Contract Specialist

Duties

• Serves as a Senior Contract Specialist responsible for all pre-award and/or post award functions for a variety of supply, service, research, and/or construction contracts.
• Performs all aspects of contracting for procurements that are complex in nature and require extensive contract and subcontract administration.
• Develops contract-related documentation including incremental funding modifications, change orders, contract extensions, contractor performance evaluations, and reviewing and approving contractor financial reports and other submittals.
• Develops contract instruments representing sound judgement and business acumen (e.g. proper contract type, pricing/other contract provisions, source selection, acquisition method, determination/findings, documentation, and propriety of cited funds).
• Coordinates with mission partners to develop overarching procurement objectives for program and construct contractual instruments accordingly including use of pricing arrangements, subcontracting goals, set-aside policies, and similar considerations.
• Plans and coordinates the negotiation strategy, evaluates with the negotiation team and conduct the negotiations with contractors to develop the contract prices and terms.
• Provides authority for pre/post-award contractual actions providing expert advice, guidance, mentorship, and training to less experienced personnel in order to create and maintain a high degree of competency and professionalism.
• Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships across acquisition Stakeholders to facilitate expert procurement consultation on solution based alternatives to achieving procurement objectives.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S
• Position subject to pre-employment background investigation
• Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and/or the Risk Designation for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements
• Selectee will have a designated "Home Center", but may be assigned to support programs or projects at any NASA Center using virtual tools and capabilities
• Duty location will be determined upon selection and will be at one of the locations indicated on the announcement. Selectee(s) may be required to work onsite at the duty location selected.

Qualifications

Specialized Experience:
In addition to the Basic Requirement (shown below), you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade, and/or directly related education, as shown below, which has equipped you with the particular competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of this position.

To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level

• Working with complex contracts with far reaching organizational impacts, pre/post-award actions to procure or administer contracts for a variety of supplies and services;
• Utilizing negotiation techniques sufficient to negotiate prices, terms and conditions, contract modifications, and settlements with representatives of industry and/or other government agencies;
• Advising senior leadership and junior contracting officers on matters pertaining to unprecedented contracting issues, contracting procedures and policy interpretations;
• Leading and/or mentoring junior contract specialists regarding acquisitions and pre/post award issues

Required Selective Factor:
You must also meet one of the following requirements to be considered for this position:

A. Certification: Possess a valid level III Federal Acquisition Certification-Contracting (FAC-C) or level III Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification

OR

B. Training: Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for level III Federal Acquisition Certification-Contracting (FAC-C) (https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/other/NASA-FAC-C-Curriculum-Table.pdf), and at least 4 years of experience in contracting or related positions. At least one year of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level of the position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position.

Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job.

The ideal candidate has experience recommending, developing, and implementing policies and procedures to procure supplies, services, for construction or research and development projects using formal advertising or negotiation procedures to evaluate contract price proposals and policies.

Education

Basic Requirement:

1. Completion of all mandatory training 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 that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level of the position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position,

AND

2. 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.

NOTE: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the basic education requirements for positions they occupied on January 1, 2000; only including positions at the same grade.

U.S. degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation.

Additional information

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement_. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s)_ within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement.

If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must:
- Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility.
- Meet the minimum qualifications requirements for the position
- Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in 'Required Documents'

For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/#ictap.

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How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Direct Hire Authority: These positions will be filled through the Office of Personnel Management's Direct Hire Authority. Category rating and veterans' preference will not be considered in evaluating applicants. For more information on Direct Hire Authority, please see: OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet.

Veterans: Under the provisions of Direct Hire Authority, veterans' preference does not apply. However, applicants who are eligible for veterans' preference are encouraged to include that information in their application and submit supporting documentation (i.e. DD-214, or other substantiating documents). For more information please see: Veterans' Preference information on the FedsHireVets website.

You will be evaluated for this position based on how well you meet the qualifications and eligibility requirements listed in this vacancy announcement. To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

You will be assessed on the following competencies:

• Acquisition and Contract Management
• Contracting/Procurement
• Decision Making
• Procurement Planning and Contract Formation

NASA considers 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.