Senior Contract Specialist

U.S. Federal Solutions, Inc. (USFS) is a management consulting firm with offices and staff in the DC metro area. USFS was founded in 2010 and provides financial management, acquisition management, program management, and data analytic support services to federal and state governments.

Senior Contract Support Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs – Network Contracting Office 23

Position Overview

US Federal Solutions is seeking an experienced Senior Contract Support Specialist to support the Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office 23.

This role will provide senior-level acquisition support across the full federal acquisition lifecycle, including requirements development, acquisition planning, solicitation development, source selection, award, contract administration, modifications, and closeout. The successful candidate will have extensive knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation (VAAR), and other applicable acquisition policies, regulations, and procedures.

The Senior Contract Support Specialist will work closely with Contracting Officers, Contract Specialists, program offices, technical personnel, and other stakeholders to support complex acquisitions of varying types and dollar values, including acquisitions above the Simplified Acquisition Threshold.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive pre-award and post-award acquisition support for complex federal procurements across a wide range of contract types and dollar values.
• Support acquisitions above the Simplified Acquisition Threshold and assist with complex procurement actions requiring detailed regulatory, technical, and business analysis.
• Develop, review, and refine acquisition plans, solicitation packages, procurement documentation, source selection materials, evaluation criteria, contract modifications, and other acquisition products.
• Research, interpret, and apply the FAR, VAAR, agency policies, federal and state laws, and other applicable acquisition guidance.
• Prepare complete and compliant procurement packages for Contracting Officer review based on customer requirements and VA policies and procedures.
• Advise Contracting Officers, Contract Specialists, program managers, technical experts, and requiring activities on acquisition strategy, procurement planning, and contract administration matters.
• Analyze difficult contracting issues, identify viable alternatives, and recommend courses of action to address complex or specialized requirements.
• Collaborate with customers and stakeholders across multiple locations and service lines to define, standardize, and align enterprise-wide equipment, supply, and service requirements.
• Develop and improve source selection evaluation criteria and assist with acquisition evaluation strategies.
• Conduct research and analysis of technical, cost, pricing, historical procurement, and market data to support acquisition decisions.
• Assist with the development and analysis of Independent Government Cost Estimates, cost-benefit analyses, price reasonableness determinations, and other financial analyses.
• Conduct gap analyses and assess cost elements associated with the production, management, or delivery of healthcare services, supplies, equipment, and other mission requirements.
• Support Contracting Officers with proposal evaluations, negotiations, contract award documentation, and contract administration activities.
• Monitor contract performance and assist with resolving issues related to performance, payments, claims, contract changes, deliverables, schedule, and compliance.
• Prepare and review contract modifications, change orders, supplemental agreements, delivery orders, and associated supporting documentation.
• Provide leadership, technical direction, coaching, and guidance to junior and mid-level acquisition support personnel.
• Maintain complete, accurate, organized, and audit-ready contract files and acquisition documentation.
  

What We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate is an experienced federal acquisition professional who can independently manage complex contracting support activities while serving as a trusted advisor to VA customers and acquisition personnel.

This individual should be comfortable working on high-value and technically complex procurements, interpreting acquisition regulations, developing defensible acquisition documentation, mentoring junior staff, and helping Contracting Officers move requirements efficiently from planning through contract administration.

Work Schedule, Location, and Travel:

• Remote

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of recent relevant experience within the last seven years providing comprehensive and complex federal acquisition support.
• Demonstrated experience supporting both pre-award and post-award federal acquisition activities.
• Demonstrated experience supporting acquisitions greater than the Simplified Acquisition Threshold.
• Extensive working knowledge of the FAR, VAAR, and other applicable federal acquisition policies and regulations.
• Strong understanding of the complete federal acquisition lifecycle.
• Experience developing and reviewing acquisition plans, solicitations, source selection documentation, procurement packages, contract modifications, and contract administration documentation.
• Ability to independently research and interpret acquisition regulations, policies, directives, and guidance.
• Experience analyzing technical requirements, cost and pricing information, acquisition risks, and contracting alternatives.
• Ability to provide acquisition advice and recommendations to government customers, technical personnel, and senior stakeholders.
• Strong leadership skills and demonstrated ability to provide technical guidance to junior acquisition professionals.
• Excellent written communication, research, analytical, time-management, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple acquisition actions and deadlines in a fast-paced federal contracting environment.

Specialized Experience

Depending on the assigned portfolio, candidates may be required to possess additional specialized experience in one or more of the following areas.

Candidates supporting construction and Architect-Engineering acquisitions should have experience developing and administering federal construction and A-E contracts in accordance with applicable regulations and agency requirements.

Qualified candidates should have:

• At least three years of experience developing A-E solicitations and administering A-E contracts and modifications.
• At least three years of experience developing construction solicitations and administering construction contracts and modifications.
• Working knowledge of FAR Parts 14, 15, 36, and 43.
• Experience developing construction and A-E solicitation packages in accordance with the FAR, VAAR, and agency policies.

Candidates supporting complex service acquisitions, including healthcare contracts, should have:

• At least five years of experience developing complex service solicitations and administering complex service contracts and modifications.
• In-depth knowledge of FAR Parts 13 and 15.
• Experience supporting complex service requirements from solicitation through administration.
• Familiarity with medical terminology and healthcare-related acquisition requirements.
• Ability to evaluate the cost elements associated with healthcare resources, services, supplies, or products.

Candidates supporting leasing and specialized acquisitions should have:

• At least two years of experience developing and administering real property or lease-related solicitations, contracts, and modifications.
• Familiarity with federal real property leasing requirements.
• Experience with utility contracts, space-sharing arrangements, interagency agreements, revocable licenses, selling or sharing agreements, or hotel services.
• Working knowledge of applicable FAR, VAAR, GSAM, GSAR, public laws, and agency policies.

Education Requirements

Candidates should possess:

• A bachelor's degree in any field
• At least 24 semester hours in accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, organization and management, or a combination of these disciplines.

Applicable federal contracting experience may be considered in lieu of education in accordance with contractual requirements.

Preferred Certifications

The following certifications or equivalent acquisition training are preferred but not required:

• FAC-C Level I, II, or III
• FAC-C Professional
• DAWIA Level III Contracting
• Equivalent commercial acquisition or contracting coursework

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience supporting the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Experience supporting a VA Network Contracting Office.
• Experience with healthcare, professional services, construction, Architect-Engineering, leasing, utilities, or other complex federal acquisitions.
• Experience advising warranted Contracting Officers and supporting high-volume acquisition environments.
• Experience developing acquisition strategies, source selection criteria, IGCEs, price analyses, contract modifications, and procurement packages.

• Employer-provided paid Medical / Dental / Vision insurance.
• Employer matching 401K plan.
• PTO
• 11 Federal Holidays
• Additionally voluntary benefits to include Short / Long Term Disability, Term Life, and AD&D Insurance.