Summary This position is in Region 9, Mission Support Division, Contracts Branch. About Region 9: Website This is an office-centered position*--you must physically report to the duty station stated in this announcement on a regular basis. *Work-from-home flexibilities may be authorized as described in the Benefits section. Responsibilities You will: Serve as an advisor to program officials in procurement planning activities. Prepare solicitation documents such as Requests for Quotations, Invitation for Bids, Requests for Proposals, and other supporting procurement documentation. Perform cost analysis or detailed analysis of all elements of cost in contractor proposals. Analyze potential problem areas with regard to progress of work, available funds, requests for changes, delays in performance and possible termination actions. You will spend more than 50% of your work time on contracts, grants/cooperative agreements, and/or interagency agreements. One or more positions may be filled (in the organization advertised and/or in other organizations), if appropriate to the position. Requirements Conditions of Employment Position has education requirements--see Qualifications/Education section. You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section. EPA and non-EPA applicants must submit transcripts/course listings. You must be a U.S. citizen. #LI-Onsite If you are selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure form within 30 days of your first day of employment and annually thereafter. This position is designated as Moderate Risk and requires a background investigation. Unless an appropriate background investigation is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management, you must undergo a background investigation. All conditions of the pre-employment security process must be met before an official letter of employment can be issued with a report for duty date. If you are selected, you may be required to complete a one-year probationary period. Qualifications NOTE: You must meet qualification requirements, including any requirements described in the Education section, by the closing date of this announcement. In addition to the educational requirements, we are looking for at least one year of specialized experience related to this position as described below: To qualify for the GS-13 level, you need to have at least one year of full-time experience equivalent to the GS-12 level defined as experience in researching and applying legislation, regulations, policies and methods used in contracting (e.g., Federal Acquisition Regulation); negotiating contracts to develop contract prices and terms; applying price/cost analysis techniques to evaluate contractor proposals; and administering contracts. Your application package will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas: Knowledge of contracting procedures, types, and methods. Skill in using simplified acquisition procedures. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and rules as they relate to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). Ability to develop procurement plans. Skill in oral communication. Skill in written communication. In addition to the requirements above, you must have (and will be required to maintain) Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) (Professional) or Department of Defense (DoD) Contracting Professional Certification. 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 experience. If you have part-time work experience, read this: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures. Education You need a degree or combination of education and experience as described below to qualify for this position. You must have (1) a bachelor’s or higher degree from an accredited or pre-accredited college or university 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; (2) completed all mandatory training prescribed by the agency for progression to GS-13 (or equivalent) or higher level contracting positions; and (3) at least 4 years experience in contracting or related positions, at least one year of which must have been specialized experience as described above. For information about accreditation requirements, visit EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures. Additional Information Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values at EPA. Our excellence can only be fully realized by staff who share our commitment to these values. Successful candidates are committed to advancing equity and inclusion in the Agency’s workplace and mission. We encourage applications from candidates with a variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. At EPA, diversity is a vital element in bringing a balance of perspectives to bear on every challenge we face. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce because we know that the individual strengths and abilities of our employees make us a stronger organization. The more inclusive our employee base is, the greater the variety of ideas that are generated, and the more representative we are of the nation we serve. To learn more about how EPA values and supports our diverse workforce, visit Equal Opportunity Employment at EPA. This position may be in the bargaining unit. Are you a Displaced Federal Employee? If so, please read the Required Documents section and visit the EPA website for additional information: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures EPA participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. For additional information: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures. If you are selected, travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid by EPA. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting to work in this position will be your responsibility. Except in special circumstances, those new to the federal government will be hired at the starting salary (step 1) of the applicable grade range listed in the Overview section.