Summary As a Contract Specialist, you will use your knowledge and abilities to devise procurement strategies required to support major acquisitions that are strategically vital to customers in their mission accomplishment. Location of position: Division/Office: Region 02 -Northeast and Caribbean Region We are currently filling one vacancy, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed. Responsibilities Devises procurement strategies required to support major acquisitions. Develops procurement objectives in terms of competition and price reasonableness used to construct contractual vehicles, including the use of pricing arrangements, subcontracting policy, set aside policies and similar considerations. Prepares and maintains acquisition plans, appropriate milestones and related schedules. Identifies goods and services to be acquired by contract, develops procurement objectives in terms of competition and price, and constructs the contractual vehicles. Serves as an advisor to program officials in procurement planning meetings, identifying the procurement objectives and methodologies to be used. Prepares determinations and findings and solicitation documents, conducts pre proposal conferences with prospective contractors, and issues modifications to clarify questions. Exercises responsibility for the resolution of highly complex issues including the requirement for detailed contract modifications designed to clarify questions and/or issues involving specification changes, resolution of language ambiguities and clarification or applicability of specific clauses. Negotiates changes with both the customer agency and vendor personnel and may also negotiate the incorporation of various change orders into a modified agreement. Analyzes prospective vendors’ capability to perform under the terms of the contract, assessing potential effectiveness in meeting all technical and administrative contractual requirements. Performs post-award contract administration functions, to include but are not limited to negotiating modifications, incorporation of change orders and/or resolution of any disputes that may arise, requiring the exercise of discretionaryContracting Officer authority. Prepares project completion schedules, incorporating definitive project review, control and status reporting processes and requirements. Develops and implements systematic plans to assure the accomplishment of PBS objectives through coordinated initiatives designed to assist the customer agency or PBS in achieving their acquisition goals. Serves as advisor to program officials in procurement planning meetings, providing technical advice regarding the procurement objectives to be used and assisting in preparing statements of work. Analyzes and evaluates contracting policies and practices, and initiates and recommends contracting policies, procedures and guidance. Participates on a variety of nationwide procurement teams, studies or projects to discuss issues of significance and improve the procurement process. Requirements Conditions of Employment US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) Meet all eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date. Meet time-in-grade within 30 days of the closing date, if applicable Register with the Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959 If selected, you must meet the following conditions: Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non­Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service. Serve a one year probationary period, if required. Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 4 investigation level). Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee. We will the Department of Homeland Security's e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment. Obtain and maintain the FAC-C (Professional) Certification. Qualifications For each job on your resume, provide: the exact dates you held each job (from month/year to month/year) number of hours per week you worked (if part time). If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace corps, Americorps), we encourage you to include this experience on your resume. For a brief video on How to Create a Federal Resume, click here. The GS-13 salary range starts at $103,409 per year. Minimum Requirement: You must meet the requirements in 1, 2, or 3 below: 1. All of a, b, and c below: (a) Completion of Training/Certification: FAC-C (Professional) or DoD Contracting Professional Certification. (b) At least 4 years of experience in contracting or related positions including 1 year of specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the level described below; and (c) Completion of 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. 2. Exception: If you were in a GS-1102 position on January 1, 2000, you will be exempt from meeting the educational requirements for the grade level of that position. However, to be promoted you will have to meet Option 1 or 3. 3. Waiver: GSA's senior procurement executive has the discretion to waive any or all of the requirements in 1 above. Note: Candidates that are missing either the 24 hours of business credit and/or the mandatory training certification, but are determined to be otherwise eligible, can be placed on a waiver certification by the HR staffing specialist. Specialized experience GS-13: You must have at least one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is having a comprehensive knowledge of Federal contracting and acquisition programs and experience in the procurement and contract administration of large, complex contracts with the ability to apply advanced contracting concepts & methodologies to manage and oversee various construction, small purchases and/or services. This experience must include: performing the full range of pre-award, award, and post-award procurement actions and leading diverse teams in the accomplishing the following: ● Performing the full range of highly complex pre-award and post-award activities on various contract types such as fixed price, fixed price economic price adjustment, various cost type contracts, requirements contracts; performance based acquisitions, and multiple award schedules; ● Performing delivery/task order placement and administration against multiple award contracts and blanket purchase agreements; ● Defending pre-award and/or post-award protests, contract claims, and contract disputes; ● Leading or working as part of an integrated acquisition and procurement project teams; ● Analyzing difficult contracting issues to identify alternative courses of action. Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcript(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcements to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. Education Note: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/ Additional Information Bargaining Unit Status: This position is eligible for the bargaining unit. If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit GSA's webpage. On a case-by-case basis, the following incentives may be approved: · Recruitment incentive if you are new to the federal government · Relocation incentive if you are a current federal employee · Credit toward vacation leave if you are new to the federal government Additional vacancies may be filled through this announcement in this or other GSA organizations within the same commuting area as needed; through other means; or not at all. GSA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility that goes beyond our compliance with EEO regulations including: Valuing and embracing diversity, promoting equity, inclusion and accessibility, and expecting cultural competence; and Fostering a work environment where all employees, customers and stakeholders feel respected and valued. Our commitment is: Reflected in our policies, procedures and work environment; Recognized by our employees, customers and stakeholders; and Drives our efforts to recruit, attract, retain and engage the diverse workforce needed to achieve our mission.