Contract Specialist

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management’s website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy. BASIC REQUIREMENT: Completion of all mandatory training (FAC-C/DAWIA) 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 this experience meets the specialized experience described below; and, I have a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree, that includes or is 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 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. Applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level or equivalent pay band. This experience includes all the following: Planning, negotiating, awarding, and administering procurements inclusive of all types under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Conducting market research, preparing acquisition plans, and determining contract types and acquisition methodologies. Performing as lead negotiator or facilitator using various funding arrangements and negotiation techniques and applying strategic and innovative methods to meet procurement objectives and acquisition plans. 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. “Experience” refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Work is sedentary. Occasional business travel may be required. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is usually performed in an office setting. NOTE: As of February 1, 2023, the FAC-C certification program has transitioned to a single-level FAC-C (Professional) requirement: DOE is adopting a single level of certification with foundational training and an examination, Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) Professional. New hires without certification shall follow the FAC-C (Professional) requirements. Detailed information on core curricula courses is available at https://www.fai.gov/certification/fac-c/new-fac-c-professional Current federal employees certified at Levels I, II, or III of the legacy FAC-C program will automatically be certified in the FAC-C (Professional). Employees transitioning from DoD with an active DAWIA certification will be eligible for an equivalent FAC-C (Professional), subject to meeting FAC-C (Professional) experience, continuous learning requirements, and obtaining approval from the DOE ACM.
This position is part of the WAPA Headquarters, Department of Energy. As a Contract Specialist, you will be responsible for pre- and post-award functions on simplified and complex, multidisciplinary supply, service, and construction contracts and agreements in support of Westerns mission responsibilities. **This is not a remote position. The selectee will be required to be physically present at one of the duty location(s) identified.**