Summary
This Contract Specialist position is located in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF promotes and advances scientific progress in the US by sponsoring scientific and engineering research and education; much of this research is sponsored through contracts. This announcement will close at 11:59 PM ET on the listed closing date, or once 150 applications have been received, whichever occurs first.
Duties
As a Contract Specialist you will: Manage the acquisition lifecycle for contracting activities for research, services, and equipment, including pre-award/acquisition planning oversight, post-award administration, and close out. Conduct competitive source selection, including prepare request for proposals, coordinate technical evaluations, and support source selection decisions. Negotiate contract terms and conditions, cost/price, and establish negotiation objectives. Perform and document cost analysis. Advise program staff and stakeholders on procurement planning and contract matters. Apply knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations and other applicable laws, policies, precedence, and procedures to conduct risk management and resolve complex procurement challenges. Other duties as assigned.
Requirements
You must be a U.S. citizen. Selectee will be required to have a background investigation prior to onboarding. Selectee may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period. A USA Hire assessment is required. An email will be sent with additional information after you submit your application. You will have 48 hours from the closing date of this announcement to complete the assessment. Additional Requirements: You must meet eligibility and qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date. You must answer all job-related questions in the NSF eRecruit questionnaire and any external assessment that is included. All online applicants must provide a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full/blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position. It is NSF policy that personnel employed at, or Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) individuals detailed to, NSF are not permitted to participate in foreign talent recruitment programs. Failure to comply with this NSF policy could result in disciplinary action up to and including removal from Federal Service or termination of an IPA assignment and referral to the Office of Inspector General. NSF has determined that all of its positions are eligible for situational telework. Situational telework may be approved on an occasional basis in accordance with agency policy, supervisory approval, and operational requirements. Selected candidates interested in telework, or other workplace flexibility arrangements, should discuss available options with the selecting official. Participation in telework is voluntary and requires an approved telework agreement.
Education
This position requires specific coursework to meet the basic education requirement. You must submit an official or unofficial transcript which list courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Your transcript(s) must clearly demonstrate the course(s) listed in the qualification requirement section. If the transcript(s) do not clearly demonstrate this, you must submit a copy of the course description and/or other documentation demonstrating that the courses are equivalent.
How you will be evaluated
Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Accountability Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Applicants eligible for selection preference under ICTAP must meet the agency definition of "well qualified." At NSF, this means a score of 85.0 or higher. In the merit promotion selection process, formal performance appraisals may be considered if voluntarily submitted by the applicant. Under provisions of the Direct Hire Authority: Category Rating, Rule of Many, and veterans' preference do not apply. All applicants who are determined to meet the basic requirement and minimum qualifications, as defined by this announcement, will be referred to the selecting officials for consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13080771