation strategy to identify areas subject to negotiation including price, quantity discounts, packaging, payment discounts, and transportation/delivery. (limit characters)
17.  Analyzes request for supplies/services to recommend the most expedient method of procurement.
 
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18. Evaluates price and/or cost data for a variety of pre-and-post award procurement actions to project changes in labor and material cost. (limit characters)
19. Represents the Agency in working groups, meetings, and conferences as a subject matter expert to communicate information related to acquisition and contract administration.

 
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20. Organizes, expresses, and communicates ideas clearly in writing.

 
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21. Prepares written correspondence describing the impacts of the acquisition and contract administration policies or regulations.

 

 
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22. Prepares reports, briefings, and guidance on controversial or complex acquisition and contract administration topics to inform the intended audience.

 
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23. Represents the organization in advising senior level senior level and private industry officials on the legal and regulatory requirements related to acquisition and procurement administration topics. (limit characters)
24. Clearly and effectively conveys acquisition and contract administration information verbally.

 
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Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s). (limit characters)
25.  
INTEGRITY CERTIFICATION:
Your ratings in this questionnaire are subject to evaluation and verification based on the documents you submitted.  Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy.  By agreeing to the statement below, you are confirming that you: 1) understand this warning; 2) have reviewed your responses to this questionnaire for accuracy; and 3) have verified that your responses accurately describe your current level of experience and capability as reflected in your resume.  Do you certify the accuracy of your responses?
 
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