Contract Specialist

Summary

The Federal government is looking to fill Contract Specialist positions across many different agencies through this shared job announcement. As a Contract Specialist with a Federal government agency, you will support the contracting lifecycle for equipment, supplies, and/or service procurements. You may prepare solicitation documents, participate in pre-bid conferences, and evaluate offers for price, technical capability, and compliance with specifications.

Duties

For a Contract Specialist, specific duties vary by hiring agency. Examples may include: Reviewing requisitions to determine that the proper specifications or purchase descriptions are included in solicitation documents. Evaluating contract proposals based on price, technical capability, and compliance with specifications to recommend award decisions. Assisting higher-level Contract Specialists and Contracting Officers in the administration of contract reviews and analysis of contractor performance, reports, and deliverables to identify discrepancies or issues requiring resolution. Making recommendations to resolve disputes and claims from contractors by applying knowledge of Federal regulations and contract law in achieving fair outcomes. Conducting market research and analysis to identify potential suppliers and evaluate their capabilities in meeting contract requirements.

Requiremennts

This is a shared cross-government announcement open to agencies throughout Federal government. If you are invited to interview or offered a job, be sure to get clarification from the particular hiring agency about the duty location and other conditions of employment. Specific requirements vary by hiring agency and include: Current civil service employees selected will be given new appointments to the civil service and subject to a new probationary period; however, benefits, time served, and other Federal entitlements may remain the same. May be covered by a bargaining unit. May qualify for bonuses, incentives, and/or reimbursement of relocation expenses, in accordance with hiring agency policy. May require financial disclosure filing upon appointment and annually. May require a pre-employment drug test and/or random drug testing during the period of employment. Must be a U.S. citizen or national. Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov. Per Public Law 104-134, all Federal employees are required to have Federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution. Promotion potential varies by hiring agency. Some positions may have promotion potential to higher grade levels. Security clearance varies by hiring agency. Must be able to pass a background investigation and/or obtain and hold a security clearance, as determined by the hiring agency. Selective service registration is required, as applicable. Travel varies by hiring agency.

Qualifications

THIS IS AN OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. This announcement will close at 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/19/2026. Applicants will be referred periodically throughout the announcement open period, based on the schedule below. Applicants must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements by the cut-off dates listed below. Eligibility and qualification claims are subject to verification. First Cut-Off on May 4, 2026: To be considered in the first review, applicants must submit their application package and complete the USA Hire assessments by May 4, 2026. Final Cut-Off on May 19, 2026: Applicants who submit their application package and complete the USA Hire assessments after May 4, 2026 will be considered in the final review. BASIC REQUIREMENT: To be considered for this position, you must demonstrate that you meet the basic requirement: A. Degree: Successful completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field. (You must submit transcripts.) OR B. Industry-Specific Coursework: Successful completion of 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. (You must submit transcripts.) OR C. Exception for Contracting Series (1102): Federal employees in Contracting Series (1102) positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy Contracting Series positions equivalent to grades GS-05 through 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirement for other Contracting Series positions up to and including those classified at GS-12 or equivalent. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through GS-12 or equivalent. However, employees must meet specialized experience requirements when seeking another position. (You must submit SF-50s.) In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement above, applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications in order to be considered: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you possess the specialized experience and/or education for the grade level to which you are applying. GS-07 Specialized Experience: Must have at least one year (52 weeks, full-time) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (or comparable level of experience from outside the Federal service) performing at least 3 of the 4 following duties: Assisting in the review of technical or administrative documents to ensure they are complete and accurate; Using regulations, procedural manuals, or policy guidance (e.g., financial, administrative, legal, or program-related) to support program recommendations; Preparing written materials such as reports, summaries, memoranda, correspondence, instructions, or background research to present information clearly and accurately; Reviewing data for accuracy to identify discrepancies, and/or recommending adjustments to improve workflow. Your resume must include how you meet at least 3 of the 4 specialized experience statements. OR Education: One full academic year (18 semester hours or equivalent) of graduate education or law school. Your field of study must have been in one or a combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. (You must submit transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience: Combination of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience may be used to meet Minimum Qualifications for this position. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed above; then compute your graduate education as a percentage of the graduate education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate-level education may be combined with specialized experience. (Experience must be reflected in your resume, and you must submit transcripts.) OR Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): A bachelor's degree in one or more of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management, or any field that equipped you with the knowledge, skill, and ability to perform the work of a Contract Specialist, AND meet one of the following: (1) Grade point average of "B" (GPA of 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study; (2) Grade point average of "B " (GPA of 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study; (3) Rank in the upper one-third of your class in your college, university, or major subdivision; or (4) Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. (You must submit transcripts.) GS-09 Specialized Experience: Must have at least one year (52 weeks, full-time) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (or comparable level of experience from outside the Federal service) performing at least 3 of the 4 following duties: Analyzing contract materials, technical specifications, or financial statements to support the preparation of acquisition-related documentation; Reviewing contract proposals for pricing, technical capabilities, and/or adherence to specifications to make informed recommendations for award decisions; Preparing reports, summaries, memoranda, correspondence, instructions, or background research memoranda used to support procurement or operational decisions; Responding to inquiries to provide business or administrative recommendations supported by research or analysis. Your resume must include how you meet at least 3 of the 4 specialized experience statements. OR Education: Two full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or master's or equivalent graduate degree or LL.B. or J.D. Your field of study must have been in one or a combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. (You must submit transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience: Combination of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience may be used to meet Minimum Qualifications for this position. To determine your combination, first compute your experience as a percentage of the experience listed above; then compute your graduate education as a percentage of the graduate education listed above; then add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate-level education in excess of one year (18 semester hours or equivalent) may be combined with experience. (Experience must be reflected in your resume, and you must submit transcripts.) IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. If your resume does not support your application questionnaire responses, we will not allow credit for your response(s). A full-time 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 per week spent in such employment.

Help agencies deliver critical services by planning, awarding, and/or administering contracts that move missions forward. Agencies across Federal government are hiring developmental Contract Specialists to give you structured experience in pre- and post-award work, including preparing solicitations, evaluating proposals, and supporting contractor performance through close-out. This is your opportunity to step into a structured role that grows into full performance/journeyman responsibilities with mentoring and hands-on experience to improve how government works for the American people. Be part of a network that values collaboration, continuous improvement, and measurable impact. Grow your skills. Build capability. Deliver results across government