About this role

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/09/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Contracting Series, 1102, Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR): This Contract Specialist has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR), that must be met prior to or after appointment. GS-12 Requirements: 1. A four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field.

[NOTE: A TRANSCRIPT WITH NAME, SCHOOL NAME, AND DATE OF CONFERRAL MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION] OR 2. 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. AND GS-12 Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of full-time specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-11) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: Applying contracting regulations, policies, procedures and requirements to administer contracts. Applying pre-solicitation and solicitation principles, requirements, and processes to prepare solicitation documents including cost and pricing standards. Experience using negotiation techniques to conduct pre-award and post-award negotiations such as supplemental agreements or settlement actions.

Experience in cost and price analysis techniques to prepare proposals against previous history, actual expenditures and established rates to determine negotiation positions. Utilizing oral and written communications to convey technical contract regulations and requirements, and to document contracting methods and techniques employed to obtain negotiation objectives. Certification Requirements GS-12: Certification Requirements GS-12: A FAC-C (Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting) Professional (Legacy FAC-C Level II or higher) certification or DAWIA equivalent is required within 24 months of appointment for a GS-12 Contracting Specialist.

[NOTE: IF YOU POSSESS THIS CERTIFICATION, A COPY MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION] GS-13 Basic Requirements: 1. Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS-13 or higher-level contracting positions, including at least 4 years' experience in contracting or related positions. At least 1 year of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower GS-12 grade level of the position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position.

AND 2. A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, that included or was supplemented by 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: A TRANSCRIPT WITH NAME, SCHOOL NAME, AND DATE OF CONFERRAL MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION] 3.

Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. This also applies to positions in the same grade in the same agency or other agencies if the specialized experience requirements are met. However, they will have to meet the basic requirements and specialized experience requirements to qualify for promotion to a higher grade, unless granted a waiver.

AND Specialized Experience for the GS-13 level of this position: Applicants must have one year of full-time specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-12) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: Serving as a senior-level expert, for complex, high-value, or urgent requirements.

Overseeing preparation of procurement instruments; negotiates the terms and conditions of a contract. Reviewing work completed by contractors to ensure it meets contractual standards. Analyzing price or cost data to recommend specific contracting actions. Participating (formally or informally) in an acquisition team and/or integrated program/project team. Certification Requirements GS-13: To meet the agency's' mandatory training requirements as prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS-13 or higher level, applicants must have obtained a Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting FAC-C Professional or Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA] Contracting Professional) certification.

[NOTE: A COPY OF CERTIFICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION]. NOTE: Current/former VA or government employees must have successfully completed a FAC-C Professional (or Legacy Contracting Level II or higher) or DAWIA Contracting Professional (or Legacy Contracting Level II or higher) certification. 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/.

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 found well qualified, applicants must meet the following qualifications: . Demonstrated knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), and other Federal acquisition regulations, such as VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR), VA Acquisition Manual (VAAM), etc. Knowledge of acquisition principles, policies and processes pertaining to a major construction and/or Architect-Engineer acquisition program, a major supply chain, logistics or health care organization.

Experience with a variety of contract types and purchasing types. Has experience mentoring and training contract officers and reviewing other contracting officers' work. Demonstrated ability to identify issues, recommend improvements, implements and deliver high-quality customer service. Experience in dealing with/resolving complex issues requiring courtesy and effective communication skills (both oral and written) as a participant/leader (formally or informally) in an acquisition team and/or integrated program/project team 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/.

Source listing: usajobs