OBJECTIVE
To hire a Contract Specialist who will assist the Office of Acquisition and Assistance Contracting Officer(s).
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The incumbent serves as a Contract Specialist working on actions for the Office of Transition Initiatives, Bureau of Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA/OTI), working in the in the Management Bureau, Office of Acquisition Assistance (M/OAA). The employee is responsible for functions involving highly complex negotiated procurements of significant importance to the Agency. Requirements of the contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, inter-agency agreements are typically highly specialized and involve complex systems or sensitive international programs.
The Contract Specialist is expected to demonstrate significant knowledge of the basic principles of procurement, an ability to conduct research and analysis of a broad spectrum of assistance activities, and an ability to communicate well with a wide variety of potential and actual bidders in the procurement process. This is a key position in a busy office which responds rapidly to crisis situations. For M/OAA to support DCHA/OTI in implementing its rapid response strategy, it is essential that DCHA/OTI prompt procurement support is provided. The incumbent must have a strong sense of responsibility, a high customer service standard, be highly organized, pay close attention to detail, and be able to complete tasks with minimal guidance.
Duties and Responsibilities – GS-11
Under the direct supervision of the Washington-based M/OAA/DCHA/OTI Team Leader or his/her designee, the Contract Specialist will:
· Assist technical offices in the drafting of solicitation language, to ensure compliance with agency acquisition and assistance policies, regulations and procedures, reviewing draft scopes or work to ensure that performance requirements are clearly stated and contractible;
· Assist OAA staff with the preparation and publication of solicitation documents, ensuring that Federal requirements for competition have been adequately addressed; schedule publication/dissemination of solicitation announcements as needed; monitor receipt of bids submitted in response to solicitations; assist in the preparation of documents associated with the technical evaluation of proposals received;
· Assist OAA staff in the preparation of the total procurement package, ensuring that all relevant documentation is completely properly and in a timely manner;
· Advise program officials on acquisition and assistance instruments available for use in implementation of development assistance activities, assisting in the identification of the instrument most appropriate to the specific program objective being addressed;
· Following award of the procurement action, develop schedules for oversight and administration of the award; identify reporting requirements and monitor compliance with reporting requirements; advise OAA staff of issues stemming from noncompliance with contract terms and/or deadlines;
· Upon selection of the successful bidder, assist OAA staff in the conduct of the research and analysis needed to initiate negotiations, including detailed analysis of cost proposals, evaluation of proposed key personnel, and assessment of the viability of proposed schedules and milestones;
· Establish close coordination with the COR/AOR/supervisor on assigned actions; respond to questions from these officials as needed, conferring with the CO/AO as needed;
· Draft procurement documents as requested, including contracts, grants and cooperative agreements, and amendments or terminations thereto;
· Support negotiations of the OAA principle officer (contracting officer, grants officer, etc.), resolving issues independently to the maximum extent possible;
· Perform other Contract Specialist duties as required.
Duties and Responsibilities – GS-12
At the GS-12 level, the incumbent will perform all of the duties of the GS-11 level, with less supervision:
· Assist technical offices in the drafting of solicitation language, to ensure compliance with agency acquisition and assistance policies, regulations and procedures, reviewing draft scopes or work to ensure that performance requirements are clearly stated and contractible;
· Assist OAA staff with the preparation and publication of solicitation documents, ensuring that Federal requirements for competition have been adequately addressed; schedules publication/dissemination of solicitation announcements as needed; monitor receipt of bids submitted in response to solicitations; assist in the preparation of documents associated with the technical evaluation of proposals received;
· Assist OAA staff in the preparation of the total procurement package, ensuring that all relevant documentation is completely properly and in a timely manner;
· Advise program officials on acquisition and assistance instruments available for use in implementation of development assistance activities, assisting in the identification of the instrument most appropriate to the specific program objective being addressed;
· Following award of the procurement action, develop schedules for oversight and administration of the award; identify reporting requirements and monitors compliance with reporting requirements; advise OAA staff of issues stemming from noncompliance with contract terms and/or deadlines;
· Upon selection of the successful bidder, assist OAA staff in the conduct of the research and analysis needed to initiate negotiations, including detailed analysis of cost proposals, evaluation of proposed key personnel, and assessment of the viability of proposed schedules and milestones;
· Establish close coordination with the COTR/AOTR/supervisor on assigned actions; respond to questions from these officials as needed, conferring with the CO/AO as needed;
· Draft procurement documents as requested, including contracts, grants and cooperative agreements, and amendments or terminations thereto;
· Support negotiations on behalf of the OAA principle officer (contracting officer, grants officer, etc.), resolving issues independently to the maximum extent possible;
· Perform other Contract Specialist duties as required.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION
(Determines basic eligibility for the position. Applicants who do not meet all of the education and experience factors are considered NOT qualified for the position. See detailed instructions for demonstrating Education/Experience under “Applying”)
In order to be considered for the position a candidate must meet the Minimum Qualifications listed below. Applicants are encouraged to write a brief appendix to their resume and the OF-612 to demonstrate how prior experience and/or training address each of these factors. (Note that this position starts at the GS-11 level, and may progress to the GS-12 level after 24 months upon receiving an excellent performance review):
At the GS-11 level, the applicant must, at a minimum, have:
• Bachelor’s degree OR successful completion of at least 24 semester (36 quarter) hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economic, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.
• At least 1 year previous work experience directly related to contracting work, such as issuing or responding to solicitations for cost reimbursement or time and materials contracts, negotiating cost/price, terms or other elements of such contracts.
• Demonstrated organizational skills showing attention to detail.
• Demonstrated experience using Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, Google Chrome.
At the GS-12 level, the applicant must, at a minimum, have:
• Bachelor’s degree OR successful completion of at least 24 semester (36 quarter) hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economic, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.
• At least 2 year previous work experience directly related to contracting work, such as issuing or responding to solicitations for cost reimbursement or time and materials contracts, negotiating cost/price, terms or other elements of such contracts.
• Demonstrated organizational skills showing attention to detail.
• Demonstrated experience using Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, Google Doc, ASSIST and other upgraded systems.
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