Summary "The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), through strategic partnerships, prepares the federal law enforcement community to safeguard America's people, property, and institutions." We are a unique inter-agency organization preparing the next generation of law enforcement officers to meet our Nation's most pressing security challenges." Click here to learn more. This is an open continuous announcement. The initial cutoff date for this position will be February 21, 2025. Responsibilities Serving as a Contract Specialist, GS-1102-12/13, makes you a valuable member of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) team and mission. This position is located in the Procurement Division under the Mission and Readiness Support Directorate (MRSD). This position serves as a Contract Specialist responsible to perform a full range of pre-award and postaward functions, including price/cost analysis, negotiation, and administration for a wide range of services, supplies, equipment, and construction. Typical duties include: Performing procurement planning, identifying assigned major procurement projects, components, equipment, and services that will be acquired by contract. Developing procurement objectives for the project(s) in terms of competition and price range and constructing the contractual vehicle (solicitation) including use of pricing arrangements, subcontracting policy, set-aside policies, and similar considerations utilizing advice from technical representatives such as the Small Business Specialist, Engineers, and Attorneys. Performing the contractual strategy to be used and developing the procurement plan considering a wide variety of pertinent issues such as funding, the results of market analysis concerning number and competence of sources, delivery requirements, government furnished property (GFP), and possible follow-up requirements or contingencies. Determining the availability of potential suppliers or developing new sources of supply. Preparing and maintaining current acquisition plans, milestones and any other related schedules, such as network analysis charts. Serving as an advisor to program officials in procurement. Preparing, issuing and incorporating contract modifications and resolving issues that may arise after contract is awarded, such as equitable adjustments in price and delivery schedules for settlements in pre­-award and post-award phases of contracting and unilaterally directed work, contractor damages due to late delivery of Government furnished supplies/property, or similar conditions. Preparing and maintaining current acquisition plans, appropriate milestone charts, and related schedules. Determining the most suitable type of contract and incentive structure to use in the procurement. Reviewing procurement requests to assure clarity, adequacy and completeness. Determining the following needs: clauses to cover special conditions, such as inspection and acceptance, marking and packing, price differential, transportation costs, hazardous waste provisions, Automated Data Processing Equipment (ADPE), and software rights. Revising statements of work or specifications, type of contract, milestones, actions to have all or part of the procurement set-aside for small business performance. View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Please limit your resume to 5 pages. If more than 5 pages are submitted, only the first 5 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Please visit www.fletc.gov/site-page/employment-faqs website for further guidance regarding this page limit. Any applications received AFTER 2/21/2025, will be kept in a hold status and will only be reviewed if the hiring manager request additional applications or if other vacancies become available. Selective Placement Factor: You must meet position requirements for a FAC-C (Professional), DoD Contracting Professional, FAC-C Level I, or DAWIA (Contracting) Level I or higher certification. (Please submit a copy of your certificate with your application.) For all Contracting Series, 1102 positions at GS-5 through GS-12: Selectee must meet position requirements for Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) Professional certification within 36 months as of entrance on duty. For all Contracting Series, 1102 positions at GS-13 and above: Applicants seeking to meet the training requirements for GS-13 and above in accordance with the OPM Contracting Series 1102, Hiring Qualifications are required to provide a FAC-C (Professional) or DoD Contracting Professional or FAC-C Level I or DAWIA (Contracting) Level I or higher certification. For the GS-12 grade level the following is required: Exceptions to the Basic Requirements: Federal Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. BASIC EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS: You must have successfully completed a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in any field OR you must possess 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. You must submit a copy of your official college transcript(s) that includes the number of semester or quarter hours completed. AND In addition to the basic educational requirements, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least a GS-11 grade level in the federal service performing the full range of pre-award and post-award functions for a wide range of services, supplies, equipment and construction. For the GS-13 grade level the following is required: BASIC EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS: You must have successfully completed 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. You must submit a copy of your official college transcript(s) that includes the number of semester or quarter hours completed. AND In addition to the basic educational requirements, you must show completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to the GS-13 or higher-level contracting positions, including at least 4 years of experience in contracting-related work. At least one year of that experience must have been equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the federal service performing full range of pre-award and post-award functions for a wide range of services, supplies, equipment and construction (including formulating policies and procedures; developing and presenting terms and conditions in bids or proposals, negotiating and awarding contracts, administering terms and conditions of contracts; and analyzing proposed prices/costs). All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. 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. 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, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP/ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be placed in the well-qualified category for this position, as described above. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Physical Demands: The work requires some physical exertion, such as walking over rough, uneven or rocky surfaces of the type found at construction sites or other outdoor facilities which the contract specialist must visit on a regular and recurring basis; or conducting intensive negotiations for extended periods of time, i.e., four hours or longer without rest periods, and occasionally late in the evening. Some agility is required in walking around or over building materials, excavation sites, and heavy equipment. Work Environment: The work is performed primarily in an office setting which involves everyday risks and discomforts. This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies during the next 90 days. This could result in a few or many vacancies being filled from this announcement. Veterans Preference: Veterans preference does not apply under this Direct-Hire Authority (DHA). Education Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications. Additional Information This position may be filled at the GS-12 or GS-13 level. If selection is made at the GS-12 level, promotion to the GS-13 level may occur without further competition. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement. Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and FLETC policy, FLETC is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at FLETC are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result. Re-employed annuitants' annual salaries will be reduced by the amount of their retirement annuity and by further cost of living increases. FERS retirees receiving a FERS annuity supplement must also be aware that, like social security benefits, their FERS annuity supplement is subject to an earnings test and may be reduced if the salary earned is more than the social security exempt amount of earnings. Additional information is available on OPM's website or by contacting OPM. If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration of Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment. Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, FLETC requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation for Suitability as a condition of placement in this position. This review may include financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to fletc-jobinfo@fletc.dhs.gov.