Contract Specialist

About the role

This position for The Defense Information Systems Agency is at Procurement Services Division at Vaihingen, Germany. This Job Opportunity Announcement is using an additional online assessment tool to evaluate applicants. Please review the HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED, REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, HOW TO APPLY and NEXT STEPS sections below for instructions.

Scheduled Certificate Issuance Dates: October 12, 2026 October 19, 2026 November 4, 2026

What you will do

• Serves as a contract specialist but may be required to obtain a warrant based on mission needs.
• Duties include solicitation preparation, evaluation, cost/price analysis, negotiation, source selection, contract award, and contract administration.
• Serves as an advisor to customer and project management personnel in procurement planning meetings.
• Prepares and/or reviews procurements for Inquiry/Quote/Order (IQO), Request For Proposal (RFP), or Request For Quotation (RFQ).
• Conducts meetings with vendors and foreign government telecom agencies to ensure clear understanding of contract requirements.

Education

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE AT GS-11 LEVEL: Three full years of progressively higher level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

Graduate Education: To qualify for GS-1102 positions on the basis of graduate education, graduate education in one or a combination of the following fields is required: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.

There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12 grade level. To be creditable, education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.

You must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services at the time of application.

National Association of Credential Evaluation Services .

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. 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), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Competencies: Contracting/Procurement Communication Influencing/Negotiating The USA Hire 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 an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Criminal History Inquiries- If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer.

If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency @ *** 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 starting 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 a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: *** Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Priority Consideration: If you are a displaced Federal Civil Service employee and attain a rating of at least 85, you may be entitled to receive special priority selection under the ICTAP.

For more information on ICTAP, click here ICTAP Guidance. NOTE: If you have never worked for the Federal Government, you are NOT ICTAP eligible.

Documents you must provide

• A two-page maximum resume is required.
• Applicant guidance on the two page resume requirement may be found at *** .
• Learn more about the new resume requirements Transcripts (Required): This position has positive education requirements; you must submit all of your transcripts.
• The absence of this information will result in an ineligible rating.
• Complete initial Eligibility Questionnaire and Additional Online Assessments Other Supporting Documents If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here.
• Current and former federal employees, including those currently working for the agency, must submit their SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) reflecting their highest grade held on a permanent basis for at least 52 weeks, tenure, and appointment type.
• Failure to provide this document may result in disqualification Veterans Preference: If you are claiming veteran's preference, you MUST submit the appropriate documentation.
• Failure to do so WILL result in the loss of veteran's preference, and will possibly impact your placement on the certificate.
• For more veterans' information please click here.
• You must submit a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty", showing the dates of active duty service, type of discharge and the character of service.
• Alternatively, If you are a current military member in active duty service and do not have a copy of your DD-214, you must submit a written documentation from your branch of service certifying that you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application for this position.
• The certification should also include your rank, dates of active duty service and what they condition of discharge is thought to be.
• If claiming 10-point preference and/or are a 30% or more Disabled Veteran, you must submit both a DD-214 or expected discharge documentation as described above AND a copy of a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or your branch of service certifying the presence of service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of disability If you are claiming eligibility based on 10-point derived veterans' preference (i.e. a spouse, widow/widower, or parent of a veteran claiming veterans' preference when the veteran is unable to use it), you must also submit a SF-15 "Application for 10-Point Veteran's Preference" and any required documents indicated on the SF-15 to substantiate the claimed preference.
• Military Spouse Preference: Spousal Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders, marriage certificate/license, and a MILITARY SPOUSE PPP SELF-CERTIFICATION CHECKLIST are required to claim Military Spouse Preference.
• The Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist can be found here: To download the checklist, select "Save" or "Save As" instead of "Open." Save the document to your device then open it as a PDF.
• Once the form is opened, select "Enable All Features" and the form will populate so that it can be completed. *** ICTAP Eligible- A copy of the RIF separation notice and SF50 if available.
• Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified.
• You must include a completed copy of the MR and NG Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for MR and NG Technician preference.
• Click here to obtain a copy of the MR and NG Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
• Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians Receiving Disability Retirement PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians receiving disability retirement PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified.
• You must include a completed copy of the MR and NG Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for MR and NG Technician Disability preference.
• Click here to obtain a copy of the MR and NG Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist.
• Retained Grade (RG) PPP Eligible: RG PPP applicants, must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified.
• You must include a completed copy of the RG PPP Self-Certification Checklist to verify your eligibility for RG preference.
• Click here to obtain a copy of the RG PPP Self-Certification Checklist.

What to expect next

Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. All applications that indicate they meet the basic and minimum requirements will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. An initial review of the resume will be conducted to determine individuals identified for further consideration.

An additional review of the transcripts and resume will occur prior to any job offer to verify basic education requirement and minimum qualifications are satisfied. *** ***

Additional information

A one year probationary or trial period may be required Tour Length: 36 Months Current Federal employees within CONUS who are selected through a formal competitive recruitment process for a lower graded position overseas may be afforded pay retention if their pay would otherwise be reduced.

Pay retention may be granted to employees already in the overseas area if the recruitment efforts had been extended outside the overseas command involved and the individual selected will have to PCS. Locality rates of pay will not be used for pay setting when transferring to the overseas area.

Eligibility for foreign-area allowances such as Foreign Post Allowance and Living Quarter Allowance will be determined at the time of hire.

Military Spouse Preference (MSP)/Family Member Preference (FMP)- Candidates claiming MSP/FMP must include a copy of sponsor's permanent change of station orders authorizing movement of spouse to the overseas command or other appropriated documentation that support the preference. Additional documentation may be required prior to granting the preference.

Family members of locally hired DoD civilian employees are not eligible for Family Member Preference. The DoD policy on overseas employment for civilian employees limits overseas tours to 5 years. Extensions beyond 5 years are designed to provide management flexibility to meet defined mission requirements that otherwise cannot be made.

Case-by-case extensions beyond the 5-year limit may be granted in extremely rare situations. U.S. citizens in Germany under ordinary resident status are not eligible to apply for appointment under Status of Forces Agreement. Management has the prerogative to select at either grade level.

This recruitment provides promotion opportunity to target position without further competition when selectee is eligible and recommended by management. However promotion is not guaranteed and no promise of a promotion is implied No-fee passport required.

Applicants and their family members (who are US citizens) are required to obtain No-fee Passports PRIOR to departure to the overseas area. Current DoD employees who accept this position will have statutory return rights to the same grade they held prior to accepting this position. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 makes certain reimbursements/payments taxable.

For information on these changes and the Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA), for which some appointees are eligible, click here.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) Military Spouse Preference (MSP) eligible candidates will receive priority consideration at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified up to and including the full performance level.

PPP Application Based Preference Eligibles (Military Reserve and National Guard technicians, Military Reserve and National Guard technicians receiving disability retirement, and Retained Grade employees) will receive priority consideration at the full performance level only. You may submit a cover letter which will be forwarded to the selecting official with your resume.

Your cover letter will not be used to verify your qualifications or eligibility All applicants are encouraged to apply electronically. If you are unable to apply on-line, you may contact *** for assistance We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of the closing date.