Contracting Specialist (Lead)

About the Position: This is a Planned Management Action open to current USACE, New England District Contracting employees due to organizational workload changes and evolving mission. Coordinate all procurement and contract activities for construction, supplies, and services. Evaluate quotations and proposals for compliance with specifications and cost. Review the work of contract specialists to ensure compliance with regulations, laws, and policies. Provide technical advice and assistance on long-range and day-to-day work planning. Provide input to supervisors regarding the progress and areas for improvement of team members. Negotiate prices and terms for sole source contracts to ensure they are advantageous. Negotiate settlements for contracts terminated for default or convenience. Defend contracting decisions to higher-level contracting officers or during inquiries. Analyze price proposals to ensure the reasonableness of prices. Review Requests for Equitable Adjustments and Claims to determine their merit. Determine the appropriate contract type for various acquisitions. Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. Consideration will be given to current USACE, New England • Contracting Division employees with personal competitive status. Consideration will also be given to current Army employees with personal competitive status. In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Basic Requirement for Contracting Specialist (Lead): Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees. OR Exemption: You are exempt from the education requirements above if (A) you are a current civilian employee in DoD who occupied GS-1102 positions or contracting positions with authority to award or administer contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold in an Executive Department on or before September 30, 2000; OR (B) you are a current military member who occupied a similar occupational specialty to the GS (or equivalent)-1102 on or before September 30, 2000. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: 1) Administer contracts by monitoring performance to ensure compliance with terms and conditions; 2) perform pre-award functions, including soliciting, evaluating, and awarding contracts for products and services; 3) analyze and evaluate cost and price proposals to determine fair and reasonable pricing; and 4) resolve complex issues regarding contract performance and obligations by collaborating with contractors and program officials to find mutually acceptable solutions. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-12). Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted. Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-12). FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.