Summary As a Contract Specialist, you will plan and manage highly specialized procurements within the industries delegated to this portfolio, of significant importance to the Government, an Agency and/or the Nation. Location of position: Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) - Office of Travel, Transportation, and Logistics - Office of Acquisition Operations (QMA). We are currently filling four vacancies, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed. Responsibilities Apply principles and policies of Federal government technology related programs such as Federal Enterprise Architecture, FISMA/FedRAMP, Technology Business Management Framework, Section 508 accessibility, human centered design, and agile development to acquire critical government-wide IT services and solutions. Apply digital services purchasing best practices in accordance with the USDS Digital Services Playbook. Provide assisted acquisition services to a variety of customers, applying DoD and other agency-specific acquisition regulations. Perform the full range of pre and post-award acquisition activities. Develop procurement objectives, schedules procurement activities to ensure timely contract award, determines types of contracts, and determines any special regulatory or statutory requirements that are applicable to the acquisition. Identify procurement objectives and methodologies; develop statements of work; perform analyses of elements of cost; make competitive range determinations; conduct pre-proposal conferences; plan comprehensive negotiation strategy; coordinate with technical experts, lead negotiations and award contracts. Prepare determinations, findings, and solicitation documents. Perform detailed analyses of all elements of price in contractor proposals and make competitive range determinations. Conduct pre-proposal conferences with prospective contractors to arrive at a clear understanding of what is required under the proposed contract. Obtain appropriate data from business and technical officials. Function as lead contract negotiator in developing pre-negotiation strategies. Coordinate with a broad range of Federal customers, Federal finance organizations, legal, and other interested parties. Serve as principal advisor to program officials, providing expert guidance on the use of performance-based contracting methodologies including the development of Statements of Objectives (SOO), Performance Work Statements (PWS), Quality Assurance Surveillance Plans (QASP), and Service Level Agreements (SLA). Represent the agency in procurement planning meetings. Provide expert technical guidance, coordination, and consultation to identify procurement objectives and methodologies, implement new developments, and provide policy interpretation to various contracting activities. Direct the full range of contract administration actions required for the programs. Manage and advise program officials on post-award performance management and methodologies. Terminate contracts for the convenience of the Government or default by the contractor. Issue necessary modifications. As needed explore new or innovative contracting approaches to arrive at an equitable contractual arrangement. Direct disposition of claims and similar matters. Respond to pre- and post-award protests at a variety of forums, including agency, GAO, and the Court of Federal Claims (COFC). Contract types and solicitation methods as part of this position may include the following: Firm-Fixed Price (FFP), Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment (FP-EPA), Fixed Price (FP) with various incentives, Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), Cost-type contracts, Requirements contracts, Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs), Acquisition of Commercial Items, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Contracting by Negotiation, ordering from Federal Supply Schedules, Emergency Acquisitions, task and delivery order awards, and Assisted Acquisitions on behalf of customer agencies. We are currently filling four vacancies in the following FAS organizations - Light Vehicles Acquisition Branch (QMAAA) - 1 Medium and Heavy Acquisition Branch (QMAAB) - 1 Fleet Acquisition Branch (QMAACA) - 1 Travel Acquisition Branch (QMACB) - 1 Requirements Conditions of Employment US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) Meet all eligibility criteria within 30 days of the closing date Meet time-in-grade within 30 days of the closing date, if applicable Register with the Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959 If selected, you must meet the following conditions: Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non­Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service. Serve a one year probationary period, if required. Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 4 investigation level). Complete a financial disclosure report to verify that no conflict, or an appearance of conflict, exists between your financial interest and this position. Qualifications For each job on your resume, provide: the exact dates you held each job (from month/year to month/year) number of hours per week you worked (if part time). If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume. For a brief video on creating a Federal resume, click here. If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected. The GS-14 salary range starts at $122,198 per year. The salary shown in this announcement does not include locality pay. Locality pay will be determined once the selectee's duty location has been established. To view current locality rates, visit - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2024/general-schedule You must meet the requirements in 1, 2, or 3 below: 1. All of a, b, and c below: (a) Completion of Training/Certification: FAC-C (Professional) or DoD Contracting Professional Certification. (b) At least 4years of experience in contracting or related positions including 1 year of specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the level described below; and (c) Completion of 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. 2. Exception: If you were in a GS-1102 position on January 1, 2000, you will be exempt from meeting the educational requirements for the grade level of that position. However, to be promoted you will have to meet Option 1 or 3. 3. Waiver: GSA's senior procurement executive has the discretion to waive any or all of the requirements in 1 above. Note: Candidates that are missing either the 24 hours of business credit and/or the mandatory training certification, but are determined to be otherwise eligible, can be placed on a waiver certification by the HR staffing specialist. Specialized experience is one year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as either A or B listed below: A. Experience utilizing contracting regulations, policies, and procedures to: - perform the full range of highly complex pre-award and post-award activities on various contract types such as fixed price, fixed price economic price adjustment, various cost type contracts, requirements contracts, performance based acquisitions, and multiple award schedules; - perform delivery/task order placement and administration against multiple award contracts and/or requisitions; - defend pre-award and/or post-award protests, contract claims, and contract disputes; - lead or work as part of an effective, integrated project team and serve as principal contracting advisor to junior contract specialists and coworkers. B. Leading or supervising contracting professionals providing contracting services for the acquisition of a wide range of supplies and services (professional and non-professional). Examples must detail evidence of professional potential, business acumen, strong oral/written communication, and relationship building in order to procure a variety of complex or specialized products and/or services. Must hold or have the ability to obtain a senior level warrant and obtain and maintain signature authority. This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcript(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcements to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. Education Note: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/ Additional Information Bargaining Unit Status: This position is ineligible for the bargaining unit. If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency at FairChanceActComplaint@gsa.gov or visit GSA's webpage. Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility. On a case-by-case basis, the following incentives may be approved: Recruitment incentive if you are new to the federal government Relocation incentive if you are a current federal employee Credit toward vacation leave if you are new to the federal government Additional vacancies may be filled through this announcement in this or other GSA organizations within the same commuting area as needed; through other means; or not at all. GSA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility that goes beyond our compliance with EEO regulations including: Valuing and embracing diversity, promoting equity, inclusion and accessibility, and expecting cultural competence; and Fostering a work environment where all employees, customers and stakeholders feel respected and valued. Our commitment is: Reflected in our policies, procedures and work environment; Recognized by our employees, customers and stakeholders; and Drives our efforts to recruit, attract, retain and engage the diverse workforce needed to achieve our mission.