Contract Specialist

Department of Energy - Agency Wide | Pittsburgh, PA

Posted Date 1/04/2023
Description
DOE's Clean Energy Corps is made up of the staff from more than a dozen offices across DOE. As vacancies become available, applicants may be required to go through the DOE Clean Energy Corps hiring pipeline where you may be evaluated based on competencies through a core competency /technical interview(s). You are strongly encouraged to express interest through the Clean Energy Corps Applicant Portal for consideration. Failure to do so may result in loss of consideration for BIL positions.

This series includes positions that manage, supervise, perform, or develop policies and procedures for professional work involving the procurement of supplies, services, construction, or research and development using formal advertising or negotiation procedures; the evaluation of contract price proposals; and the administration or termination and close out of contracts. The work requires knowledge of the legislation, regulations, and methods used in contracting; and knowledge of business and industry practices, sources of supply, cost factors, and requirements characteristics.

  • Vacancies filled under this public notice may have varying levels of promotion potential and supervisory level, if any.
  • Positions may be filled as permanent, term, or temporary with a full-time or part-time work schedule.

As a Contract Specialist you may:

  • Solicit, evaluate, negotiate, and award contracts with commercial organizations, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and State, local or foreign governments for furnishing products, services, construction or research and development to the Federal Government
  • Administer contracts by assuring compliance with the terms and conditions of contracts, including resolution of problems concerning the obligations of the parties
  • Terminate contracts by analyzing, negotiating, and settling claims and proposals
  • Analyze and evaluate cost or price proposals and accounting systems data
  • Plan, establish, or review contracts, programs, policies, or procedures
  • Formulate and administer policies and procedures to ensure achievement of Federal socioeconomic goals, such as those affecting small business, labor surplus areas, and disadvantaged business firms
  • Develop acquisition strategies and direct or manage procurement
  • Provide staff advisory services in one or more of the specializations in this occupation

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR GS-07: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:

  • Assisting in developing solicitation packages that meet all legal, regulatory, and policy requirements in response to the needs of the agency.; AND
  • Assisting with the evaluation of contractual agreements within a set timeframe in order to ensure technical protocol.
OR EDUCATION: 1 full academic year of graduate education or law school.
OR SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Based on a Bachelor's degree that is demonstrated through class standing (upper 1/3 of class); grade point average (3.0/4.0 overall or 3.5/4.0 in major), or election to membership in a qualifying national scholastic honor society.
OR COMBINATION: You may qualify on a combination of education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the educational requirement must equal at least 100 percent.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR GS-09: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:
  • Assisting in developing solicitation packages that meet all legal, regulatory, and policy requirements in response to the needs of the agency.; AND
  • Assisting with the evaluation of contractual agreements within a set timeframe in order to ensure technical protocol.; AND
  • Assisting in pre and post award contract negotiations.
OR EDUCATION: 2 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or masters or equivalent graduate degree or LL.B. or J.D. Graduate Education.
OR COMBINATION: You may qualify on a combination of education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the educational requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR GS-11: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:
  • Applying acquisition, contract, and procurement regulations to prepare solicitations containing appropriate provisions, clauses, terms, and conditions.; AND
  • Evaluating responses to solicitations for price reasonableness and compliance with terms and conditions.; AND
  • Coordinating contract/financial assistance actions with appropriate program/project managers to ensure contract information and documentation is accurate, complete, and timely.
OR EDUCATION: 3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
OR COMBINATION: You may qualify on a combination of education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the educational requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of 36 semester hours (54 quarter hours), may be used to combine education and experience.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR GS-12: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:
  • Evaluating responses to solicitations for price reasonableness, compliance with terms and conditions, and adequacy of competition.; AND
  • Applying acquisition, contract, and procurement regulations to prepare solicitations containing appropriate provisions, clauses, terms, and conditions that communicate the requirements.; AND
  • Administering contracts to include contract scope determinations, contract modifications, supplemental agreements, justifications, approval reviews/fair opportunity evaluations, claims disputes, or contract terminations.
NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12 level.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR GS-13: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:
  • Analyzing, evaluating, approving, or redirecting the strategy, plans, and techniques of pre-award and post-award functions involving highly specialized acquisitions.; AND
  • Conducting acquisition planning and contract pre-award functions.; AND
  • Administering contracts to include contract scope determinations, contract modifications, supplemental agreements, justifications, approval reviews/fair opportunity evaluations, claims disputes, and contract terminations; AND
  • Interpreting and applying relevant laws, regulations, policies, standards, or procedures regarding contracting issues.
NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-13 level.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR GS-14: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility p to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:
  • Planning, establishing, or reviewing contracts, programs, policies, procedures, and negotiation techniques to conduct contract negotiations and deal with high level business and industry.; AND
  • Evaluating or implementing contracting programs.; AND
  • Leading or supervising contracting professionals providing contracting services for the acquisition of a wide range of supplies, services and/or construction.; AND
  • Contracting experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the full range of pre-award and post award activities utilizing a variety of types of contracts.
NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-14 level.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR GS-15: You must have one year of experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility p to the GS-14 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:
  • Developing acquisition strategies and directing or managing procurements.; AND
  • Overseeing contractual actions and all phases of the contract program.; AND
  • Reviewing and analyzing the effects of proposed legislation and other regulations on acquisition programs.; AND
  • Serving as an agency technical authority in the areas of acquisition and procurement.

NOTE: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-15 level.

"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.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

This public notice may be used to fill multiple positions as needed; therefore, applicants must meet the qualifications at the time the applications are reviewed.

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