Contract Specialist

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), United States Coast Guard (USCG), Office of Procurement and Contracting (LOGCOM-9), Regional Contracting West located in Alameda, California.

Promotion Potential: If this position is filled at a level below the full performance level, the selectee may be promoted without further competition. This implies no promise or guarantee of a promotion.

Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

  04/01/2025 to 04/10/2025

  
  
• Salary

  $76,397 – $144,031 per year

• Pay scale & grade
  

  GS 9 – 12

• Location

  1 vacancy in the following location:

  • Alameda, CA
  
  
• Remote job
  

  No

• Telework eligible
  

  No

• Travel Required

  Occasional travel – You may be expected to travel for this position.

  
  
• Relocation expenses reimbursed

  Yes-You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.

• Appointment type
  

  Permanent

• Work schedule
  

  Full-time

• Service
  

  Competitive

• Promotion potential
  

  12

• Job family (Series)
• Supervisory status
  

  No

• Security clearance
• Drug test
  

  No

• Position sensitivity and risk
• Trust determination process
• Financial disclosure
• Bargaining unit status
• Announcement number

  20250310-50484-AJ-EHA

  
  
• Control number
  

  834555900

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Duties

You will serve as a Contract Specialist and be responsible for procurement to support LOGCOM-LOG-94 Regional Contracting West and the Areas of Responsibility (AOR) for the acquisition of supplies, services, minor construction, or emergency response to procure commodities and service requirements.

Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team. Typical work assignments include:

• Serving as a contract specialist responsible for the full range of pre-ward and post-award procedures to plan and conduct the acquisition process from the description of the requirements through final delivery.
• Conducting pre-solicitation communications and evaluating vendor bids/offers.
• Negotiating contract terms and conditions including quality/air worthiness, pricing, delivery schedules and vendor incentives for good performance.
• Review requests and analyzing the requirements, recommending specific revisions to the statement of work or specifications, deciding on the type of contract, milestones and procurement plan.
• Performing cost/price analysis; evaluating contractor performance; resolving scheduling problems, verifying deliveries, and monitoring inspection and acceptance.

Mandatory training is required which must be successfully completed and other training may occur as necessary for success in the position.

A Federal Acquisition Certification for Contract Professional or management determined equivalent within 36-months of entry into the position.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Key Requirements:

1. Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
2. Must be registered or exempt from the Selective Service. See www.sss.gov
3. A one-year probationary period may be required.
4. Suitable for Federal employment determined by background investigation.
5. This is a Bargaining Unit position.
6. Unofficial Transcripts will be required prior to selection.
7. Federal Acquisition for Contracting Professional within thirty-six months from entry into the position.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience or substitution of education for experience or combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package or upon selection. You MUST meet the following requirements:

EDUCATION: Applicants must meet the following basic requirements: Completed a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree with a major in any field; OR Completed 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. NOTE: Applicants who have been in a GS-1102 position at a GS-12 or lower grade level since January 1, 2000, without a break in service only need to meet the additional requirements in order to qualify.

AND
Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

To qualify at the GS-09 grade level, applicants must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the federal sector. Specialized experience must include the following:

• Developing procurement plans, preparing and issuing solicitation documents reviewing previous history, market conditions, and specifications or technical data packages; recommending actions when the contractor is not in compliance with contract provisions; and conducting contract reviews to evaluate contractor performance.
• Reviewing requisitions and determining the appropriate method of procurement.

OR

2 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education, or a master’s or equivalent graduate degree in accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.

To qualify at the GS-11 grade level, applicants must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the federal sector. Specialized experience must include the following:

• Reviewing official contract files; preparing written requests for proposal.
• Performing procurement planning; developing procurement objectives in terms of competition and price range and constructs the contractual vehicle including use of pricing arrangements, subcontracting policy, setting-aside polices and similar considerations
• Providing advice to project personnel on effective implementation and time frames required
• Developing new or innovative acquisition plans, source selection plans, and contract terms, conditions, or financial arrangement.

OR

To substitute education for specialized experience, completion of 3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if related OR combination of education and experience. 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.

OR
You can also qualify based on a combination of higher-level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.
To qualify at the GS-12 grade level, applicants must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the federal sector. Specialized experience must include the following:

• Negotiating complex modifications to contracts; participating in negotiations or serving as a primary cost/price negotiator.
• Performing procurement planning; developing procurement objectives in terms of competition and price range and constructs the contractual vehicle including use of pricing arrangements, subcontracting policy, setting-aside polices and similar considerations; providing advice to project personnel on effective implementation and time frames required.
• Developing new or innovative acquisition plans, source selection plans, and contract terms, conditions, or financial arrangement; performing contract administration activities; conducting extensive and sophisticated cost and financial analysis.
• Serving as lead negotiation for contract modifications for programs involving several interrelated contracts.

NOTE: All experience statements (i.e., duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire) copied from this announcement and pasted into your resume will not be considered as a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
NOTE: Education can be substituted for experience at this GS-09 and GS-11 grade levels only.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer 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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Office of Personnel management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule, C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Education

This position does have a positive education requirement. If you are including education on your resume, report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Required Documents section for detail.

College Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.

Transcripts –If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide all unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) by the closing date of this announcement or you will be disqualified from further consideration. Please ensure that all documentation is legible.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications

Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

Additional information

E-Verify
DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about , including your rights and responsibilities.

Fair Chance Act
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant’s criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with and certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to alfreda.y.jefferson@uscg.mil.

Suitability Statement
If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an , and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.

Shared Certificates Statement
Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.

Special Employment Consideration
The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. , , , and possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Recruitment incentives may be authorized.

All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit.

More than 1 selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 45 days from the date the certificate was issued.
If selection is made below the full performance level, the incumbent may be promoted up to the target grade without further competition, if all legal and regulatory requirements are met and when recommended by the supervisor. However, promotion to the full performance level is not guaranteed and is dependent on successful performance at the lower grade level(s).

If you need a reasonable accommodation for the application and hiring process, please contact 1(888)992-7387. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Visit
Below is the link to the list of CRSP’s, which are assigned by area:

• Benefits
  

  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. .

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

  
  
  

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualification requirements for the position. Under the provisions of direct hiring authority, rating, ranking and veterans’ preference does not apply; therefore, your responses to the questionnaire will not be used to determine a scored rating. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications in the job opportunity announcement, will be referred for selection consideration. While veterans’ preference does not apply in EHA, preference eligible are encouraged to submit their supporting documentation (DD-214 stating disposition of discharge or character of service, VA letter, SF-15, etc.).

Applicants applying as CTAP or ICTAP candidates, and are determined CTAP or ICTAP eligible, must exceed the minimum qualification requirements to be referred under this selection priority placement program by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. For those deemed eligible and who meet the minimum qualifications, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions). Your resume and/or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles who are not determined well-qualified by scoring at least 85 will not be referred under the CTAP/ICTAP selection priority placement program; however, will be referred for selection consideration with other minimally qualified applicants.

The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies, please do not provide a separate written response.

• Acquisition Strategy

Veterans’ preference does not apply. Preview the job questionnaire .

• Benefits
  

  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. .

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

  
  
  
• Required Documents

  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have – whether you’re a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you’re eligible under their policies.

  A complete application consists of the following:

  
  

  Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. Your resume must list your educational and work experience including the dates (mm/dd/yy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week. If applying under CTAP/ICTAP your resume may be used to validate your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire. Your resume should also indicate your citizen the Selective Service System if you are a male born after 12/31/59.

  Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documentation.

  
  

  CTAP and ICTAP Eligibles: CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management’s Career Transition Resources website at: CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: A copy of your RIF separation notice, a copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating, a copy of your most recent SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action”, noting current position, grade level, and duty location, any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

  ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: A copy of your RIF separation notice, a copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating, a copy of your SF-50 “Notification of Personnel Action”, documenting your RIF separation, noting your position, grade level, and duty location, any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

  
  
  

  OPM must authorize employment offers for former or current Political Appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information. Submit proof of your former or current status, such as your SF-50. Please see

  
  

  NOTE: You will not be considered if you fail to provide all required documents.
  Are you a current or former federal employee? Submit a copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action that demonstrates your eligibility for consideration, e.g., length of time you have been in your current grade; your highest grade held; your current promotion potential and proof of permanent appointment if applying based on an interchange agreement. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include promotions, within-grade increases and accessions.

  
  
  

  Are you qualifying based on education? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an accredited institution. Once selected and prior to appointment, applicants must provide an official college transcript. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See for more information.
  OPM must authorize employment offers for former or current Political Appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information. Submit proof of your former or current status, such as your SF-50. Please see

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