Summary This position is located within the USPFO at Camp Mabry in Austin, TX. The primary purpose of this position is to ensure successful market research, acquisition planning, contract award, contract performance management, and interpretation of contract law in order to provide the best, most efficient contracting strategies in support of the organization's vision, mission, goals, and objectives. Texas is one of 9 states with NO state income tax. Responsibilities As a Contract Specialist with the Texas National Guard, your duties will include, but will not be limited to: Plans the overall approach to meet contracting program objectives for a variety of requirements with multiple complexities. Analyzes difficult/controversial contracting issues, determines, recommends and/or implements course of action which may depart from previous approaches for long-term contract performance or short-term contracts with extremely stringent time frames. Provides business advice and assistance to technical personnel involved in the development of the performance work statement/statement of work/statement of objectives or data requirements. Reviews a diverse variety of requisition packages for adequacy and compliance with administrative, regulatory, and procedural requirements and consistency with current market practices and conditions. Serves as a contracting authority and advisor to management, customers, and contractors in assignment area relative to the market, the industry, specifications, socioeconomic concerns, and similar matters. Performs acquisition planning, along with the program manager/customer, technical, legal, and finance personnel to develop market research, acquisition strategy, milestones, evaluation/source selection criteria, and/or incentive or award fee provisions, as applicable. Exercises experienced judgment, initiative, and resourcefulness to identify regulations and laws which do or do not apply to the particular procurement, to consider financial arrangements and incentives, and to develop justifications for adopting a contractual posture. Oversees the procurement of a wide variety of services, supplies, construction and architect and engineering. Researches, interprets, analyzes, and applies all regulations, business and industry practices, market trends, Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Comptroller General decisions, public law, case law, and precedents. Devises special terms, provisions, clauses, and conditions applicable to the solicitation and contract as required. Ensures that the price schedule is properly structured and determines sources to be solicited. Prepares solicitation, amendment, and contract documents incorporating applicable terms, conditions, provisions and clauses. Receives and performs oversight of quotes/bids/proposals evaluations and determines the acceptability of offers based on an analysis of financial and technical information gained. Executes post-award contract performance management actions on assigned contracts. Appoints Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs) within delegated authority and manages the COR program as required. Evaluates contractor performance for compliance with terms and conditions of contracts and ensures timely submission of contract deliverables and performance metrics. Makes field site visits, if necessary, detecting and correcting labor standards violations, taking appropriate action to expedite delivery or performance when required by mission changes, monitoring the contractor's use of government-furnished property inventories, and issuing change orders as necessary. Obtains additional funds or de-obligates funds as necessary. Analyzes a variety of unusual conditions, questions, or issues including complex contract administration problems, e.g., disputes, labor violations, and claims, and identifies alternative courses of action which may depart from previous approaches. Serves as business advisor to a wide range of customers. Represents the interest of the organization in a professional manner in meetings and various contacts outside the agency on a variety of issues that often are not well defined. Provides business advice, guidance, training, and assistance to team members, technical or program personnel, functional commanders, and/or contractors on contractual language, legal responsibilities, acquisition and business-related issues. May serve as the primary or alternate Government Purchase Card (GPC) Agency/Organization Program Coordinator. Functions as the principal liaison between program participants and the banking institution. Interacts with higher headquarters to ensure program compliance. Analyzes program regulatory requirements and develops internal procedural guidance. Provides training for billing/approving officials and cardholders participating in the program. Monitors cardholder activity to determine adherence to GPC policies by generating and analyzing bank reports. Performs compliance reviews and prepares reports for submission to higher headquarters. May serve as a System Administrator. Provides technical leadership and consultation regarding operation automated acquisition systems. Provides technical and functional guidance to contracting personnel in the use of software, prepares reporting documents, and coordinates the transfer of data between organizations. Requirements Conditions of Employment Appointment Factor(s): This is a Title 5 Excepted Service position. Applicants who meet one of the DoD Priority Placement Program categories below are eligible to apply with this preference. (See Required Documents section) Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Remarks: If the GS-12 position is advertised requiring the selectee to hold a warrant as a condition of employment, the selectee must have Professional certification and must go before a Contracting Officer Review Board (CORB) within 12 months of employment. The Texas Military Department is an Equal Opportunity employer. Direct deposit is mandatory. Veterans' preference is applicable to this position. Trial period required (see additional information) CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT & NOTES: 1. May be required to travel by military or commercial aircraft in the performance of TDY assignments. 2. Irregular and/or overtime (compensatory) hours may be required to support operational requirements or contingencies or may be required to work hours outside of the normal duty day. 3. Required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise. 4. The incumbent must meet the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements applicable to the duties of the position. 5. The incumbent must meet the continuing acquisition education, training and experience requirements IAW DoDI 5000.66. 6. In accordance with the Ethics in Government Act, 1978, incumbent is required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually. 7. The incumbent must obtain and maintain secret security clearance. 8. Will be required to pass the Contracting Officer Review Board (CORB) and hold a warrant. 9. This position is designated as Essential Personnel and may be subject to duty in preparation for, or in response to, a state emergency or disaster declaration. Head of Agency requests to exceed 14 days in a calendar year must be approved in advance by the National Guard, Director of Manpower and Personnel (NGB-J1). Qualifications In describing your experience in your resume, please be clear and specific. Assumptions regarding your experience will not be made. To be considered for qualification, your resume must include relevant experience with beginning and ending dates of employment/experience reflecting the following: Specialized Experience Required Must have one year of contracting experience at the GS-11 level. Specialized experience must demonstrate the following: (1) Performing acquisition planning including market research and knowledge of a wide variety of contracting methods that satisfy mission needs and meet customer requirements, (2) Advising Contracting Officer Representatives and advising customers on procurement preparation and development of contractually acceptable specifications, work statements, and quality assurance criteria, (3) Reviewing procurement requests to assure clarity, adequacy, and completeness, and (4) Reviewing contract terms and technical specifications to identify any special requirements. If the GS-12 position is advertised requiring the selectee to hold a warrant as a condition of employment, the selectee must have Professional certification and must go before a Contracting Officer Review Board (CORB) within 12 months of employment. Education Positive Education Requirement: Must have a Bachelor's degree. Applicant must attach a copy of college transcript to receive consideration for this vacancy announcement. You MUST upload a copy of your transcript. Failure to do so will result in automatic disqualification for this position. Additional Information Trial Period: As a condition of employment, you will be required to serve a 1- 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 trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Veterans Information: Veterans' preference must be validated by formal submissions including all necessary supporting documentation. You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility prior to the close date of the job announcement. Acceptable documentation may be: 1. A copy of your DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of Active Duty service and discharge under honorable conditions. 2. A "certification" that is a written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed. 3. You may obtain a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center or visiting their website. 4. If claiming 10 point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form, SF-15, "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference".
