Procurement Analyst

About the role

This position is located in the Office of Procurement, Acquisition, and Logistics (OPAL), Technology Acquisition Center (TAC). TAC provides acquisition and program management expertise and support for life cycle management of enterprise-wide solutions.

The position serves as the focal point in developing, establishing, interpreting and guiding the implementation of acquisition policy and regulatory material throughout TAC.

What you will do

• Expert analysis and proper interpretation of procurement policy/regulations and reduces the risk for protests from vendors.
• Review procurement packages that are complex and difficult prior to senior executive level signature approval.
• Coordinate with Contracting Officers, management, or OALC acquisition personnel to identify and resolve issues.
• Resolve complex procurement issues.
• Interpret new legislation and provides synopsis to senior level management.
• Defend and explain complex issues.
• Answer inquiries and provides contracting advice and technical assistance to TAC personnel in regards to general and specific situations/problems encountered for all types of complex contracts (i.e., supply and/or service contracts) or contracting methods that are necessary to plan and execute sound strategies to procure a broad-range and long term complex requirements.
• Collaborate in the development of acquisition documents and templates that are in accordance with policies and regulatory guidance issued from a programmatic standpoint.
• Comprehensive knowledge of business practices and market conditions applicable to program and technical requirements.
• Oral and written communication skills to prepare written and oral guidance and decisions; to explain and defend decisions to contracting personnel, customers, or higher headquarters; and to provide training.
• Serve in a supporting advisory capacity, the incumbent exercises experienced judgment, initiative and resourcefulness in the interpretation of guidelines to ensure uniform application of guidelines by contracting personnel, which includes correct application among closely related or seemingly conflicting directives.
• Participate in the development of acquisition plans providing advice and guidance in support of the Advocate for Competition Program (ACP); ensures all supporting documentation is compliant and consistent with the J and A including, but not limited to, Performance Work Statements, Statements of Work, and the Acquisition Plan.
• Demonstrate and apply expert knowledge of government acquisition statutes, regulations and policies in order to support the Competition Advocate to administer the organization's competition advocate program.
• Serve in a supporting advisory role when participating in the development of Justification and Approval (J&A) documents on proposed noncompetitive acquisitions over $900,000.
• Provide various members of the acquisition community (TAC and its customers) with appropriate competition training to ensure full understanding of the various competition laws/requirements.
• Collaborate with customer and acquisition team members making recommendations to ensure procedures and policies of the organization are in consonance with the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA), acquisition regulations, and higher authority guidance.
• Conduct training of TAC employees and customers and explains impact of new policies, regulations, and guidance.
• Play a key role in supporting the execution of acquisition strategies to ensure compliance with Public Law 98-369, which is identified as the Competition in Contracting Act (CICA) of 1984.
• Provide advice and recommendations to the development of acquisition strategies to support program requirements.
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Telework limited to ad-hoc with supervisor approval.
• Regular and recurring telework is not available.
• Position Description Title/PD#: Procurement Analyst/ PD44300A and PD44313A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Required Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met.
• Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.
• In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment.
• The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (***).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period 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 probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

There is no educational substitution for the specialized experience for the GS-12 or GS-13 levels, however you must meet the Individual Occupational Requirements as listed below.

Basic Requirements for GS-5 through GS-12 A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field; or 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.

Basic Requirements for GS-13 and Above 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 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 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.

Exceptions: 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, unless granted a waiver under Paragraph D. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment.

You can verify your education here: *** If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

How you will be evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received. The USA Hire Assessments 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.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be contacted for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified.

Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. During the application process, you will have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions.

Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

Documents you must provide

• Documents Accepted: Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) Level II FAC-C certification PCS Orders Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Proof of Marriage Status Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Documents Required: Resume Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information.
• Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.
• Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply.
• Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.
• IF APPLYING AS A CTAP/ICTAP ELIGIBLE:You must submit the following documentation demonstrating eligibility for CTAP/ICTAP: Resume Agency Reduction in Force notice; Most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location Most recent performance appraisal (must be fully successful or above) Applications are accepted online.
• Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

What to expect next

Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status (if applicable), and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email.

After we receive application packages (including all required assessments and documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued, and applicants will be notified of their status by email.

Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified.

If initial application submission is updated and resubmitted with a new resume, only the most current resume will be reviewed for consideration. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at ***

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service.

This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online and request information about the Alternate Application process, please contact the Agency Contact listed for this Job Opportunity Announcement (JOA).