Contract Specialist

About the role

This position is located in the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Office of Acquisition and Grants Management (OAGM).

As a Contract Specialist, GS-1102-13, you will be responsible for pre-award and post award functions involving highly specialized procurements of significant importance to the HHS health, regulatory, or human services programs.

What you will do

• Serve as a Contract Specialist, performing all contract administration functions ensuring compliance with contract provisions.
• Perform cost/price analysis, including review of cost breakdowns to determine reasonableness and conformance to applicable regulations, directives and policies.
• Establish negotiation strategies and lead negotiations to obtain the most favorable terms and conditions for the government.
• Prepare solicitation documents which incorporate required Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and HHS policies and provisions.

Education

Education Requirement: In addition to meeting the qualification requirements, all candidates must have the following educational requirements: Completed 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 completed 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.

OR Completed 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 AND qualify for an Exception: 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.

OR Completed 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 AND possess a 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, the senior procurement executive must document for the record the basis of the waiver. TRANSCRIPTS (official or unofficial) are required to verify satisfactory completion of the educational requirement listed above.

Failure to submit a copy of your transcripts at the time of application WILL result in an ineligible rating.

Please see "Required Documents" section below for what documentation is required at the time of application. Click the following link to view the occupational questionnaire: ***

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide in the application questionnaire, and the results of the online assessment(s) required for this position.

A Subject Matter Expert may assist in the resume review process to help determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Accountability Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.

In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. The assessment includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies.

You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered.

You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

RPL Applicants RPL applicants who are verified as registered for the same series, grade, and location as this vacancy announcement will be placed in one of the following categories based on category rating procedures: Best Qualified - significantly exceeds the evaluation criteria Well Qualified - excels in the evaluation criteria Qualified - meets the minimum qualification requirements If you are found to be among the top-qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

The category rating process does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category.

Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of professional or scientific positions at the GS-09 level or higher).

Documents you must provide

• The following documents are REQUIRED: 1.
• Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional.
• NOTE: As of September 27, 2025, federal agencies will only accept resumes that are two pages or less in length.
• Your resume must indicate your citizenship and whether you are registered with the Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/59.
• Your resume must also list your work experience and education (if applicable), including the start and end dates (mm/yyyy) of each employment, along with the number of hours worked per week.
• For work in the Federal service, you must include the series and grade level for the position(s).
• Your resume will be used to validate your responses to the assessment tool(s).
• For resume and application tips, visit: *** 2.
• CMS Required Documents (e.g., SF-50, DD-214, SF-15, etc.).
• Required documents may be necessary to be considered for this vacancy announcement.
• Failure to provide the required documentation WILL result in an ineligible rating OR non-consideration.
• Since this position requires specific education, you must submit a transcript attesting to your possession of the required education.
• You may submit an unofficial transcript or a list of college courses completed, indicating course titles, credit hours, and grades received.
• An official transcript is required if you are selected for the position.
• If selected, you must provide an original document before the final job offer may be extended.
• If you do not submit a transcript indicating your possession of the required education, you will not be considered for this position.
• College Transcripts and Foreign Education: Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside the U.S. must have their foreign education evaluated by an accredited organization to ensure that it is comparable to the education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. For a listing of services that can perform this evaluation, visit the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services website.
• This list, which may not be all-inclusive, is for informational purposes only and does not imply any endorsement of any specific agency.
• If you are applying for a position for which a state license is issued (e.g., physician, engineer, attorney), possession of a valid and current U.S. professional license by a graduate of a foreign professional school or program is sufficient proof that the foreign education has been determined to be equivalent to the requisite U.S. professional education in that occupational field.
• Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.
• Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency-Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to commencing the USA Hire Competency-Based Assessments.
• Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.
• If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency-Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.
• You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency-Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.
• To determine if you need an RA, please click here to review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.
• If an applicant already has a FAC-C Professional certification (or equivalent), certificate should be submitted at time of application.
• PLEASE NOTE: A complete application package includes the online application, resume, transcripts, and CMS required documents.
• Please carefully review the full job announcement, which includes the "Required Documents" and "How to Apply" sections.
• Failure to submit the online application, resume, transcripts, and CMS required documents will result in your not being considered for employment.

What to expect next

To be considered for the position, you must meet all qualifications, including meeting or exceeding the cut score on the required assessments. ***This Open Continuous Announcement allows acceptance of applications through the closing date of 01/15/2027. This announcement is intended to establish an inventory of candidates to refer for consideration.

Applicants who self-assess as qualified will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. The first cut-off date for receipt/referral of applications to be considered for current vacancies will be 07/29/26. Applicants are encouraged to apply early in order to maximize their employment opportunities.

Subsequent cutoffs will occur as needed, with the final cutoff on the closing date of 01/15/27. Applications received after the cutoffs may be considered on future requests to fill vacancies. Your application will remain in the inventory of tentatively qualified applicants.

The announcement may be closed earlier or extended without further notice. Final application disposition will be completed once all positions have been filled or the announcement has reached the end of its open period.**** Once your online application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation notification by email.

Within 30 business days of the closing date,01/15/2027, you may check your status online by logging into your USAJOBS account (***). We will update your status after each key stage in the application process has been completed.

Additional information

Bargaining Unit Position: Yes, American Federation of Government Employees, Local 1923 Tour of Duty: Flexible Recruitment Incentive: Not Authorized Relocation Incentive: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure: OGE-450, required Workplace Flexibility at CMS: This position has a regular and recurring reporting requirement to the CMS office listed in this announcement.

CMS offers flexible working arrangements and allows employees the opportunity to participate in alternative work schedules at the manager's discretion.

Salary Range Atlanta, GA: $112,556 - $146,325 Boston, MA: $120,548 - $156,715 Chicago, IL: $118,984 - $154,682 Dallas, TX: $115,711 - $150,426 Denver, CO: $118,675 - $154,280 Kansas City, MO: $108,173 - $140,627 New York, NY: $125,431 - $163,062 Philadelphia, PA: $117,284 - $152,471 San Francisco, CA: $133,060 - $172,980 Seattle, WA: $119,630 - $155,521 Woodlawn, MD/Bethesda, MD/Washington, DC: $121,785 - $158,322 For more information about pay based on locality, please visit the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Salaries & Wages Page.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced federal employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit the required documentation and be rated well-qualified for this vacancy.

Click here for a detailed description of the required supporting documents. A well-qualified applicant is one whose knowledge, skills and abilities clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements of the position. Additional information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at ***