Contract Specialist

Summary This position is located within the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), Headquarters, Office of Acquisitions and Security. Duties Serves as the Senior Contract Specialist performing pre-award and post-award functions on complex and unusual agency acquisitions involving diverse supplies and services. Develop acquisition strategies and recommend appropriate procurement options and plans to customers. Serve as the policy and planning authority and expert advisor to FMCS Leadership and outside officials. Develop, recommend and implement policies that lead directly to the accomplishment of major programs. Coordinate to ensure the availability and proper allocation of funds for all procurement actions. Collaborate on procurement requests, certify funding, and provide budgetary guidance throughout the contract lifecycle. Maintain ongoing communication to resolve funding issues and support compliance with federal appropriations law. Manage and execute Interagency Agreements (IAAs) in accordance with delegated authority. Coordinate with relevant offices to approve, modify, or cancel IAAs, ensuring compliance with relevant guidance and policies. Collaborate with OFR for proper accounting and reconciliation. Recognized as the lead negotiator for high-dollar and visible procurements; collects historical pricing data and plans the negotiation strategy for the contract, including termination settlements, adjustments, and proposal changes. Performs functions such as incremental funding, exercise of options, redirection of effort, coordination of time extensions, incorporation of change orders, issuance of stop work orders, approval of progress payments, and approval of final payment to the contractor. Requirements typically involve products and services, including state-of-the-art information technology products, equipment, and/or services. Utilizes the automated procurement system to input Purchase Requests and create contract related documents such as Purchase Orders, modifications, task orders, and other acquisition documents. Requirements Conditions of employment Must be a U.S. Citizen Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Selectee must meet/maintain suitability and security requirements, as determined by a background investigation. This position is ineligible for inclusion in a bargaining unit. You may be required to serve a one-year probationary period, if the requirement has not been met. The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter. Required to obtain and maintain Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) Professional certification. Qualifications THIS IS A DIRECT HIRE ANNOUNCEMENT. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Direct Hire Authority, authorized by 5 United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 3304 and 5 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 337, Subpart B. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to the Direct Hire process. Basic Requirements: A. 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 the next lower level of the position, and must have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position. AND B. 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. OR C. Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to ha…

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