Acquisitions Specialist

You must meet both the Basic Requirement and the Specialized Experience to qualify for this series as described below. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS A qualified candidate’s online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for these positions is defined as: GS-11: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-09). Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting at least 2 of 4 of the following: Assisting with conducting necessary pre-award activities such as ensuring that the bid schedule is properly structured, preparing the solicitation, determining sources to be solicited, conducting pre-bid conferences, processing protests, determining the responsiveness of bids and determining the responsibility of the apparent low bidder based on an analysis of financial and technical information gained during the pre-award survey, and awarding or recommending award of the contract. Preparing determinations and findings of fact relative to negotiations and pricing actions. Analyzing problem situations relating to acquisitions such as incomplete specifications, deficient property, material shortages, or terminations for convenience. Reviewing completed official contract files to determine that all contractual actions are satisfied, that there are no pending administrative actions to be resolved, that all file documents are signed, that there are no litigation actions pending, and that the contract is complete in every respect and ready to be closed. OR 3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. For this position, this is defined as a degree in accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, organization and management, or similarly related major. OR Combination of education and experience as described above. Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first two years of full-time study may be credited). GS-12: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-11). Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting at least 2 of 4 of the following: Performing market or price analysis to determine availability of products or producers or reasonable of prices. Conducting necessary pre-award activities such as ensuring that the bid schedule is properly structured, preparing the solicitation, determining sources to be solicited, conducting pre-bid conferences, processing protests, determining the responsiveness of bids and determining the responsibility of the apparent low bidder based on an analysis of financial and technical information gained during the pre-award survey, and awarding or recommending award of the contract. Monitoring contractor performance in relation to the completion schedule required by the contract and issuing change orders occasioned by changes in mission requirements, defective specifications, changed site conditions, or changes in furnished property. Reviewing procurement requests to determine whether the procurement can be performed by small businesses and locating and furnishing information on capable small and disadvantaged business firms for consideration as potential sources for current and future acquisitions. GS-13: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-12). Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting at least 3 of 6 of the following: Independently conducting pre-award activities for complex equipment, services, and/or construction including reviewing requests, preparing solicitation documents, analyzing proposals for conformance with the solicitation, and negotiating with potential contractors. Performing industry analysis to identify technological and performance changes in products. Performing various contract administration functions, such as verifying evidence of contractor’s progress; reviewing and making recommendations on dicing reports; reviewing and negotiating orders; reviewing and providing recommendations on contractor proposals; negotiating delivery schedule changes; monitoring contractor’s compliance, regulatory, and statutory provision; monitoring expenditures on cost, incentive, and certain fixed-price contracts requiring funds control; reporting on anticipated deviations from estimated costs; and performing pre-award surveys; Forecasting price trends, economic factors, and efficiencies in production for future accounting periods using analytical techniques such as random sampling, computerized cost models, statistical graphs and learning curves; evaluates the effects on cost of multi-plant operations, fluctuating production volume engineering, tooling, preproduction costs, compensation, pensions, and purchasing practices. Advising management and contracting officers on matters pertaining to contracting policies and procedures. Developing guidance material or conducting training for contracting personnel. GS-14: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-13). Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting at least 3 of 6 of the following: Serving as lead negotiator for contracting activities: including planning the negotiation strategy, coordinating strategy with negotiation team, and leading the negotiations. Serving as advisor to program officials in procurement planning meetings including advising program officials of the procurement objectives to be used, and assisting in the preparation of statements of work. Developing and maintaining systems to evaluate and monitor contractual performance related to such areas as delivery, cost, amount of progress or advance payments, effective use of furnished property, scheduling and usage of facilities, and management of overhaul or maintenance and repair efforts; Analyzing elements such as the various expense pools, labor rates, contractor’s business volume forecast, economic conditions, business trends, union agreements, local labor market conditions, and inflation rates. Initiating, developing, and recommending contracting policies and procedures for the guidance and control of subordinate contracting activities; Reviewing, evaluating, and providing specific guidance concerning contracting policies and procedures relative to facilities, special tooling, special test equipment, component breakout, warranties, recovery of nonrecurring costs, high dollar spare parts breakout program, industrial preparedness, production planning, and/or interorganizational coordinated procurements. GS-15: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-14). Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting at least 2 of 3 of the following: Directing the full range of contract administration actions required for an acquisition program, including the issuance of contract modifications, negotiation of changes, exercise of options, investigation and resolution of contractor delays, contractor performance appraisal, subcontractor surveillance, disposition of claims, and similar matters; Planning, developing, and establishing the contractual strategy for an overall acquisition program. Serving as principal contracting advisor to the program management office, and represents the company/agency as the program’s contractual authority at conferences and meetings. NOTE: At the GS-12 through GS-15 levels, specialized experience cannot be replaced by education.
These positions will be filled under the OPM Direct Hire Authority for STEM roles in the 1102 Acquisitions series, grades GS 11-15. This serves as a public notice for the use of the Direct Hire Authority in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3327 and 3330 and 5 CFR 330. Under this recruitment process, applications will be accepted for each location/ installation identified in this Public Notice. There may or may not be actual/projected vacancies at the time you submit your application.