LEAD CONTRACT SPECIALIST

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The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a contracting team leader and a warranted contracting officer; to provide business advice and to perform all pre-award and post-award functions for a wide variety of complex and/or specialized acquisitions, using a wide range of contracting methods and types; and to procure diversified services, commodities, and/or construction. In order to qualify, you must meet the basic requirements defined in 10 United States Code (USC). This standard implements requirements contained in Title 10, United States Code, Sections 1723 through 1733, as amended by Section 861(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92) and implemented on a policy exception basis by Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment memorandum, Exception to 24 Semester Hours Requirement for Contracting Positions, effective and dated August 2, 2020.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: A bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees, 2 years of experience in contracting positions, and have completed all contracting courses required for a contracting officer for positions at the level and grade at which the person is serving. Certification at this level is sufficient to meet this standard. NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS.

NOTE: The following three exemptions to the basic education requirements above apply to DoD civilian employees or Service members who:

1. Served as a contracting officer with authority to award or administer in excess of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) on or before 30 September 2000;
2. Served, on or before 30 September 2000, in a position as either an employee in the GS-1102 series or as a member of the Armed Forces in a similar occupation specialty;
3. Are an enlisted member of the Contingency Contracting Force (CCF). This exemption only applies to CCF members in their current or future CCF positions. The Bachelor's degree exemption does not apply to current CCF members seeking New Hire employment within DoD as a 1102.

IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENT ABOVE, YOU MUST ALSO MEET THE SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE LISTED BELOW:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-12, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes knowledge of contracting principles, laws, statutes, Executive Orders, regulations, and procedures applicable to pre-award and post-award duties sufficient to develop strategies, goals, and objectives; study problem areas and implement and/or recommend improved methods and operating procedures; and oversee or personally plan and carry out procurement actions, and administer contracts for a variety of specialized services, commodities, and/or construction contracts using a wide range of contracting methods and contract types.

FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-12 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-13 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

1. Professional knowledge of a wide range of Federal contracting laws, regulations, policies, principles, procedures, methods, techniques, practices and contract types applicable to pre-award and post-award actions for a variety of complex contracts for unique services, commodities, and/or construction.
2. Knowledge of the business environment (e.g., economic trends, awareness of commercial/business practices, standards, mergers, and acquisitions, etc.) in order to recognize potential programmatic/contractual impacts, and knowledge of the methods and techniques of fact-finding/market research.
3. Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools used to assist in risk identification, assessment, and mitigation including assessing the probability and consequences of potential problems.
4. Knowledge of contract negotiation, administration, and termination principles, policies, procedures, and technical requirements; and knowledge of price and cost analysis sufficient to review proposals against previous history, actual and estimated expenditures, and established rates to determine price reasonableness or to determine a negotiation position.
5. Skill in team building to bring out the best in team members to promote team performance; effectively establishes performance goals, develops concrete action plans to solve problems, and assesses progress toward their achievement; and to adjust work operations and program objectives to meet emergencies, changing programs, or production requirements within available resources and with minimum sacrifice of quality or quantity of work; and skill in communicating both orally and in writing, clearly, concisely, and with technical accuracy.
6. Ability to identify problems, determine accuracy and relevance of information, use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and make recommendations; makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions applying precedents found in government contracting case law to specific contracting situations to ensure that legally binding contracting officer decisions are consistent, justifiable, and will be upheld at appellate courts or boards; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.