- Position Title
- Contract Specialist
- Agency
- DHS Headquarters
- Announcement Number
- DHA-12706253-25-OPO Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Friday, March 28, 2025 to Thursday, April 3, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
ALL US CITIZENS
2.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:
• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
• 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; AND,
• 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 the equivalent.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
• 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; AND,
• 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 the equivalent.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
3.
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; AND,
• 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; AND,
• 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 the equivalent.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
• 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; AND,
• 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 the equivalent.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
Preferences
1.
Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position.
2.
In the last five years (from the closing date of this announcement) have you served, or are you currently serving, as an Executive Branch Political, Schedule C, or Non-career Senior Executive Services appointee? You can find out if you have held one of these appointment types by looking at your SF-50s, in Section 5 where the legal authorities are listed.
- A political appointee is an appointment made by the President without confirmation by the Senate (5 CFR 213.3102(c)) OR an assistant position to a top-level federal official if filled by a person designated by the President as a White House Fellow (5 CFR 213.3102(z)).
- A Schedule C appointee occupies a position excepted from the competitive service by the President, or by the Director of OPM, because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position duties (5 CFR 213.3301 and 5 CFR 213.3302).
- A Non-career SES appointee is approved by the White House and serves at the pleasure of the appointing official without time limitations (5 CFR 317 Subpart F).
Assessment 1
Your responses in this Assessment Questionnaire are subject to evaluation and verification. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your responses. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for disqualifying you or for dismissing you from employment following acceptance. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you will be removed from consideration, or your score will be lowered.
1.
INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT
This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement that must be met prior to meeting the specialized experience.
To qualify you must have a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field 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.
-AND-
Completed 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 with at least 1 year of that experience satisfying the specialized experience described in the qualification section of the announcement.
NOTE: To receive consideration for this position, you must submit a copy of your transcripts for review. Your supporting documents must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.
This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement that must be met prior to meeting the specialized experience.
To qualify you must have a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field 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.
-AND-
Completed 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 with at least 1 year of that experience satisfying the specialized experience described in the qualification section of the announcement.
NOTE: To receive consideration for this position, you must submit a copy of your transcripts for review. Your supporting documents must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.
2.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE
To qualify for the GS-13 level, you must possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent in the level of difficulty and responsibility to that of the next lower grade level (GS-12) in Federal Service or equivalent private/public sector experience. For this position, specialized experience is defined as the following:
To qualify for the GS-13 level, you must possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent in the level of difficulty and responsibility to that of the next lower grade level (GS-12) in Federal Service or equivalent private/public sector experience. For this position, specialized experience is defined as the following:
- Conducting price/cost analysis to determine soundness of vendor's proposal.
- Determining which contracting methods and terms are most advantageous to the agency.
- Serving as the subject matter expert for procurement related matters.
- Applying thorough knowledge of the laws and regulations governing acquisition procedures.
3.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE
To qualify for the GS-14 level, you must possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent in the level of difficulty and responsibility to that of the next lower grade level (GS-13) in Federal Service or equivalent private/public sector experience. For this position, specialized experience is defined as the following:
To qualify for the GS-14 level, you must possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent in the level of difficulty and responsibility to that of the next lower grade level (GS-13) in Federal Service or equivalent private/public sector experience. For this position, specialized experience is defined as the following:
- Formulating acquisition policies and procedures.
- Leading staff that specialize in contracting/procurement.
- Interpreting and explaining legal and regulatory guidance, unique contract terms and conditions, and complex technical specifications.
- Managing complex, sensitive, and unique procurement programs and initiatives.
4.
SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR
Do you possess a FAC-C (Professional) or DoD Contracting Professional certification as described in the announcement?
NOTE: You must submit a copy of your certification, otherwise you will be ruled ineligible.
Do you possess a FAC-C (Professional) or DoD Contracting Professional certification as described in the announcement?
NOTE: You must submit a copy of your certification, otherwise you will be ruled ineligible.
In this part, you will respond to questions about experience you have had that are related to the requirements of the job for which you are applying. Carefully review the level of descriptions listed below. For each statement, select the ONE response description that best describes your experience and record your selection.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
5.
Perform contract administration functions.
6.
Conduct contract closeouts.
7.
Serve as a senior contract specialist responsible for pre-award and/or post award.
8.
Serve as a subject-matter expert on interagency contracting policies.
9.
Manage the most complex Department-wide acquisitions for classified or sensitive products or services.
10.
Identify solutions to manage issues which could negatively impact mission operations or program performance.
11.
Formulate plans to improve acquisition program policies.
12.
Propose recommendations to resolve major procurement planning concerns.
13.
Lead process improvement teams.
14.
Develop procurement guidelines, processes, or policies.
15.
Interpret procurement guidelines, policies, regulations, and/or legislation.
16.
Resolve delivery-acceptance disputes.
17.
Provide guidance or assistance to lower graded specialists.
18.
Serve as main point of contact for contracting/procurement related matters.
19.
Develop contract administration plans.
20.
Evaluate procurement information to formulate effective strategies.
21.
Lead process development teams.
22.
Implement acquisition management methodologies to efficiently plan or sustain agency acquisition programs.
23.
Develop acquisition program plans that are fundamentally significant in meeting mission objectives or program goals.
24.
CERTIFICATION STATEMENT
Your responses in this Assessment Questionnaire are subject to evaluation and verification. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your responses. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for disqualifying you or for dismissing you from employment following acceptance. Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy. By agreeing to the statement, you are confirming that you have reviewed your responses to this questionnaire for accuracy and verify that your responses accurately describe your current level of experience and capability. Failure to agree to this statement will disqualify you from further consideration for this position.
Your responses in this Assessment Questionnaire are subject to evaluation and verification. Later steps in the selection process are specifically designed to verify your responses. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for disqualifying you or for dismissing you from employment following acceptance. Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy. By agreeing to the statement, you are confirming that you have reviewed your responses to this questionnaire for accuracy and verify that your responses accurately describe your current level of experience and capability. Failure to agree to this statement will disqualify you from further consideration for this position.