Contract Specialist

About the role

We are the nation's art museum, home to a renowned collection of over 160,000 works of art from antiquity to today. Millions of people come through our doors each year—with even more online—making us one of the most visited art museums in the world.

Located on the National Mall, admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.

What you will do

• The Office of Administration-Procurement and Contracts (APC) provides pre-and post-award functions for a variety of supply, service and construction contracts.
• Duties for this position include: Negotiating contract modifications and the terms and costs of contract changes.
• In addition, negotiating the termination settlement with the contractor which may include equitable adjustments, change orders, change proposals, costs, profit, or other related matters.
• Reviewing termination notices for extent of action (partial or complete), and for compliance with the terms and conditions of the contract.
• Providing acquisition services by planning and negotiating complex purchases in supplies, information technology systems, services, equipment, and/or construction.
• Preparing acquisition plans, which may include Statement of Work, risks, source selection strategy, inherently governmental functions, budgeting and funding, competition, socio-economic considerations, contract type, contract vehicle, appropriate milestone charts, related schedules and/or other relevant elements of acquisition planning.
• Serving as a liaison to program officials in acquisition planning.
• Providing guidance to a technical evaluation team concerning the proper evaluation techniques pertinent to the respective acquisition.
• Evaluating contractor claims, supporting the writing of the Contracting Officer determinations, and resolving contractor disputes when necessary.
• Interpreting contract provisions for contractors and for Gallery officials and providing appropriate advice and guidance.

Requirements

• Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
• For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on OPM Website.
• It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit appropriate documentation prior to the closing date.
• Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant experience as it relates to this job announcement.
• Be clear and specific when describing your work history since human resources cannot make assumptions regarding your experience.
• Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).
• Your resume must include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week.

Education

This position does have an education requirement. Equivalent combination of education and experience are qualifying for all grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

How you will be evaluated

Your resume will be used to evaluate your experience, education, and/or training that address the competencies below: Knowledge of various types of contracts, techniques or requirements. Knowledge of the principles and methods for developing an integrated acquisition management plan that describes the business, technical, and support strategies.

Skill in expressing information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information. Skill in writing in a clear, concise, organized and convincing manner for the intended audience.

Skill in identifying problems; determining accuracy and relevance of information; using sound judgement to generate and evaluate alternatives, and making recommendations. A Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to determine if your qualifications meet the criteria for referral to the selecting official.

Note: Applicants who are referred to the hiring office for selection consideration may be required to submit writing and/or work samples as part of the interview/selection process.

If the hiring office decides to request a writing and/or work sample as part of its selection process, the vacancy contact will reach out to you by email to: (1) inform you of this requirement; and (2) provide further instructions. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Documents you must provide

• Your Resume (no more than 2 pages) showing the applicant's name, email address, work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed to include pay plan, series, and grade level for relevant federal experience.
• Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications.
• Do not include the following types of information in your resume: Classified or government sensitive information Social Security Number (SSN) Photos of yourself Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc. Encrypted and digitally signed documents Other supporting documents: Cover Letter, optional Most recent Performance Appraisal, optional Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.) If you are a veteran and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility.
• If you are a veteran and you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form.
• For more information on veterans' preference click here.
• Unofficial school transcripts, if the position has an education requirement or if you are using education to qualify.
• If selected for the position, you must provide an official transcript before appointment.
• Proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable.
• FAC-C (Professional) certification, please include a copy of your certification with your application.
• Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.

Benefits

The Federal Government offers a comprehensive benefits package. Flexible Spending Accounts - *** Health Insurance - *** Leave - *** Life Insurance - *** Retirement Program - ***

What to expect next

After each step in the recruitment process, your status will be updated in our application tracking system. Once this happens, if you have elected to receive e-mail updates, you will be notified through your USAJOBS registered e-mail address. If you have not elected e-mail updates, you can review your current application status in USAJOBS at any time.

Please check that your USAJOBS profile contact information is current and correct each time you apply to a job--this will ensure we are able to contact you as quickly as possible.

In addition to changing your status online, we will send you e-mail notifications at each major step in the process, to include; application received, eligible or not eligible, referred or not referred, selected or not selected.

For Fair Chance Act Covered Positions: An agency may not request, orally, in writing, or electronically through the USA Jobs website or other electronic means, that an applicant for appointment for a position in the civil service disclose criminal history record information before the appointing agency extends a conditional offer of employment.

If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit ***

Additional information

The National Gallery of Art fosters a fair workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The EEO policy is found at: *** More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement. This position is not included in the bargaining unit.

Relocation expenses will not be paid. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy: *** Veterans Information: *** Selective Service Registration: *** Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements visit the following websites: Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses Other Special Appointment Authorities Reasonable Accommodation Requests: The National Gallery of Art provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities.

If you need an accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the contact person listed in this announcement.