Contract Specialist - Arlington, VA

MSCCN; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is seeking a Contract Specialist to lead pre-award and post-award procurement actions for goods and services in support of DHS and CISA programs. The role requires extensive contracting knowledge, cost analysis, and guidance on procurement regulatory compliance.

Positions at GS-11/12/13 levels offer developmental opportunities with advancement to full performance, handling complex, high-dollar contracts while

Qualifications

• Basic education requirement: bachelor’s degree in any field or equivalent
• Specialized experience for GS-11/12/13 levels in pre- and post-award procurement
• Experience reviewing statements of work and technical evaluation criteria
• Ability to develop solicitation packages and source selection documentation
• Knowledge of contracting laws, regulations, and policies
• Warrant/signee authority or potential for contracting officer role (as applicable)

Responsibilities

• Plan, solicit, negotiate, award, administer, terminate, and close out contracts
• Review statements of work and evaluation criteria for completeness and alignment
• Determine contract type, milestones, and procurement strategy
• Prepare contract files, source lists, and procurement packages
• Identify sources, promote competition, evaluate bids or proposals
• Perform cost and price analysis to ensure fair pricing
• Coordinate with program offices and vendors on procurement matters
• Ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and security requirements
• Provide guidance to program offices and lower-graded specialists
• Safeguard government interests in contractual relationships

Skills

Contracting knowledge

Negotiation

Cost analysis

Contract administration

Procurement planning

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

GSA schedules

FAR/DFAR knowledge

Job description

ATTENTION MILITARY AFFILIATED JOB SEEKERS - Our organization works with partner companies to source qualified talent for their open roles. The following position is available to Veterans, Transitioning Military, National Guard and Reserve Members, Military Spouses, Wounded Warriors, and their Caregivers. If you have the required skill set, education requirements, and experience. All positions are onsite, unless otherwise stated.

Position Title: Contract Specialist

Series/Grade: GS-1102-11/12/13

Position Description: PD 088003, GS-1102-11 PD 088004, GS-1102-12 PD 088005, GS-1102-13

Agency/Component/Office: Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Office of the Chief Acquisition Executive

Location: Arlington, VA

Full Performance Level: GS-13

Promotion Potential: GS-13

Who May Apply:

• Veterans with a 30% or more service-connected disability rating
• Individuals eligible under Schedule A (5 CFR 213.3102(u))

Summary: The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is the Nation’s risk advisor, working with partners to defend against today’s threats and build more secure and resilient infrastructure for the future. This position is located in CISA’s Office of the Chief Acquisition Executive. The Office of the Chief Acquisition Executive supports CISA’s mission through effective acquisition program management and procurement support, execution, oversight, and governance. The incumbent serves as a Contract Specialist responsible for pre-award and post-award procurement actions related to the acquisition of goods and services supporting DHS and CISA programs and operations. Duties include acquisition planning, solicitation development, contract award, cost and price analysis, contract administration, modifications, claims, terminations, closeout, and ensuring cybersecurity, supply chain, system, network, and performance requirements are addressed in contract actions. At the GS-11 and GS-12 levels, the position is developmental and prepares the incumbent for advancement to the full performance level. At the GS-13 level, the incumbent serves as a primary contact and consultant for complex procurement functions and may serve as a contracting officer with limited or unlimited signature authority for pre-award and/or post-award actions involving large-dollar, complex, and/or sensitive contracts.

Major Duties:

• Plan, solicit, negotiate, award, administer, terminate, and close out contracts for supplies, equipment, services, and other mission-support requirements.
• Review and analyze statements of work, specifications, technical evaluation plans, and technical evaluation criteria to ensure documents are complete, accurate, enforceable, and aligned with procurement objectives.
• Determine appropriate contract type, establish acquisition milestones, and formulate procurement strategies.
• Prepare file documentation, solicitation documents, source lists, procurement packages, contract award documentation, and related acquisition records.
• Identify sources of supply, promote competition, solicit quotes or proposals, and evaluate vendor submissions.
• Perform cost and price analysis to determine fair and reasonable pricing.
• Evaluate bids and proposals, obtain audits or pricing reports when needed, and negotiate price, technical issues, terms, and conditions with offerors or contractors.
• Ensure offerors and contractors are eligible for award and that awards comply with applicable laws, regulations, executive orders, policies, procedures, clearances, and approvals.
• Administer contracts by verifying contractor progress, reviewing performance, negotiating modifications, coordinating extensions of periods of performance, resolving delivery and acceptance disputes, reviewing claims, issuing termination notices, and conducting closeout actions.
• Approve or support approval of partial and final payments consistent with contract requirements and delegated authority.
• Develop and incorporate contract provisions, clauses, and special terms and conditions to address unique procurement requirements.
• Ensure acquisitions, procurements, and outsourcing efforts address information security requirements consistent with organizational goals.
• Ensure supply chain, system, network, performance, and cybersecurity requirements are included in contract language and delivered.
• Work with the Contracting Officer or Head of Contracting Activity, as applicable, to ensure contractual requirements are properly executed and monitored.
• Prepare debriefing documentation, protest and termination case documents, correspondence, and other acquisition-related written products.
• Report suspected unlawful behavior by offerors or contractors to appropriate authorities.
• Provide advice and guidance to program offices, field offices, user functions, and lower-graded specialists regarding procurement and contract matters.
• Safeguard the Government’s interests in contractual relationships.

Required Experience

Qualifications:

Basic Requirement for GS-1102 Contracting Series: Applicants must meet the applicable basic education requirement for the Contracting Series, GS-1102. This generally includes completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree with a major in any field, or other qualifying education and/or experience as permitted under the applicable OPM qualification standard and agency policy. Applicants should provide transcripts and any required documentation to support the basic education requirement. HR will determine whether the basic requirement is met.

Specialized Experience: GS-11: To qualify at the GS-11 level, applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level in the Federal service, or equivalent public or private sector experience, performing duties such as:

• Supporting pre-award or post-award procurement actions.
• Reviewing statements of work, specifications, or technical evaluation criteria.
• Preparing solicitation, award, or contract file documentation.
• Assisting with cost or price analysis.
• Supporting contract administration, modifications, claims review, termination actions, or closeout.
• Applying contracting policies, procedures, or regulations to procurement actions.
• Coordinating with program offices, vendors, contractors, or other stakeholders on procurement matters.

Education substitution may be available at this grade level if permitted under the applicable OPM qualification standard and the announcement. HR will determine whether education may substitute for specialized experience.

GS-12: To qualify at the GS-12 level, applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service, or equivalent public or private sector experience, performing duties such as:

• Planning and executing difficult procurement actions for supplies, equipment, services, or other requirements.
• Determining contract type, establishing milestones, and developing procurement strategy.
• Conducting cost or price analysis to determine fair and reasonable pricing.
• Preparing or reviewing solicitation documents, contract provisions, clauses, or special terms and conditions.
• Evaluating vendor proposals or bids.
• Negotiating price, technical issues, or contract terms and conditions.
• Performing post-award contract administration, including modifications, performance monitoring, claims review, termination actions, or closeout.
• Ensuring procurement actions comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures, clearances, and approvals.
• Coordinating cradle-to-grave procurement activities with program offices and other stakeholders.

Education generally may not be substituted for specialized experience at the GS-12 level. HR will confirm applicable qualification rules.

Preferred Experience

Desired Background: The following experience is not necessarily required unless included in the official announcement, but may be useful for candidates applying to this type of role:

• Experience supporting DHS, CISA, DoD, or other federal acquisition environments.
• FAC-C Level II, DAWIA Level II, or equivalent contracting certification.
• Experience with complex service contracts, IT/cybersecurity acquisitions, supply chain risk considerations, or mission-support contracts.
• Experience using GSA schedules, strategic sourcing vehicles, or other federal contract vehicles.
• Experience coordinating directly with program offices, legal counsel, contractors, contracting officers, or acquisition review officials.
• Experience preparing or reviewing contract files for compliance, audit readiness, or protest support.
• Experience incorporating cybersecurity, information security, supply chain, system, network, or performance requirements into contract language.
• The GS-12 and GS-13 PDs state that the position requires Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Level II or Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Level II. HR and the hiring office should confirm the applicable certification requirement for each grade and any allowed timeframe for completion.

Required Skills

GS-13: To qualify at the GS-13 level, applicants must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service, or equivalent public or private sector experience, performing duties such as:

• Serving as a primary contact and consultant for complex procurement functions.
• Planning, executing, administering, terminating, and closing out complex, high-dollar, sensitive, specialized contracts.
• Developing unique or complex solicitation terms and conditions.
• Evaluating cost and price proposals for complex requirements.
• Determining advantageous contracting methods and procurement strategies.
• Negotiating costs, prices, terms, and conditions with offerors or contractors.
• Ensuring awards and contract actions comply with applicable law, regulation, executive orders, policies, and procedures.
• Preparing or supporting debriefings, protests, terminations, and related case documentation.
• Providing procurement guidance to program offices, user functions, field offices, or lower-graded specialists.
• Serving as a contracting officer with limited or unlimited warrant/signature authority, if applicable.
• Ensuring information security, cybersecurity, supply chain, system, network, and performance requirements are included in contract language and delivered.

Education generally may not be substituted for specialized experience at the GS-13 level. HR will confirm applicable qualification rules.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Successful candidates will have knowledge, skills, and abilities in areas such as:

• Federal contracting principles, concepts, laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Federal Acquisition Regulation and related acquisition guidance.
• Pre-award and post-award contracting.
• Formal advertising and negotiated procurement procedures.
• Contract types, clauses, provisions, terms, and conditions.
• Cost and price analysis.
• Proposal evaluation and source selection support.
• Contract administration, modifications, claims, terminations, and closeout.
• Procurement strategy and acquisition planning.
• Supplier, contractor, and vendor evaluation.
• Protest procedures and documentation.
• Detection of procurement irregularities or fraudulent practices.
• Cybersecurity, information security, supply chain, system, network, and performance requirements in contract language.
• Written communication, including procurement documentation, correspondence, debriefings, protest files, and termination case documents.
• Oral communication, negotiation, problem resolution, and stakeholder coordination.

Additional Qualifications/Responsibilities

Resume Guidance for Applicants: Applicants should ensure their resumes clearly show:

• Job title.
• Employer.
• Start and end dates by month and year.
• Hours worked per week.
• Grade level, if federal.
• Contracting duties performed in each position.
• Types of contracts supported.
• Dollar value, complexity, and scope of contract actions, where appropriate.
• Pre-award and post-award responsibilities.
• Cost and price analysis experience.
• Negotiation experience.
• Contract administration experience.
• FAR, policy, or regulatory experience.
• Contracting officer warrant or signature authority, if applicable.
• FAC-C, DAWIA, or other acquisition certifications.
• Experience incorporating cybersecurity, supply chain, system, network, information security, or performance requirements into contract language.

Federal HR can only evaluate what is explicitly documented in the resume. Applicants should not rely on HR to infer experience from job titles, certifications, or general acquisition terminology.

Certificates/Security Clearances/Other

Desired Certifications:

• FAC-C, DAWIA, or other acquisition certifications.