Contracting Specialist - Entry Level (Maryland)

CNSS • National Security Systems; Fort Meade (MD); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

NSA seeks Contracting Specialists to support acquisition activities for mission-critical protections of warfighters globally. You will help manage contracts from market research through award, ensuring compliance with FAR and NSA policies, and pursue required DAWIA certification.

The role emphasizes collaboration with technical experts, rigorous cost estimation, and effective vendor negotiations to optimize contract performance over the life cycle.

Qualifications

• This position requires at least a DAWIA professional certification in Contracting (or plan to achieve within 36 months).
• A degree in any field is acceptable.
• Experience relevant to business management or contracting including using email, spreadsheets, and word processing.

Responsibilities

• Conduct market research.
• Prepare and issue RFPs and RFQs.
• Evaluate proposals from potential contractors/vendors.
• Negotiate contract terms with selected contractors/vendors.
• Evaluate procurements for compliance with funding, legal, and program requirements.
• Prepare and award contracts with supporting documentation per FAR and NSA policy.
• Administer contracts including modifications and payments.
• Collaborate with technical experts to define contract tasks and ensure scope and cost alignment.
• Generate cost estimates using historical data and future projections.

Skills

Effective communication

Problem solving

Interpersonal skills

Partnering

Customer service

Accountability

Continual learning

Resilience

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate's degree

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel

Word

Job description

Start a career where you learn to become an acquisition professional supporting the protection of our warfighters around the world, enabling and assisting operations on land, in air, at sea, in space, and within the cyber domain. Contracting Specialists at NSA acquire the technology, services, and supplies that enable NSA's mission. Contracting Specialists work as part of a team that handles a wide range of acquisition tasks to effectively manage the total acquisition requirements of an organization, department, or program in support of NSA's mission. The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position.

A degree in any field is acceptable.

Relevant experience must be in business management or contracting (for example, acquisition, procurement, program management, finance, accounting, and logistics). Relevant experience must also include using email, spreadsheets, and word processing.

ENTRY/DEVELOPMENTAL

Entry is with a high school diploma or GED plus 4 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's degree plus 2 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree and no experience. Contracting Specialists at NSA acquire the technology, services, and supplies that enable NSA's mission. They also work as part of a team that handles a wide range of acquisition tasks to effectively manage the total acquisition requirements of an organization, department, or program in support of NSA's mission.

Contracting Specialists at NSA award, administer, oversee, and monitor contracts.

Responsibilities May Include The Following

• Conducting market research
• Preparing and issuing Requests for Proposal (RFPs) and Requests for Quote (RFQs)
• Evaluating proposals from potential contractors/vendors
• Negotiating contract terms with selected contractors/vendors
• Evaluating procurements to ensure compliance with funding, legal, and program requirements.
• Preparing and awarding contracts with supporting documentation in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and NSA policy.
• Administering contracts to include issuing modifications and ensuring payment is issued.
• Solving complex and unique challenges that arise throughout the life of a contract
• Interfacing with various levels of personnel, management, and organizations throughout the Agency.
• Meeting frequently with vendors and government technical experts to discuss contract cost, schedule, and performance.
• Completing training in federal acquisition to become certified in Contracting under the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) within 24 months of employment.
• Utilizing Excel and Word at an advanced level on a daily basis to provide analytic support on assigned contracts.
• Monitoring contractor performance and ensuring services are delivered in accordance with contract terms and identifying opportunities to improve contract performance and reduce contract cost.
• Collaborating with technical experts to establish clearly defined contract tasks; validating those tasks are within the contract scope and cost parameters.
• Generating cost estimates using historical data and future projections in an effort to build accurate and reliable spend plans.
• Serving as part of a Source Selection Team and often times serving as the Source Selection evaluation lead or as an administrative lead/liaison with industry.
• Presenting status updates on expenditures, delivery timelines, and contractor performance to senior executive leadership.
• Partnering with finance and mission experts to ensure long-term contracts are properly funded and contract modifications are approved in a timely manner.
• Forecasting requirements for future contracts and meeting with mission to draft pre-solicitation documents.
• Reviewing contract invoices and collaborating with vendors to resolve any errors or issues prior to payment authorization.

Required

This position requires a DAWIA (Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Acct) professional certification in Contracting. A training plan will be put in place to allow the required certification to be achieved within 36 months of employment. The ideal candidate demonstrates the following:

• Effective Communication
• Problem Solving
• Interpersonal Skills
• Partnering
• Customer Service
• Accountability
• Continual Learning
• Resilience