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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a Contract Specialist Near Asheville, NC

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/08/2023.

Basic Requirements: 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.
and
A 4-year course of study leading to 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.

Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. This also applies to positions at the same grade in the same agency or other agencies if the specialized experience requirements are met. However, they will have to meet the basic requirements and specialized experience requirements in order to qualify for promotion to a higher grade, unless granted a waiver.

Waiver: When filling a specific vacant position, the senior procurement executive of the selecting agency, at his or her discretion, may waive any or all of the requirements of Paragraphs A and B above if the senior procurement executive certifies that the 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. With respect to each waiver granted under this Paragraph D, the senior procurement executive must document for the record the basis of the waiver. If an individual is placed in a position in an agency on the basis of a waiver, the agency may later reassign that individual to another position at the same grade within that agency without additional waiver action.

Note: The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) does not grant Academic degrees; therefore courses completed at the DAU are not creditable towards meeting the 24 semester hour requirement, in the fields identified above, unless the coursework has been evaluated by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and appears on a college or university transcript.

Specialized Experience GS-13: Applicants must also meet the specialized experience requirement for the GS-13 grade. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education described below for the GS-13 Contract Specialist position:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-12) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience includes experience with: Knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (or similar), Department of Veterans Affair Acquisitions Regulations (or similar), contract law, and procedures applicable to acquisition and contract administration including change orders, supplemental agreements, terminations, claims, and close out of contracts. Experience with cost/price analysis techniques used in evaluation of contractor proposals, change order proposals and to conduct negotiations. Experience with various types of contracts including firm-fixed price, firm-fixed price with economic price adjustments, and cost reimbursement, and contract methods to include simplified acquisitions, sealed bidding, negotiations, cost sharing, multiply awards, commercial items and special provisions. Experience with negotiation techniques sufficient to negotiate prices, terms and conditions, contract modifications and settlements. Knowledge of program objectives, technical terminology and uses of equipment, architect engineering services or construction services to be procured to plan, negotiate, and administer the contract. Experience with commercial and industrial business practices to identify sources, analyze cost and pricing data. Knowledge of the market and sources to include identification of offerors in specific socio-economic categories eligible for set-asides. Experience with contract administration principles and practices sufficient to monitor contractor performance and compliance with all terms and conditions of the contract. Knowledge of the Agency's electronic Contract Writing and Management System (i.e. e-CMS or similar) and experience fully solicit, award, and administer contract.
• Education: There is no education substitute for the GS-13 grade.

Preferred requirements are available on the following FAC link: www.fai.gov/drupal/certification/contracting-fac-cExperience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

For more information on these qualification standards, visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Responsibilities:

The Contract Specialist serves as a member of acquisition planning teams. Aids requiring activities in performing market research, reviewing specifications and statements of work, and approving acquisition milestone plans. Ensures that specifications and statements of work are prepared in a manner which adequately describes the Government's requirements without restricting competition. Performs a complete review of recommended sole-source requirements and conducts necessary market analyses to test the noncompetitive assumptions of requisitions. The Contract Specialist is solely responsible for selecting the appropriate method of procurement i.e. simplified acquisition procedures, sealed biding, negotiations. Advertises all applicable requirements and preparing the solicitation document using agency contract writing systems for issuance, insuring the regulatory and legal sufficiency, and promoting maximum competition. Conducts public bid openings, reviews bids, and determines responsiveness and responsibility of low bidder in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements when using sealed beading. Conducts negotiations for competitive and noncompetitive procurements. Conducts cost and/or price analysis of offerors' proposals, reviews auditors' reports for adequacy of analysis and conclusions, and considers all information in developing an overall pricing negotiation strategy. Prepares detailed price negotiation memoranda, outlining in writing the details of negotiations with contractors in competitive and noncompetitive negotiations. Provides signatory authority and executes contract awards within warrant authority. Serves as a contract administrator on awarded contracts. Conducts post-award conferences. Resolves problems of delivery, production, quality, inspections and other pertinent matters. Performs cost/price analysis on change order proposals and analysis of delivery requirements. Negotiates prices and/or additional time required for performance and consideration on behalf of the Government. Administers payment provisions of the contract for partial payments, progress payments and final payments. Assures compliance with applicable labor laws. Closes out contract upon completion of the contract, resolution of all conflicts, and final disposition of payment. Archive contract records in accordance with agency procedures. Utilizes electronic systems for contract writing (i.e. eCMS), contract management, contract reporting (i.e. FPDS), financial management (i.e. IFCAP) in accordance with Agency policies. Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Tour of Duty is 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Compressed/Flexible Schedules: Available
Work Schedule: Tour of Duty is 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Compressed/Flexible Schedules: Available
Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Remote: This may be a remote position within 50 miles of an NCO 6 Duty location. (Remote refers to work performed on full-time basis anywhere other than a VA facility or using VA-leased space.)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position. (Virtual refers to work performed on full-time basis using VA-leased space or at a VA facility other than the facility that hired the employee.)
**For this position, telework (up to 80% per pay period) or remote work (100% off site) may be authorized upon supervisor approval if within the local commuting distance of the advertised duty station

Position Description/PD#: Contract Specialist (Direct Hire Authority)/ PD04228A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary in nature. There are no special physical requirements. The work is performed primarily in office areas or conference rooms and similar environments. However, it may require some traveling and visits to Government and/or contractor's facilities and other contract-related performance sites.

Job Summary