Summary Please limit your resume to 5 pages. If more than 5 pages are submitted, only the first 5 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. About the Position: Serve as Contract Specialist for research and development (R&D) in secure contracting environment. Develop full service contracting solutions for innovative Army programs. Responsibilities Serves as Contract Specialist in the Contracting Division of a research and development activity. Participates in integrated product/process team (IPT) acquisition planning and acquisition strategy development. Prepares solicitation documents, including advising and assisting in source selection procedures and evaluation criteria and requirement-specific instructions. Conducts business evaluations of proposals, to include cost and/or price analysis, and present results to advisory boards. Conducts negotiations within approved objectives and document results in price negotiation memoranda. Develops Government positions on pre-or post-award protests. Develop and execute, within IPT, administration plans and tasking to ensure contractor performance is in accordance with contract terms. Develops Government positions and take appropriate actions on claims or disputes. Performs contract administrative closeout. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. ALL CURRENT FEDERAL EMPLOYEES MUST ATTACH A CURRENT SF-50 FOR CONSIDERATION. WITHOUT A SF-50, YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE CONSIDERED INCOMPLETE. 30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans Current Department of Army Civilian Employees Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army) Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Interchange Agreement Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce Executive Order (E.O.) 12721 Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473 Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality (NAFI) Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Interchange Agreement Eligible People with Disabilities, Schedule A Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible Re-employed Annuitant Reinstatement Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998 In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. Experience refers to 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. You must submit a copy of ALL your transcripts with this application package, which includes your bachelor's transcripts even if you have a master's degree. Basic Requirement (IOR) for Contract Specialist: Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees. (Official Transcripts must be submitted with conferred date.) OR Exemption: You are exempt from the education requirements above if (A) you are a current civilian employee in DoD who occupied GS-1102 positions or contracting positions with authority to award or administer contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold in an Executive Department on or before September 30, 2000; OR (B) you are a current military member who occupied a similar occupational specialty to the GS (or equivalent)-1102 on or before September 30, 2000. In addition to the basic education requirement listed above, you must also meet the specialized experience requirement listed below: Specialized Experience: In order to qualify for this position, an applicant's resume must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the NH-02 (GS-11 equivalent) grade level in the Federal service which includes: 1) Conducting business evaluations of proposals, to include cost and/or price analysis; 2) Conducting negotiations within approved objectives and document results in price negotiation memoranda; 3) Interpreting acquisition policies, regulations, and practices in regards to government contracts; 4) Managing pre-award and post-award functions involving procurements for various government contracts. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (NH-02/GS-11). You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas: Communications Contracting/Procurement Preparation and Negotiation Solicitation of Offers This is a DOD Demonstration Project position. Under the Defense Authorization Act, personnel management demonstration programs are operating in numerous Army activities and various other organizations supported by Army civilian personnel centers. Under the streamlined personnel operations for the demonstration projects, the familiar 15 General Schedule grade structure is replaced with broad pay bands that typically encompass a range of grades. For example, acquisition jobs in level NH-III of broad banding encompass the traditional GS-12 through GS-13 grades. Other initiatives under the demonstration projects include simplified job classification, streamlined hiring processes, and expanded developmental opportunities. Acquisition Back To Basics: This is an Army Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Workforce position IAW DODI 5000.66. Selectee must meet position requirements for (Contracting Professional-C) certification within 36 months as of entrance on duty. Education FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been 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://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Basic Education Requirement (IOR) for Contract Specialist: Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees. (Official Transcripts must be submitted with conferred date.) **You must submit a copy of ALL your transcripts with this application package, which includes your bachelor's transcripts even if you have a master's degree. Position does not allow for substituting education for experience. Additional Information Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. One year trial/probationary period may be required. Direct deposit of pay is required. This position requires you to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. This is a(n) (Contracting) Career Field position. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest. Relocation Incentive may be authorized for this position if determined to be in the best interest of the federal government. You will be required to undergo a background investigation leading to the successful adjudication of eligibility for a TOP Secret Security clearance, which also requires drug testing prior to entering the position and randomly thereafter. Please limit your resume to 5 pages. If more than 5 pages are submitted, only the first 5 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.