Job Listing: Contract Specialist

Duty Locations

 Few vacancies - Richmond, VA

DSCR-08-198984

Contract Specialist, GS-1102-11

Location:  DLA, Defense Supply Center-Richmond/Richmond, VA

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) agency. DLA provides worldwide logistics support for the missions of the Military Departments and the Unified Combatant Commands under conditions of peace and war. It also provides logistics support to other DoD Components and certain Federal agencies, foreign governments, international organizations, and others as authorized.

Major Duties

The incumbent serves as senior buyer, contracting officer (CO), and technical reviewer for lower grade buyers in the same commodity area.  Procurements assigned are estimated to be high dollar/large quantity procurements, special interest procurements, problem procurement functions to purchase DLA-managed items for stock replenishment, direct vendor delivery, and support of customer requirements.  These requirements regularly include specialized items and/or items complicated by restrictive Federal or Military specifications, standards, and drawings; first article test requirements and qualified products lists.
Plans and carries out more difficult procurements, such as those estimated to be high dollar/large volume special interest or otherwise difficult to accomplish.  Determines type of procurement to be made, including type of contract, of contract, and prepares documentation of determination and findings if necessary. Checks for adequacy of item description, previous contracts, requirement for option, and appropriate mailing list.  Coordinates set-asides with the Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (SADBU) Office, prepares request for synopsis, prepares acquisition plan for approval, and issues solicitation.  Negotiated procurements.  Receives proposals and reviews for completeness, for responsibility of the contractor, and reasonableness of the offer.  Obtains price data, audit/cost/price analysis reports, freight rates, etc., and develops negotiation objectives.  Prepares negotiation plan and submits for review.  Upon approval, serves as head of negotiation team and/or conducts negotiations with selected offer ors.  Upon achievement of negotiation objectives, or best obtainable price, prepares price negotiation memorandum and award worksheet.  If objectives are not met, returns for further consultation with appropriate supply, technical and contracting  personnel, and continues with negotiations until objectives are met or satisfactory resolution is achieved.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package, which includes both of the following parts:

1.   Your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire, and

2.   Your résumé and any other documents specified in the Required Documents section of this job announcement.

 

Use Application Manager for convenience and quickest processing. Track your progress to a Complete Application Package using the My Application Packages checklist and status displays in Application Manager. Your Application Package status must be Complete by Monday, July 14, 2008.

Step 1

Option A:  Application Manager

To begin, choose one of these options:

1.      If your résumé is going to come from the USAJOBS Resume Builder, you begin the process by clicking the Apply Online button near the bottom of this page. Your résumé will be attached only to the Application Package you complete and Submit immediately after you click the Apply Online button for this job announcement, not to any Application Packages you may already have created.

2.      If your résumé is going to be one you prepared outside of USAJOBS Résumé Builder, click this link to begin the process:  Online Questionnaire.

 

To return to Application Manager at any time, use whichever one of the links  you used to begin as described above, or simply go to https://ApplicationManager.org.

 

Option B:  Paper Qualifications Questionnaire
If it is not possible for you to use Application Manager, you can write your answers on paper.  Follow these steps:

1.  You can print a copy of this job announcement so that you can read the questions offline.

2.  Obtain and print a copy of the OPM Form 1203-FX, which you will use to provide your answers. You can obtain the form at this URL http://www.opm.gov/Forms/pdf_fill/OPM1203fx.pdf or by calling USAJOBS by Phone at (703) 724-1850; after the introduction, press 1, and listen for instructions.

3.  You may submit the Form 1203-FX, resume, and any supporting documents either by fax, by mail or in person.

By Fax: If you are faxing a completed Form 1203-FX, do not use a separate cover page. Simply make sure that all six pages of the Form 1203-FX are on top of any other documents you are faxing. The fax number is 1-478-757-3144.  Feed all documents into your fax machine top first so that we receive them right-side up.

Note: If you are only submitting supporting documents see the Submitting Documents instruction in Step 2 below.

 

                By mail or in person: 

DLA Human Resources Center Columbus
3990 E Broad Street
Bldg 11 Section 3 DEU TEAM
Columbus, OH 43213
USA

Attention: Chris Muehlenbruch

RA198984

Required Documents:

Step 2

Application Documents:          

Resume – (Required)
On-line Questionnaire  – (Required)
Transcripts - (Required)
Veterans Preference documentation (Required if claiming veterans preference)

To submit the documents requested follow the options listed above. Your resume, curriculum vitae, the Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF 612), or any other written format you choose to describe your job-related qualifications can be submitted electronically using the document upload process, fax, mail or by hand-deliver. Please ensure that your resume contains your full name, address, phone and at least your last four digits of your social security number.

Note: Please ensure that your resume contains the basic information outlined under the Applying for a Federal Job link: http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdfimage/of0510.pdf

Submitting Documents

 

If you upload your documents using Application Manager, DO NOT FAX the same documents. To verify uploaded documents have been processed, please wait one hour to ensure they have cleared the virus scan. You can verify that your uploaded documents are attached to your application by checking the Details tab of your Application Manager account https://applicationmanager.org for this vacancy announcement. Your documents will display under the Details tab in the Document area.

 

Faxed documents will take 2-3 business days to process. To fax documents, you MUST use the special cover page. Print the pre-populated cover page on the upload documents screen of Application Manager. Or, you may click this link http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf to print a copy of the cover page. When faxing documents, follow the procedures outlined below.  

 

Include the 8-character Vacancy Identification Number RA198984
Provide your Social Security Number and full name in the spaces provided or we will not be able to associate your document(s) with the rest of your application.
You may submit multiple documents for the same vacancy announcement using one cover page.
Fax your cover page and documents to 1-478-757-3144.

Faxed documents submitted with missing information will not be processed. The following will prevent your documents from being processed: 

 

Not using the special cover page mentioned above.
Missing, incomplete, or invalid Vacancy Identification Number
Missing or incomplete Social Security Number or name

Note: If you have documents in your Application Manager account from a previous vacancy announcement they can be opened, copied and saved then reused as an upload file for this vacancy. Uploading your documents will speed the processing of your application for this announcement.

Your resume, curriculum vitae, the Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF 612), or any other written format you choose to describe your job-related qualifications can be submitted electronically using the document upload process, fax, mail or by hand-deliver. Please be sure to include all of the following information in your resume:

Job Information:
-Vacancy Identification Number, title, grade and location for which you are applying.
Personal Information:
- Full name, mailing address (with zip code) and day/evening telephone numbers (with area code).
- Country of Citizenship.
- If ever employed by the Federal Government, please show the highest Federal civilian grade held, job series, and dates of employment in grade.
Education:
- High School name, city, state and zip code, date of diploma or GED.
- Colleges and/or Universities attended, city, state and zip code.
- Major field(s) of study.
- Type and year of degree(s) received. If no degree received, show total credit hours received in semester or quarter hours.
Work Experience for each paid or non-paid position held related to the job for which you are applying (do not provide copies of job descriptions):
- Job title.
- Duties and accomplishments.
- Number of hours per week.
- Employer's name and address.
- Supervisor's name and phone number.
- Starting and ending dates of employment (month and year).
- Salary.
- Indicate if your current supervisor may be contacted.
Other Qualifications:
- Job-related training courses (title and year).
- Job-related skills (e.g., other languages, computer software/hardware, tools, machinery, typing speed, etc.)
- Job-related certificates and licenses.
- Job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments. (e.g., publications, memberships in professional or honor societies, leadership activities, public speaking, performance awards, etc.) Do not send copies of documents unless specifically requested.

Contact Information:
Christine M. Muehlenbruch

Phone: (614)692-0321

Fax: (614)692-0212

Email: Christine.Muehlenbruch@dla.mil


Or write:
DLA Human Resources Center Columbus
3990 E Broad Street
Bldg 11 Section 3 DEU TEAM
Columbus, OH 43213

USA

Fax: (614)692-0212


What To Expect Next:

Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made you will be notified of your rating and or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required you will be contacted.

Instructions for answering the questions in the Occupational Questionnaire: If you are applying to this announcement by completing the OPM 1203-FX form instead of using the Online Application method, please use the following step-by-step instructions as a guide to filling out the required questionnaire. You will need to print the vacancy announcement and refer to it as you answer the questions. You may omit any optional information; however, you must provide responses to all required questions. Be sure to double check your application before submission.

Social Security Number


Vacancy Identification Number

The Vacancy Identification Number is: RA198984
1. Title of Job

Contract Specialist
2. Biographic Data

3. E-Mail Address


4. Work Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

5. Employment Availability

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

6. Citizenship

Are you a citizen of the United States?
7. Background Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

8. Other Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

9. Languages

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

10. Lowest Grade


11
11. Miscellaneous Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

12. Special Knowledge

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

13. Test Location

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

14. Veteran Preference Claim

15. Dates of Active Duty - Military Service

16. Availability Date

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

17. Service Computation Date

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

18. Other Date Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

19. Job Preference

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

20. Occupational Specialties


001 Contract Specialist
21. Geographic Availability

Select/enter at least one geographic location in which you are interested and will accept employment. The location code for this position is:

0104 Richmond, VA
22. Transition Assistance Plan

23. Job Related Experience

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

24. Personal Background Information

If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank.

25. Occupational/Assessment Questions:

1. Select one of the following basic requirements to qualify for the GS-1102 series (select only one response):

A. I have received a baccalaureate degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees and (b) have completed at least 24 semester credit hours (or the equivalent) of study from an accredited institution of higher education in any of the following disciplines: accounting, business finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, and organization and management.
B. I am currently a Department of Defense employee classified in the GS-1102 job series.
C. I am currently a Department of Defense employee not assigned in the GS-1102 job series but I previously held a GS-1102 position on or before September 30, 2000.
D. My experience/education is not listed above.

2. From the list below select the response that most closely represents your experience and/or education for the position of Contract Specialist.

A. I have 3 full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree
B. I have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the federal service which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position.
C. I have a combination of education and experience described in "A" and "B" that qualifies me for the GS-11 level.
D. My education and/or experience was not specified in any of the previous descriptions.

3. SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: (Your resume must support this SPF) I possess both knowledge and experience with DoD contracts which includes a working knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulations and DoD Federal laws and regulations.

A. Yes
B. No

Knowledge of a wide range of contracting methods and contract types.
In this part, you will respond to questions about experience you have had that are related to the requirements of the job for which you are applying. Carefully, review the level descriptions listed below. For each task in the following group, choose the statement from the list below that best describes your experience and/or training.

A- I have not had education, training or experience in performing this task.
B- I have had education or training in performing the task, but have not yet performed it on the job.
C- I have performed this task on the job. My work on this task was monitored closely by a supervisor or senior employee to ensure compliance with proper procedures.
D- I have performed this task as a regular part of a job. I have performed it independently and normally without review by a supervisor or senior employee.
E- I am considered an expert in performing this task. I have supervised performance of this task or am normally the person who is consulted by other workers to assist them in doing this task because of my expertise.

4. Perform pre-award review and planning, including review of previous history and the procurement package to ensure adequacy and completeness.

5. Performs market research to determine availability of the product or producers and to develop new sources.

6. Perform detailed evaluation of offers, bids and proposals received.

7. Resolve technical questions regarding applicability of specifications, clarification of technical terms, or acceptability of substitute items.

8. Negotiates price, terms and conditions for awards.

9. Determines need for pre-award survey, and prepares award worksheet.

10. Investigate and document findings on disputes.

11. Negotiates subcontracting plans with prospective contractors and coordinates approval.

12. Coordinates negotiated procurement plans with technical, legal, and pricing personnel.

13. Coordinates procurement actions with internal and external organizations.

14. Obtain pre-award surveys.

15. Utilize cost or price analysis reports, previous price history, commercial price lists, market prices, technical catalog research as a basis for negotiating a fair and reasonable price.

16. Prepare supplemental agreements and contract modifications.

17. Develop proposals for termination for convenience when appropriate and feasible.

18. Process and issue letters when contractor is not in compliance with contract provisions.

19. Initiate and obtain coordination on termination for default actions.

20. Finalize change orders through negotiations with the contractor.

21. Negotiate extensions of delivery schedules, price adjustments, labor hours, modifications to contracts and similar agreements.

22. Serve as a central point of contact for inquiries on assigned procurements.

23. Draft final contracts including specifications, packing and shipping requirements, inspection instructions and all special and standard clauses.

24. Prepare recommendations for awards.

25. Answer technical questions from contractors concerning local regulations and procedures.

26. Prepares negotiation plan and submits for review and approval.

27. Respond to requests for information status, expedite requests, cancellation and diversions, shipment discrepancies, and warranties.

28. Prepare solicitation documents, including invitation for bid, request for proposal or request for quotation.