Contract Specialist - Public Buildings Service

GSA; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 82,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Thrift Savings Plan

Job summary

GSA is seeking a Contract Specialist to procure a wide range of design, construction, services and/or supplies using diverse acquisition methods. The role involves developing acquisition plans, evaluating proposals, and administering contracts under FAR guidance to ensure timely and compliant project delivery.

The position requires strong knowledge of contracting methods, negotiations, and post-award administration. Candidates should have a bachelor's degree and relevant specialized experience.

Qualifications

• Resume must clearly demonstrate specialized contracting experience across construction, services, and/or supplies.
• Experience evaluating solicitations and proposals, and drafting contract clauses and provisions.
• Familiarity with pre-award, award, and post-award actions and related negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Review procurement requests and determine method of procurement and contract type.
• Prepare solicitation documents and evaluate proposals; draft special provisions for unique procurements.
• Administer contracts under FAR 8 and FAR Part 19 programs and interpret contract obligations.
• Negotiate changes to delivery, schedule, and cost; manage settlements and terminations as needed.
• Close out contracts and finalize settlements, ensuring accountability and compliance.

Skills

Contract management

Procurement planning

Vendor evaluation

Contract negotiations

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree (any field)

24 semester hours in accounting/business/finance/law/contracts

Job description

Summary

As a Contract Specialist, you will procure a wide range of design, construction, services and/or supplies, utilizing a variety of acquisition methods and vehicles.

As a Contract Specialist, you will procure a wide range of design, construction, services and/or supplies, utilizing a variety of acquisition methods and vehicles.

Location of position

Location of position: Public Buildings Service, Acquisition Management Division, in any of the locations listed.

Vacancies

We are currently filling 13 vacancies, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.

Learn more about this agency

Duties

• Review and analyze requests for procurements, revising work statements and drawings or specifications as necessary. Determine the method of procurement and the contract type and develops an acquisition plan to assure project completion in a timely and efficient manner. Research market conditions to assess adequacy of competition.
• Prepare solicitation documents and review or evaluate proposals from prospective contractors, incorporating a range of specialized provisions. Develop special clauses and provisions for unique procurements for which there is no precedent. Prepare and issues solicitation awards. Review contractor proposed small business subcontracting plans.
• Administer awarded contracts, including contracts under a variety of FAR 8 and FAR Part 19 Programs. Conduct initial conferences (post award orientation) with the contractor to provide information, and to maintain liaison with the contractor to interpret contractual obligations and resolve problems. Interpret provisions, provide advice and guidance to contractors and customer agencies’ stakeholders.
• Execute modifications and supplemental agreements; negotiate delivery and progress schedule changes. Determine contract cost changes, price adjustments, progress, partial, and final payments and whether the contractor has fulfilled all contract requirements.
• Close out contracts; issue termination notices; review settlement proposals; and take administrative actions, calculating Government liability, determine settlement costs and negotiate settlement agreements. Review termination notices for extent of action (partial or complete) and for special conditions or instructions.

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 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 2 investigation level).
• Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee. We will use the Department of Homeland Security’s e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a condition of continued employment.

Qualifications

To evaluate your qualifications, your resume must clearly demonstrate how you meet the specialized experience described below. Your resume must not exceed two pages. To ensure your qualifications can be fully evaluated, we recommend including the following information:

• Name, address, telephone number, email address;
• Job Title (if Federal Service, provide series and grade; if not in GS plan, provide GS equivalent grade);
• Relevant work experience—should include employer name, job title, start and end dates (month/year), the number of hours worked per week and descriptions that explain how you meet the required qualifications in the job announcement.
• Education, certifications or licensures—If the job announcement requires any education, certifications or licensures, make sure to include the required information and any required documents like transcripts.

Your resume should contain enough information to make a valid determination that you fully meet experience requirements for each grade level you are applying to. If you do not provide enough information for us to determine your qualifications, you may be rated ineligible.

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.

The GS-12 salary range starts at $90,968 per year and varies by location. 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.

Basic Requirements For GS-12

• A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field; or
• 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.

In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as experience performing contracting assignments for construction, facilities management, professional services, Architecture/Engineering (A/E) services, and other types of projects and/or services using a wide range of contracting methods, contract vehicles and types. Procurement of these supplies and/or services at this level include:

• Planning and carrying out pre-award, award, and post-award acquisition actions;
• Preparing solicitation documentation incorporating necessary specialized provisions, and drafting the final contract;
• Evaluating vendor offers for both technical and price/cost factors as well as evaluating bidders capacity to perform/comply with contract clauses and specifications;
• Planning and conducting negotiations on price, technical requirements, terms, and conditions of the contract;
• Responding to and resolving acquisition questions/issues that require research to provide recommendations/responses;
• Analyzing contracting issues and identifying alternative courses of action.

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.

Additional information

Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

Applicants are encouraged to make their resume searchable in their USAJOBS.gov profile. This will allow Federal hiring specialists and hiring managers across agencies to find their resume as part of agency recruitment campaigns or staffing searches.

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 or visit GSA's webpage.

Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility.

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.

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.

Benefits

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. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

You will have access to many benefits including:

• Health insurance (choose from a wide range of plans)
• Life insurance coverage with several options
• Sick leave and vacation time, including 11 paid holidays per year
• Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k) plan)
• Transit and child care subsidies
• Flexible spending accounts
• Long-term care insurance
• Training and development

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.