Department of Energy - Agency Wide Logo
Position Title
Contract Specialist
Agency
Department of Energy - Agency Wide
Announcement Number
22-CEC-1102-11577955-DHR Opens in new window
Open Period
Monday, August 1, 2022 to Saturday, December 31, 2022
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 federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency, other than the Department of Energy?

If yes, confirm:

--you are located in the same local commuting area as the vacancy;
--you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated;
--you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND
--your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or equivalent.

For more information on eligibility visit:  https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/federal-employees/ictap/

Check the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section in the job announcement for instructions to support your eligibility to apply for this vacancy. (limit characters)
Preferences
1. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
2. Do any of your relatives work for the agency to which you are applying? If so, please list any applicable names below. Please enter N/A in the text box, if not Applicable. (Include: father, mother, husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, father-in-law, mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, and half sister).
 (limit characters)
3. Are you currently serving or have served in the last five (5) years in a Political Appointment in the Federal Government? (limit characters)
4. Please list the title, agency and dates of the appointments (limit characters)
5. The vacancies filled with this Public Notice have varying levels of security clearance requirements. Which of the following investigative requirements are you willing to obtain and maintain for consideration with the Department of Energy? (Select each that you are willing to accomplish) (limit characters)
6. This public notice can be used for filling vacancies with varying supervisory levels. Select all of the supervisory levels you are willing to be considered for. Note: If selected for a supervisory position, you will be required to complete a supervisory probationary period (if not yet completed previously). (limit characters)
7. I understand my application expires every 120 days, and I am limited to 4 geographical locations, and it is necessary to re-apply to continue receiving consideration for these positions. (limit characters)
8. Term appointments are non-status, nonpermanent appointments of limited duration of more than 1 year, but not more than 4 years. The appointment to a term position does not confer eligibility for promotion, reassignment, or transfer to other positions or the ability to be non-competitively converted to permanent employment. Would you accept a term appointment? (limit characters)
9. Temporary appointments are non-status, nonpermanent appointments for a specified period not to exceed 1 year. The appointment may be extended up to a maximum of 1 additional year (24 months of total service). The appointment to a temporary position does not confer eligibility for promotion, reassignment, or transfer to other positions or the ability to be non-competitively converted to permanent employment. Would you accept a temporary position?
 (limit characters)
10. Permanent appointments are status appointments without an ending date. There are two categories for permanent appointments. A permanent career-conditional appointment is the first career-type appointment, and the appointee must complete a 1-year probationary period. A career appointment begins once an employee has completed the probationary period(s) and three years of permanent, substantially continuous creditable service in the competitive service. Would you accept a permanent career-conditional or career appointment? (limit characters)
11. I understand I am strongly encouraged to express interest through the DOE Applicant Portal to receive additional consideration. I also understand failure to do so may result in loss of consideration for BIL positions. (limit characters)
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in a Contract Specialist position with Department of Energy. Your resume and the responses you provide to this assessment questionnaire will be used to determine if you are among the best qualified for this position. Your responses are subject to verification. Please review your responses for accuracy before you submit your application. (limit characters)
1.

Basic Requirements for GS-5 through GS-12:

A. 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field;

OR

B. 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.

Applicants who meet the criteria for Superior Academic Achievement qualify for positions at the GS-7 level.

Graduate Education. To qualify for GS-1102 positions on the basis of graduate education, the graduate education is required to be in one or a combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.

Note - For positions at GS-7 through GS-12, applicants who are qualifying based on experience must possess at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level, that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position, in addition to meeting the basic requirements in paragraph A or B, above.

Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy GS-1102 positions at grades 5 through 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified at GS-12. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade 12. However, employees must meet specialized experience requirements when seeking another position.

Please select the best response on how you meet the required education requirements for the 1102 series for grades levels GS-5 through GS-12.

(limit characters)
2.

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 perform successfully 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.

Please select the best response on how you meet the required education requirements for the 1102 series for GS-13 grade level and above.

(limit characters)
3.

FOR GS-07: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:

  • Assisting in developing solicitation packages that meet all legal, regulatory, and policy requirements in response to the needs of the agency.; AND
  • Assisting with the evaluation of contractual agreements within a set timeframe in order to ensure technical protocol.

OR EDUCATION: 1 full academic year of graduate education or law school.

OR SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Based on a Bachelor's degree that is demonstrated through class standing (upper 1/3 of class); grade point average (3.0/4.0 overall or 3.5/4.0 in major), or election to membership in a qualifying national scholastic honor society.

OR COMBINATION: You may qualify on a combination of education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the educational requirement must equal at least 100 percent.

Select the answer that best describes your experience and/or education as it directly relates to the Qualifications Section of the Vacancy Announcement. (limit characters)
4. FOR GS-09: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:
  • Assisting in developing solicitation packages that meet all legal, regulatory, and policy requirements in response to the needs of the agency.; AND
  • Assisting with the evaluation of contractual agreements within a set timeframe in order to ensure technical protocol.; AND
  • Assisting in pre and post award contract negotiations.

OR EDUCATION: 2 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or masters or equivalent graduate degree or LL.B. or J.D.

OR COMBINATION: You may qualify on a combination of education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the educational requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.

Select the answer that best describes your experience and/or education as it directly relates to the Qualifications Section of the Vacancy Announcement. (limit characters)
5. FOR GS-11: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:
  • Applying acquisition, contract, and procurement regulations to prepare solicitations containing appropriate provisions, clauses, terms, and conditions.; AND
  • Evaluating responses to solicitations for price reasonableness and compliance with terms and conditions.; AND
  • Coordinating contract/financial assistance actions with appropriate program/project managers to ensure contract information and documentation is accurate, complete, and timely.

OR EDUCATION: 3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

OR COMBINATION: You may qualify on a combination of education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the educational requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of 36 semester hours (54 quarter hours), may be used to combine education and experience.

Select the answer that best describes your experience and/or education as it directly relates to the experience statement listed in the Qualifications Section of the Vacancy Announcement. (limit characters)
6. FOR GS-12: 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. Specialized experience for this position includes:
  • 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.

NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12 level.

Select the answer that best describes your experience as it directly relates to the experience statement listed in the Qualifications Section of the Vacancy Announcement. (limit characters)
7. FOR GS-13: 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. Specialized experience for this position includes:
  • 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.

NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-13 level.

Select the answer that best describes your experience as it directly relates to the experience statement listed in the Qualifications Section of the Vacancy Announcement. (limit characters)
8. FOR GS-14: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility p to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:
  • Planning, establishing, or reviewing contracts, programs, policies, procedures, and negotiation techniques to conduct contract negotiations and deal with high level business and industry.; AND
  • Evaluating or implementing contracting programs.; AND
  • Leading or supervising contracting professionals providing contracting services for the acquisition of a wide range of supplies, services and/or construction.; AND
  • Contracting experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the full range of pre-award and post award activities utilizing a variety of types of contracts.

NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-14 level.

Select the answer that best describes your experience as it directly relates to the experience statement listed in the Qualifications Section of the Vacancy Announcement. (limit characters)
9. FOR GS-15: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility p to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:
  • Developing acquisition strategies and directing or managing procurements.; AND
  • Overseeing contractual actions and all phases of the contract program.; AND
  • Reviewing and analyzing the effects of proposed legislation and other regulations on acquisition programs.; AND
  • Serving as an agency technical authority in the areas of acquisition and procurement.


NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-15 level.

Select the answer that best describes your experience as it directly relates to the experience statement listed in the Qualifications Section of the Vacancy Announcement.

(limit characters)
10. Your responses to the Announcement and Assessment Questionnaires, along with your resume and all supporting documentation are subject to evaluation and verification to ensure accuracy. Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy. (limit characters)
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