CONTRACT SPECIALIST (Title 5)

About the role

IOWA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD - TITLE 5 EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION Open to the public. Military membership is not required. Applicants who meet one of the DoD Priority Placement Program (PPP) categories are eligible to apply with this preference.

(See Required Documents section) LOCATION: USPFO, Johnston, IA

What you will do

• As a CONTRACT SPECIALIST (Title 5), GS-1102-9/11/12, you will perform the following duties.
• Plans the overall approach to meet contracting program objectives for a variety of requirements with multiple complexities.
• Analyzes difficult/controversial contracting issues, determines, recommends and/or implements course of action which may depart from previous approaches for long-term contract performance or short-term contracts with extremely stringent time frames.
• Provides business advice and assistance to technical personnel involved in the development of the performance work statement/statement of work/statement of objectives or data requirements.
• Reviews a diverse variety of requisition packages for adequacy and compliance with administrative, regulatory, and procedural requirements and consistency with current market practices and conditions.
• Serves as a contracting authority and advisor to management, customers, and contractors in assignment area relative to the market, the industry, specifications, socioeconomic concerns, and similar matters.
• Performs acquisition planning, along with the program manager/customer, technical, legal, and finance personnel to develop market research, acquisition strategy, milestones, evaluation/source selection criteria, and/or incentive or award fee provisions, as applicable.
• Exercises experienced judgment, initiative, and resourcefulness to identify regulations and laws which do or do not apply to the particular procurement, to consider financial arrangements and incentives, and to develop justifications for adopting a contractual posture.
• Prepares required documents to support solicitation issuance and reviews and advises less experienced specialists in the preparation of documents.
• Determines appropriate method of procurement, contract type, and financing arrangements to fit special circumstances.
• Reviews and evaluates requisitions for which previous experience and historical data are not usually directly available or applicable such as complex services, architect and engineering services or environmental related construction.
• Reviews procurement requests to determine whether, based on market analysis, the requirement can be performed by and should be set aside for small businesses; actively solicits Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Women-Owned Small Business, HUB Zone Small Business, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business participation.
• (30%) Oversees the procurement of a wide variety of services, supplies, construction and architect and engineering.
• Researches, interprets, analyzes, and applies all regulations, business and industry practices, market trends, Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Comptroller General decisions, public law, case law, and precedents.
• Devises special terms, provisions, clauses, and conditions applicable to the solicitation and contract as required.
• (30%) Executes post-award contract performance management actions on assigned contracts.
• Appoints Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs) within delegated authority and manages the COR program as required.
• Evaluates contractor performance for compliance with terms and conditions of contracts and ensures timely submission of contract deliverables and performance metrics.
• Makes field site visits, if necessary, detecting and correcting labor standards violations, taking appropriate action to expedite delivery or performance when required by mission changes, monitoring the contractor's use of government-furnished property inventories, and issuing change orders as necessary.
• Obtains additional funds or de-obligates funds as necessary.
• Analyzes a variety of unusual conditions, questions, or issues including complex contract administration problems, e.g., disputes, labor violations, and claims, and identifies alternative courses of action which may depart from previous approaches.
• Determines the reasonableness of claims.
• Researches and recommends appropriate action for resolution of difficult problems or claims through interpretation of contract requirements.
• (20%) Serves as business advisor to a wide range of customers.
• Represents the interest of the organization in a professional manner in meetings and various contacts outside the agency on a variety of issues that often are not well defined.
• Provides business advice, guidance, training, and assistance to team members, technical or program personnel, functional commanders, and/or contractors on contractual language, legal responsibilities, acquisition and business-related issues.
• Assists in providing interpretation/clarification to contractors and customers on contractual language, contractual and federal/state/local regulatory requirements, and business opportunities.
• Prepares correspondence, reports, memoranda or other documents and briefings (scheduled or ad hoc) that support contractual actions or recommendations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education

Minimum education requirement: A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees.

You must provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims.

To receive credit for education, you must provide documentation of proof that you meet the education requirements for this position.

How you will be evaluated

Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are found to be among the qualified candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. Verbiage displayed on your resume or application must contain your own words.

You may refer to position descriptions, i.e. the general and specialized experience located within the vacancy announcement, to assist with describing work experiences; however, resumes or applications received in verbatim will not be considered. In your resume you will need to address the general and specialized experience listed above.

Please use as much detail as needed, giving dates (months and years) of the experience, position title and how the experience was gained. This information is needed to determine if you are qualified for the position.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the minimum/specialized experience provided in the announcement and the KSA's (knowledge, skills, and abilities) listed below: Knowledge of contracting principles, laws, statutes, Executive Orders, regulations, and procedures applicable to pre-award and post-award duties sufficient to plan and carry out procurement actions and administer contracts for a variety of specialized services, commodities and/or construction using a wide range of contracting methods and contract types.

In-depth knowledge of commercial business practices and market conditions to evaluate offer acceptability, contractor responsibility, and/or contractor performance, and to determine acquisition strategy and sources. Knowledge of up-to-date market research procedures.

Knowledge of a wide range of contracting methods and contract types sufficient to perform pre-award, post-award, and price/cost analysis functions. Knowledge of negotiation techniques and technical requirements sufficient to procure complex and/or diversified services, commodities, and/or construction.

Knowledge of contract administration sufficient to monitor a group of diverse contracts, understanding quality assurance, inspection, acceptance, and corrective action terms and conditions.

Knowledge of contract termination procedures sufficient to recommend or determine allowable costs, profit to be allowed, disposal of government property, and similar issues and to negotiate settlements with contractors.

Knowledge of contract cost analysis techniques sufficient to gather and evaluate price and/or cost data for a variety of pre-award and/or post-award procurement actions. Knowledge of the GPC program to analyze issues and identify alternative courses of action, modify standard procedures and terms to satisfy requirements, and solve a variety of common problems.

Knowledge of public speaking and publicity techniques sufficient to plan or conduct training sessions designed to enhance/facilitate the GPC. Knowledge of Contract Regulations to verify contractual documents for compliance and accuracy of terminology. Ability to interpret and clarify regulatory contractual material.

Knowledge of standard automated systems, non-standard systems, and Web postings that affect the organization's mission execution to review and evaluate of automated systems to determine their overall effectiveness and recommend changes to improve system performance.

Documents you must provide

• Your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates (including Month and Year, e.g., 02/2017, Feb 2017, etc.) of employment and duties performed.
• Additional Supporting Documents (if applicable): Cover Letter, Transcripts, SF-50, DD 214, VA disability letter/documentation, ect.
• (In order to claim Veterans Preference a VA disability letter or legible copy of your DD214(s) annotating dates, campaign medals, and character of service (honorable, general, etc.) must be submitted for consideration).
• Applicants who meet one of the DoD Priority Placement Program (PPP) categories below are eligible to apply with this preference.
• Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Employees Priority Placement Program, Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Applicants claiming Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible must submit the following documentation: - Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self Certification Checklist (DD 3145-3) - Termination SF-50 Separation stating that the applicant has Priority Placement Eligibility - Notice of Separation confirming of eligibility.
• Applicants claiming Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement must submit the following documentation: - Military Reserve and Technician Disability PPP Self Certification Checklist (DD 3145-2) - Termination SF-50 Separation stating that the applicant has Priority Placement Eligibility - Notice of Separation confirming of eligibility.
• Applicant claiming Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Employeesmust submit the following documentation: -DoD Retained Grade Self Certification Checklist (DD 3145-1) - SF-50 effecting the placement in retained grade status - Copy of the notification letter the employee received (RIF or classification downgrade) Applicants claiming Priority Placement Program, Military Spouse Preference must submit the following documentation: - DoD Military Spouse Preference Self Certification Checklist (DD 3145-4) - Sponsor's PCS Orders - Proof of Military member's current active duty status - Marriage Certificate

What to expect next

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.

Additional information

SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIREMENT: Employment is subject to attaining and maintaining a clearance as required by this position. If the selectee does not possess the applicable security clearance when hired, application must be made within 30 days of the start date.

Failure to make application for the required security clearance will result in termination of employment.

TRIAL PERIOD REQUIREMENT: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period or 1-year (Veterans Preference Eligibles Only) during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: Your performance and conduct. The needs and interests of the agency. Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency (***).

APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 10/07/2026.

FAILURE TO PROVIDE COMPLETE INFORMATION MAY RESULT IN YOU NOT RECEIVING CONSIDERATION FOR THIS POSITION.

Please refer to the Qualifications and Evaluations Section of this Announcement to understand the qualification requirements, and the How to Apply Section for detailed instruction on applying.

Annuitants other than DSR annuitants hired on or after November 25, 2003, shall not have their salary offset by the amount of the annuity received for the period of reemployment in accordance with section 9902(h) of Reference (b).

These individuals shall receive full salary and annuity during the period of reemployment; they shall not be considered employees for the purposes of subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84 of Reference (b) (e.g., ineligible for retirement deductions, ineligible to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan); and their period of reemployment shall not be creditable for a supplemental or redetermined annuity.