Contract Specialist (Direct Hire)

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Washington (District of Columbia); Sur place; USD 110 000 - 150 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration in Washington, DC seeks a Senior Contract Specialist to lead pre-award and post-award activities for a range of contracts in support of NASA programs.

The role requires experience with complex procurements, negotiation strategy, and contract administration, with the ability to mentor junior staff and coordinate across stakeholders to achieve procurement objectives.

Qualifications

• Must meet Basic Education requirements, Specialized experience, and Certification/Training as described.
• Experience with complex contracts and pre/post-award actions essential.
• Ability to advise leadership and mentor junior staff on acquisitions.

Responsabilités

• Serve as Senior Contract Specialist for pre-award and/or post-award functions for varied contracts.
• Handle complex contracting and subcontract administration and negotiations.
• Develop contract documentation: modifications, extensions, evaluations, and financial submittals.
• Draft contract instruments with appropriate pricing, terms, and source selection.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to set procurement objectives and strategies.
• Lead negotiations to establish prices and favorable terms; provide guidance to team.

Connaissances

Contract negotiation

Contract administration

Pre-award & post-award

Policy interpretation

Mentorship/training

Formation

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Description du poste

Summary

The NASA Office of Procurement seeks Senior Contract Specialists to perform procurement planning, negotiation, and contract administration in support of NASA programs. The Office of Procurement is structured to provide support to our mission partners regardless of location. This announcement may fill any of NASA Office of Procurement positions.

Duties

• Serves as a Senior Contract Specialist responsible for all pre-award and/or post award functions for a variety of supply, service, research, and/or construction contracts.
• Performs all aspects of contracting for procurements that are complex in nature and require extensive contract and subcontract administration.
• Develops contract-related documentation including incremental funding modifications, change orders, contract extensions, contractor performance evaluations, and reviewing and approving contractor financial reports and other submittals.
• Develops contract instruments representing sound judgement and business acumen (e.g. proper contract type, pricing/other contract provisions, source selection, acquisition method, determination/findings, documentation, and propriety of cited funds).
• Coordinates with mission partners to develop overarching procurement objectives for program and construct contractual instruments accordingly including use of pricing arrangements, subcontracting goals, set-aside policies, and similar considerations.
• Plans and coordinates the negotiation strategy, evaluates with the negotiation team and conduct the negotiations with contractors to develop the contract prices and terms.
• Provides authority for pre/post-award contractual actions providing expert advice, guidance, mentorship, and training to less experienced personnel in order to create and maintain a high degree of competency and professionalism.
• Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships across acquisition Stakeholders to facilitate expert procurement consultation on solution based alternatives to achieving procurement objectives.

Conditions of employment

• This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
• You must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and/or the Travel Requirements for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
• Position subject to pre-employment background investigation or higher-level clearance. Investigation/Clearance may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
• Selectee will have a designated "Home Center", but may be assigned to support programs or projects at any NASA Center using virtual tools and capabilities.
• Selected applicant(s) must be assigned to a duty location listed on the announcement. Selectee(s) will be required to work ON-SITE at the duty location selected.
• This position may require a one-year probationary period. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11. **See Additional Information section*<

Qualifications

You must meet all three requirements listed below; unless you are covered by an exception:

• The mandatory Basic Requirement shown in the Education section below;
• Specialized experience and/or directly related education, as shown below, which has equipped you with the particular competencies needed to successfully perform the duties of this position; and
• Certification/Training requirements.

To qualify for GS-14, you must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level:

• Working with complex contracts with far reaching organizational impacts, pre/post-award actions to procure or administer contracts for a variety of supplies and services;
• Utilizing negotiation techniques sufficient to negotiate prices, terms and conditions, contract modifications, and settlements with representatives of industry and/or other government agencies;
• Advising senior leadership and junior contracting officers on matters pertaining to unprecedented contracting issues, contracting procedures and policy interpretations;
• Leading and/or mentoring junior contract specialists regarding acquisitions and pre/post award issues.

Certification

Possess a valid level III Federal Acquisition Certification-Contracting (FAC-C) or FAC-C (Professional) or level III Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification or DAWIA Professional.

Training

Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for level III Federal Acquisition Certification-Contracting (FAC-C) (NASA-FAC-C-Curriculum-Table.pdf), and at least 4 years of experience in contracting or related positions. At least one year of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level of the position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position.

To be hired for this position, you must possess a valid level III Federal Acquisition Certification-Contracting (FAC-C) or FAC-C (Professional) or level III Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification or DAWIA Professional or must have already completed all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for level III FAC-C and/or FAC-C Professional. If you are currently certified, you may be asked to provide evidence of continuous learning to verify your existing certification. If you are not currently certified, you must apply for certification within 30 days after your start date in this position.

Waiver

For this position, applicants that possess the specialized experience outlined above but do not currently meet the education or training requirements may be eligible to receive the required FAC-C certification. The education or training requirements above may be waived if the NASA Senior Procurement Executive certifies that an applicant possesses significant potential for advancement to levels of greater responsibility and authority, based on demonstrated analytical and decision-making capabilities, job performance, and qualifying experience. If you are hired for this position, you will have up to two years from your start date to obtain FAC-C Level III and/or FAC-C Professional certification, as applicable, under a waiver of the education requirement or up to eighteen months from your start date to meet the training requirement and receive FAC-C Level III certification and/or FAC-C Professional certification, as applicable. If you do not meet the education or training requirements before the period expires, you will be demoted or removed from this position.

The ideal candidate has experience recommending, developing, and implementing policies and procedures to procure supplies, services, for construction or research and development projects using formal advertising or negotiation procedures to evaluate contract price proposals and policies.

Education

• Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS-13 or higher-level contracting positions, including at least 4-years' experience in contracting or related positions. At least 1 year of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level of the position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position.

• A 4-year course of study leading to a minimum of 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.

NOTE: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the basic education requirements for positions they occupied on January 1, 2000; only including positions at the same grade.

U.S. degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be 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/.

All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation.

Additional information

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement.

• Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position.
• Exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position.
• Submit proof that you meet the requirements for ICTAP as indicated in "Required Documents."

Any applicant that received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) from the federal government within the last five years based of the closing date of this announcement, if selected, may be required to repay the full amount prior to establishing a start date.

Per Executive Order 14343, this position is not part of a bargaining unit.

Probationary Period

You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government;
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.