Contract Specialist (Open Continuous)

Summary

Contract Specialists plan and manage acquisitions to procure a variety of products and services for NGA. They interact with customers to develop and implement an acquisition strategy, solicit and evaluate proposals, and negotiate and award contracts. They also administer contracts, including monitoring contractor performance, preparing modifications, resolving problems, and terminating and closing

Duties

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This Open Continuous Job Announcement is used in building a pool of qualified applicants. There is no immediate job opening. Applications will be reviewed only when staffing needs arise. Contract Specialists plan and manage acquisitions to procure a variety of products and services for NGA. They interact with customers to develop and implement an acquisition strategy, solicit and evaluate proposals, and negotiate and award contracts. They also administer contracts, including monitoring contractor performance, preparing modifications, resolving problems, and terminating and closing out contracts. They may also hold a warrant that would authorize them to obligate the Government subject to the limitations expressed on their warrant. This position may be eligible for a RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE: selected candidates may be offered an incentive as part of the offer of employment. To receive the incentive, selected candidates must be eligible under 5 CFR Part 575, Subpart A, upon issuance of the Final Offer Letter. Changes in federal employment status prior to issuance of the Final Offer Letter may affect eligibility. To receive the incentive, selected candidates will be required to sign a service agreement to stay within the position at NGA for the agreed upon time. If the service agreement is terminated before its completion, the employee may be required to repay a pro rata share amount of the incentive to the government. Additional information regarding recruitment incentives for current federal employees can be found in DoDI 1400.25, Volume 2006.

Requirements

SPECIAL INFO: As a condition of employment at NGA, persons being considered for employment must meet NGA fitness for employment standards. - U.S. Citizenship - Security Clearance - Top Secret /Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) - Polygraph & Drug Test - Direct Deposit - Trial Period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. We may consider: performance conduct; needs and interests of the agency; and whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government and the efficiency of the Federal service SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: You must be able to obtain and retain a Top Secret security clearance with access to SCI. In addition, you are subject to a Counterintelligence Polygraph examination in order to maintain access to Top Secret information. All employees are subject to a periodic examination on a random basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Refusal to take the examination may result in denial of access to Top Secret information, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs. Employees with SCI access and who are under NGA cognizance are required to submit a Security Financial Disclosure Report, SF-714, on an annual basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Failure to comply may negatively impact continued access to Top Secret information, Information Systems, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs. NGA utilizes all processes and procedures of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). Non-executive NGA employees are assigned to five distinct pay bands based on the type and scope of work performed. The employee's base salary is established within their assigned pay band based on their unique qualifications. A performance pay process is conducted each year to determine a potential base pay salary increase and/or bonus. An employee's annual performance evaluation is a key factor in the performance pay process. This position is a DCIPS position in the Excepted Service under 10 U.S.C. 1601. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are an external applicant claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must self-identify your eligibility.

Qualifications

MANDATORY QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: For this particular job, applicants must meet all competencies reflected under the Mandatory Qualification Criteria to include education (if required). Online resumes must demonstrate qualification by providing specific examples and associated results, in response to the announcement's mandatory criteria specified in this vacancy announcement: Demonstrated experience leading customer interactions to develop acquisition strategies based upon market research and solicitations with selection criteria and/or instructions, enabling contract award per customer requirements. Demonstrated experience leading source selections and/or major sole source procurements consisting of: cost or price analysis, negotiations, and preparation of related contract documentation. Demonstrated knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and other applicable supplements to acquisition processes. Demonstrated experience awarding and administering a variety of contract types, including Firm Fixed Price (FFP), Time and Materials (T&M), Cost-Reimbursement, Incentive, and/or Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ). Demonstrated experience administering complex contracts including monitoring contractor performance in collaboration with Contracting Officer's Representative, preparing a variety of modifications, resolving high impact problems, and terminating and closing out contracts. Demonstrated experience coaching and mentoring junior contract professionals. EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A. Bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees. Reference the DoD Qualification Standard for Contracting Positions for exceptions and waivers. - AND - LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS: Must obtain DAWIA Certification in Contracting, as appropriate for the band, within 36 months of appointment. Once obtained, Defense Acquisition Workforce members must obtain 80 Continuous Learning hours every two years (40 hours per year) from the moment you enter into an acquisition-coded position. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: In addition to the mandatory qualifications, experience in the following is desired: Familiarity with the DoD Source Selection Manual. Experience in Information Technology (IT) acquisitions to include agile software development. Demonstrated ability to develop and implement innovative approaches and/or creative solutions in response to new and emerging ideas. Knowledge of Federal Appropriations Law. Achieved DAWIA Contracting Professional Certification or Federal Acquisition in Contracting Certification (FAC-C) Level II.

How you will be evaluated

Applicants are not required to submit a cover letter for employment consideration with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. However, a cover letter is recommended. Applicants will have the option to attach a cover letter in the Qualifications - Attachments step of the online application. APPLICANT EVALUATION PROCESS: 1) All applicants will be evaluated using the Mandatory Qualification Criteria, 2) Qualified applicants will then be evaluated by an expert or panel of experts using a combination of qualification criteria to determine the best-qualified candidates, 3) Best-qualified applicants may then be further evaluated through an interview process. Military retiree applicants, if selected, may be impacted by the 180-day appointment restrictions of DODI 1402.01. HD personnel will provide additional information if applicable. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the Assignment Description, Additional Information Provided By the Selecting Official, and the Qualification Requirements; and then construct their resumes to highlight their most relevant and significant experience and education for this job opportunity. This description should include examples that detail the level and complexity of the performed work. Applicants are encouraged to provide any education or degree information referenced in the announcement that is relevant. If education is listed as a mandatory requirement, only degrees obtained from an institution accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Secretary, US Department of Education will be accepted. You must use the NGA resume builder and limit your resume to 2 pages. In accordance with section 9902(h) of title 5, United States Code, annuitants reemployed in the Department of Defense shall receive full annuity and salary upon appointment. They shall not be eligible for retirement contributions, participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, or a supplemental or re-determined annuity for the reemployment period. Discontinued service retirement annuitants (i.e., retired under section 8336(d)(1) or 8414(b)(1)(A) of title 5, United States Code) appointed to the Department of Defense may elect to be subject to retirement provisions of the new appointment as appropriate. (See DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300). Reemployed annuitants must meet additional selection criteria as outlined in the DODI 1400.25, v300. All candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation. NGA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applications will only be accepted online. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us at [email protected]. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.

Required documents

None

How to apply

Application submission involves applying using NGA's online application process at NGA Careers Portal. Additional information concerning NGA's hiring process can be found by visiting NGA Hiring Process. All announcements close at 11:59PM EDT on the closing date listed. Be sure to complete and submit your application by that time in order to be considered. ONLY ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Both applicants for employment and current employees of NGA are entitled to request religious accommodations from generally applicable employment-related rules and requirements, so long as the accommodation requested would not result in an undue hardship to the conduct of NGA's business. You can apply for the job opening at https://careers.nga.mil/psp/CAREERS/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=20270033&PostingSeq=2

What to expect next

After visiting the NGA Careers Portal and applying via NGA's online application process, applicants can follow their status via that same NGA online application functionality. Several other topics relating to what is involved in the hiring process and how long it takes can be found by visiting the NGA Hiring Process.