Summary This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Office of the Chief Engineer. The selectee works as a contracting officer representative, overseeing and managing construction and construction service contracts. Projects involve renovation, restoration and facility improvement on buildings which are of great historical significance, and of which specialized construction methods are required to accomplish work. Responsibilities Construction Project Management (65%) Manage multi-million and multi-year projects that include historic complex and diverse buildings and assets. Performs constructability reviews and collaborates with consultants, architects, engineers, and estimators in advance of contract documents being sent out for bid. Writes statements of work for construction management support contracts to be included in Contracting Officer's (CO's) requests for proposal. Serves as Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) on assigned construction and construction administration consulting contracts as delegated in writing by the CO. Directs a staff of construction engineers, technicians, and construction representatives in support of a wide variety of scopes and diverse construction functions. The incumbent serves as technical expert and key source of information in assigned areas of responsibility. Reviews contractor's baseline and progress schedules. Monitors contractor's progress for on-time completion of activities, milestones, safety rules, and completion dates. Reviews payment requests and makes recommendations for payment against contractor's progress and compliance with contract specifications. Prepares and provides project updates and briefs the management chain of command and stakeholders. Coordinates construction management teams composed of in-house and external consultants and construction administration and construction management support contractors. Monitors contractors' safety protocols for compliance with applicable safety standards and regulations. Coordinates access requests with Jurisdictions and U.S. Capitol Police and ancillary construction activities performed by other contractors or in-house staff. Schedules meetings to identify action items, milestones, reasonableness of construction performance period, and phasing requirements to be included in a contract. Participates in the review of proposals and selection of contractors as a technical evaluation panel member. Attends pre-bid meetings to assist project team in clarifying construction features and inform contractors of requirements concerning construction schedule sensitivities and expectations, security, and constraints that may be considered unique to the proposed work to be performed at a Jurisdiction. Works with engineers, architects, and consultants to resolve conflicts and concerns as they arise. Resolves or assists in the timely resolution of these conflicts and concerns. Evaluates estimates for financial and time impacts to projects and advises on the degree of effect on schedule and budget. Prepares and/or assists in the preparation and presentation of project reports to keep stakeholders informed on project status. Consultant/Contractor Oversight (35%) Monitors and inspects contractor performance to ensure that the entire scope of the contract is performed, and all quality requirements are in strict compliance. Monitors contract compliance against contractor's submitted Quality Control management plan. Ensures that contract construction management services, consultants and in-house support personnel maintain effective construction surveillance utilizing best practices, project controls, and established processes and procedures. Recommends acceptance or rejection of construction activities, phases of work, and overall project completion. Reviews payment requests and recommends payment against the contractor's progress and in compliance with contract specifications. Assures timely payments. Creates and maintains an account for invoice processing. Completes fiscal and physical closeout of the project, including writing the final contractor review. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen. You must be able to pass a drug test. Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs. You must meet the definition of specialized experience. To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet one of the categories below: A citizen of the United States; A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B); A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible; A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408); or A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States." Qualifications You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site at OPM qualification standards Specialized experience: is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Candidates for the GS-13 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as the following: (1) Overseeing and monitoring new construction, renovations, infrastructure improvements, and building upgrade contracts; (2) Working with project managers, facility representatives, consultants, and in-house resources to determine risks. Make recommendations on changes in scope of work, construction documents, and risk mitigation. Proactive oversight of project planning leading to reducing cost, safety and schedule risks; (3) Recommending improvements in design and efficiencies, reducing changes to the contract, and enhancing operations; (4) Monitoring and inspecting contractor performance to ensure that the entire scope of the contract is performed and all quality requirements specified are in strict compliance. (5) Serving as Contracting Officer Representative (COR) or equivalent. Education No education substitution Additional Information Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement. If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable. For more information, please visit OPM vet guide If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information. DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC's suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide, and cover the cost for the drug test. The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol. The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1185221678150.shtm The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, genetic information, sexual orientation and/or disability. This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis. Moving expenses are not authorized. Relocation expenses are not authorized. Note: Please be advised that federal retired annuitant candidates may only be considered as a temporary employee if the role can be filled in that capacity. This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol. All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.
