Contract Specialist, Operating Location El Paso

Duties

The United States Space Force (USSF) in El Paso, TX is searching for a Contract Specialist to support Operating Location, El Paso (NH-1102-03, GS-12/13 equivalent).

Description:
Mission: Space System Command (SSC) develops, acquires, equips and sustains lethal and resilient space capabilities to enhance joint lethality to protect the nation and its allied partners. Operating Location El Paso is strategically centered to capitalize on El Paso's vast manufacturing capability, logistics infrastructure, proximity to White Sands Missile Range and Space Port America, and academic resources and research efforts.

The contract specialist will join a diverse team of goverment, academic and industry partners that are working to drive cutting edge research into prototypes and eventually products. As the contract specialist, you will help create the non-traditional vehicles to execute the mission. You will work closely with leadership, to develop acquisition strategy and execute. You will also work closely with student interns from the University of Texas at El Paso Business Department to teach, coach and mentor. We are looking for someone that is eager to learn and continue to expand their contracting experience.

Ideal Candidate:
Must have DoW contracting experience; Experience with Partnership Intermediary Agreements (PIAa), Other Transaction Authority (OTA), and/or Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA); Bachelor's degree; Strong desire to learn.

Key Skills and Abilities:
1. Professional knowledge of a wide range of Federal contracting laws, regulations, policies, procedures, methods, techniques, and contract types applicable to pre-award and post-award actions for a variety of complex contracts for unique services, commodities, and/or construction.
2. Knowledge of the business environment (e.g. economic trends, awareness of commercial business practices, standards, mergers, and acquisitions, etc.) in order to recognize potential programmatic/contractual impacts, and knowledge of the methods and techniques of fact-finding/market research.
3. Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools used to assist in risk identification, assessment, and mitigation including assessing the probability and consequences of potential problems.
4. Knowledge of contract negotiation, administration, and termination principles, policies, procedures, and technical requirements; and knowledge of price and cost analysis sufficient to review proposals against previous history, actual and estimated expenditures, and established rates to determine price reasonableness or to determine a negotiation position.
5. Ability to identify problems, determine accuracy and relevance of information, use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and make recommendations; makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions applying precedents found in government contracting case law to specific contracting situations to insure that legally binding contracting officer decisions are consistent, justifiable, and will be upheld at appellate courts or boards; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals.
6. Ability to communicate clearly, concisely and with technical accuracy, both orally and in writing, and use computers and a variety of software programs and databases, gather and analyze a variety of program information, make sound judgments concerning program progress, and effectively communicate recommendations orally and in writing to higher organizational management and contractors.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S Citizen.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance.
• Safeguards classified or sensitive budget-related information and/or files.
• May be required to work overtime on an unscheduled or emergency basis.
• Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM prescribed "Unscheduled Telework".
• This position will close after 5 business days or 75 applications, whichever comes first.
• Employee may be required to perform travel by military or commercial passenger aircraft in the performance of temporary duty assignments.
• PCS / Relocation funding is not authorized.
• Subject to Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY): Approximately 20 days per year.
• This position is part of the Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP).
• This position has been designated for drug testing. Incumbent is subject to random urinalysis testing as a condition of employment.
• Employee must within 30-days of assuming this position and by 31 October annually thereafter, file an OGE-450, "Confidential Financial Disclosure Report.

Qualifications

DOD QUALIFICATION STANDARD FOR GS-1102 CONTRACTING POSITIONS

This is an individual, single agency qualification standard for Department of Defense positions. This standard implements requirements contained in Title 10, United States Code, Sections 1723 through 1733, as amended by Section 861(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92) and implemented on a policy exception basis by Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment memorandum, Exception to 24 Semester Hours Requirement for Contracting Positions, effective and dated August 2, 2020.

Basic Education Requirements for GS-5 through GS-15 (or equivalent) positions:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees.

NOTE: The education requirements listed above apply only to individuals entering DoD GS-1102 positions on or after October 1, 2000. Current civilian personnel in DoD who occupied GS-1102 positions or contracting positions with authority to award or administer contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold in an Executive

Department on or before September 30, 2000 are exempt from meeting this requirement. Current military members who occupied a similar occupational specialty to the GS (or equivalent)-1102 or before September 30, 2000 are also exempt from meeting this requirement.

GS-12 thru GS-15

(no educational equivalent)

One year equivalent to at least next lower grade level

Basic Qualification Requirements for Contracting Officer Positions: In addition to meeting, the basic educational requirement as well as the requirements in the table above, applicants must have:

Have at least two years of experience in contracting positions; and

Have completed all contracting courses required for a contracting officer for positions at the level and grade at which the person is serving. Certification at this level is sufficient to meet this standard.

In addition:

Specialized Experience: In addition to meeting the basic education requirements above, one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression is qualifying for positions at grades GS-7 (or equivalent) and above. Specialized experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled.

Basic Requirements for Critical Acquisition Positions: The Secretary of Defense shall designate the acquisition positions in the Department of Defense that are critical acquisition positions, applicants must:

Be eligible for GS-14, or equivalent; and

Hold a bachelor's degree; and

Have completed all mandatory training requirements for Level II or III certification as prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to higher level contracting positions; and

Possess four years of acquisition experience. At least 1 year of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower grade level of the position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position.

Basic Qualification Requirements for Senior Contracting Officials: A Senior Contracting Official is a position such as a director of contracting, or a principal deputy to a director of contracting, serving in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Office of the Secretary of a Military Department, the Headquarters (HQ) of a Military Department, the HQ of a Defense Agency, a subordinate command HQ, or a major systems or logistics contracting activity in the Department of Defense. Before a person may be assigned to a critical acquisition position as a senior contracting official, the person must have at least four years' experience in contracting.

Waivers: With the exception of Specialized Experience, the component acquisition career management authority may waive any or all of the requirements listed in this qualifications standard with respect to any employee of the Department of Defense if the board certifies that the individual possesses significant potential for advancement to levels of greater responsibility and authority, based on demonstrated job performance and qualifying experience.

Additional information

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click for more information.

is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click .