Summary As an Acquisition Utilization Specialist in the Engineering Department you will serve as a medical center liaison and advisor on contract related services focusing on critical clinical and healthcare facility services, equipment acquisition and support services required by project managers, program managers, upper management and stakeholders for compliance to federal facility and safety regulations, building and fire code requirements, and VA Directives. Responsibilities This position functions as an Acquisition Utilization Specialist located within the Engineering Department. S/he serves as the Medical Center liaison and advisor on all aspects of procurement for contract related specialized services focusing on critical clinical and healthcare facility acquisitions that include but are not limited to: Service maintenance agreements Equipment and building utility system repair, Construction, Demolition, Hazardous material abatement, Building utility system equipment installation, Supplies and materials with installation as required by VA Healthcare Systems (HCS) project managers, program managers, upper management, and stakeholders for compliance to federal facility and safety regulations, building and fire code requirements, and VA Directives. Renders expert contract pre-award and post award expertise to all Administrative and Clinical Service lines within the VA HCS and supported catchment area, Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) responsibilities and work associated with contract planning, implementation, oversight, and close-outs. Perform other assigned duties. Work Schedule: FT , 0700 - 1530 Telework: AD-HOC This position may be authorized for telework. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Acquisition & Utilization Spec/PD10318A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Physical Requirements: Requires occasional travel to conduct inspections of off -site facilities such as CBOC, and ancillary facilities to ensure joint commission and safety requirements are met. Many times this work will be happening afterhours and may require active visual oversite on location for the duration of the work, however long that may be. The work involves walking, standing, climbing, bending, or carrying light items such inspection/test instruments, small parts, and supplies. Occasional demanding physical effort is required, e.g., climbing ladders, utilizing hatches to access roofs, or creeping through crawlspaces. Capable of donning and utilizing all required personal protective equipment, such as hearing protection, safety glasses, gloves, hard hats, respirators, fire rated (FR) Clothing, steel toe shoes, and other protective items that may be mandated by site conditions Requirements Conditions of Employment 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 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/18/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5; for a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7 and for a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9.The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: For GS-7: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: assist higher level Engineering Acquisition Specialist(EAS) as s/he execute the Engineering acquisition process; provide assistance to senior EAS by gathering data and performing initial research, as s/he develops and analyzes local and regional reports; assist in the preparation of reports, contract data for meetings, inspections, audits, and in-progress reviews. Note: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one (1) full year of graduate education. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Education at the graduate level must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education which meets the total qualification requirement for the GS-7 grade level. Note: If you select this option, a copy of your transcripts is required. For GS-9: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: service maintenance agreements, equipment and building utility system repair, construction, demolition, hazardous material abatement, building utility system equipment installation, supplies, and materials with installation as required by VA Healthcare Systems (HCS) project managers, program managers, upper management, and stakeholders for compliance to federal facility and safety regulations, building and fire code requirements, and VA Directives. Note: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. Education must be related to the position and must demonstrate the knowledge, sills, and abilities necessary to do the work. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education which meets the total qualification requirement for the GS-9 grade level. Note: If you select this option, a copy of your transcripts is required. For GS-11: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: acts as a subject matter expert in the Engineering acquisition process for VA HCS; establishes, expedites, and reviews consolidation of, all procurement packages, including unique, emergent, and complex requirements to meet timely and technical needs of assigned acquisitions; submits funding 2237 to the Electronic Contract Management System or equivalent system to cover requirements for facility contracts. Note: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Note: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related, that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. Note: If you select this option, a copy of your transcripts is required. Education cannot be credited without documentation. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education which meets the total qualification requirement for the GS-11 grade level. Note: If you select this option, a copy of your transcripts is required For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Preferred experience - One (1) year of experience in work that involves the application of engineering principles, theories, and techniques to solve practical problems, design systems, and implement engineering solutions. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. 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. 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. 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. 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 qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
