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Contract Specialist (Direct Hire) Open Continuous 12months

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Birmingham, AL

Employer:  Internal Revenue Service - IRS
Category:  Legal
Job Type:  Full Time

Description

Summary

Positions under this announcement are being filled using a Direct Hire Authority (DHA).

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OTHER IRS CAREERS? Visit us on the web at www.jobs.irs.gov
Learn more about this agency

This job is open to
  • The public

    U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
  • Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

    Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

Clarification from the agency

Open to U.S. Citizens/Nationals

Videos

Duties

WHAT IS THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER DIVISION?

A description of the business units can be found at: https://www.jobs.irs.gov/about/who/business-divisions

The following are the duties of this position at the full working level. If this vacancy includes more than one grade and you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform these duties and receive training to help you grow in this position.

As a Contract Specialist, you will:
  • Prepares drafts of protest and termination case documents for review and approval by senior specialist.
  • Assists senior specialists with the procurement of supplies, services and equipment. This includes developing work plans, analyzing procurement requests, coordinating with other areas those aspects of procurements that affects them, compiling the bid lists, preparing and issuing solicitations and making final award.
  • Performs a variety of contract administration functions such as researching and resolving delivery and acceptance disputes, processing claims against he Government and assisting in the preparation of protest actions.
  • Prepares non-technical correspondence to transmit information.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.
BASIC REQUIREMENT: To qualify for this position, you must meet the qualification requirements outlined below:
Basic Requirements Grades 5 through 12: You must have a 4-year course of study leading to a Bachelor's in any field of study from an accredited college or university.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS (GRADE 13 & ABOVE): To be eligible for this position at this grade level, you must have completed all Mandatory Training requirements as described in Department of Treasury, Acquisition Career Management Program Handbook AND have 4 years of experience in contracting or related positions and 1 year of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to the next lower level as defined below. AND 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. OR
Exception: Employees occupying a GS-1102 position will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on or after January 1, 2000. However, basic requirements and specialized experience requirements must be met in order to qualify for promotion to a higher grade.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment
  • Telework Eligible Positions: Telework eligible positions do not guarantee telework. Employees must meet and sustain IRS telework eligibility requirements (e.g., reporting at least twice a pay period to your assigned Post of Duty (POD)) and supervisor's approval to participate in the IRS Telework Program. Employees must also be within a 200-mile radius of their official assigned post-of-duty (POD) while in a telework status. As a reminder - If you are selected for a position, you are responsible for reporting to your designated POD (location) on the negotiated start date or as directed by management.
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National and provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. (Birth certificate showing birth in the U.S; Unexpired U.S. Passport; Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization; or Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. Citizen (Form FS-240))
  • Undergo a review of prior performance/conduct and an income tax verification. Refer to "Get Your Tax Record" at http://www.irs.gov/ ( https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript ) to check the status of your account, balance owed, payment history, make a payment, or review answers to tax questions. If you are not in compliance, you will be determined unsuitable for employment with IRS.
  • Must successfully complete a background investigation, including a FBI criminal history record check (fingerprint check).
  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.
  • Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9 . Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. These documents must be unexpired original or certified copies.

Qualifications

Federal experience is not required. The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.

You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement OR time of referral:
In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: for GS-07: In addition to meeting the basic requirement (positive education/experience) outlined above, you must have 1 year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes: Award and administration of contracts using Government acquisition principles, contract laws (e.g., Federal Acquisition Regulations-FAR) while using various types of contracts and applying negotiation and vendor award techniques to acquire products and services that meet agency requirements. Performing contract management and/or contract property administration, executing contract modifications, and/or performing procurement planning with small and socio-economic business considerations while interacting with the program office to develop the procurement approach. Communicating both verbally and in writing to generate various documents for various audiences (e.g., explaining to contractors, stakeholders and customers regarding procurement matters, discussing program needs, solicitation documents, file documentation). Using basic mathematical computations to perform price analysis (e.g., comparing, reviewing, analyzing and evaluating price or cost information in contractors' proposals).
OR
You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Superior Academic Achievement may be met by having a Bachelor's degree, with one of the following: A GPA of 2.95 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses or those completed in the last 2 years of study, or a GPA of 3.45 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all courses in the major field of study or those courses in the major completed in the last 2 years of study, or rank in the upper one third of the class in the college, university, or major subdivision, or membership in a national honor society recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies.
OR
At least one (1) full academic year of graduate education or law school. Graduate education must have been in one or a combination of the following fields of study: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-09: In addition to meeting the basic requirement (positive education/experience) outlined above, you must meet one of the specific grade requirements below for GS-9. A master's or equivalent graduate degree in one of the following fields of study: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. 2 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a graduate degree in one or a combination of the following fields of study: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. One year of graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.
OR
At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the GS-7 level that demonstrated knowledge of contracting and procurement functions in carrying out project assignments consisting of several related tasks, such as procuring a range of equipment, supplies, and services. The assignments must have shown completion of the following, or the equivalent: Participating in the processing and negotiating on a variety of procurements including open market purchases, vendor purchases and delivery orders against agency contracts to provide customers with general to complex requirements for supplies, services, and equipment. Assisting customers in developing requirements for specific procurements; Reviewing Statements of Work to ensure that all technical areas have been addressed and assisting in identifying appropriate contract types. Conducting price reasonableness determination. Preparing and issuing solicitation documents. Performing analysis of proposals or quotes received. Drafting final contract file documentation. Experience inputting information into an automated procurement system to produce awards and contract documents. Participating in negotiations with potential contractors. OR At least 1 year of combined graduate education and experience as defined in the above.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-11: In addition to meeting the basic requirement outlined above, you must meet one of the specific grade requirements below for GS-11. A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in one of the following fields of study: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. 3 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a graduate degree in one or a combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. One year of graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. OR At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the GS-9 level that demonstrated accomplishment of contracting and procurement function assignments that required a range of knowledge of the various types of contacts and methods of contracting. Accomplishments normally involve the following, or the equivalent: Processing and negotiating a variety of procurements including open market purchases, vendor purchases and delivery orders against agency contracts to provide customers with complex supplies, services, and equipment; Participating in negotiations with potential contractors; and Preparing award vehicle and file documentation. OR at least one year of combined graduate education and experience as defined in paragraphs above.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-12: In addition to the basic requirement, to qualify for this position you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 which is the next lower grade level of the normal line of progression of this position in the Federal government. Specialized experience is experience that is related to the work of this position and has provided you with the competencies required for successful job performance. Qualifying experience is experience that demonstrated accomplishment of pre-award and post-award procurement actions that required a range of knowledge of multiple aspects of the procurement process. This knowledge is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant actively participated in multiple levels (i.e., sole source, 8a, limited competition, full and open competition), multiple forms (i.e., simplified acquisitions, GSA Schedule competitions, negotiated and/or sealed bids), multiple needs (i.e., services, supplies, equipment), and multiple portions of the process (i.e., pre-award, post- award, policy, price analysis).

For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards .

Education

Additional Qualifications for GS13 & GS 14

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-13: In addition to the basic requirement, to qualify for this position you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 which is the next lower grade level of the normal line of progression of this position in the Federal government. Specialized experience is experience that is related to the work of this position and has provided you with the competencies required for successful job performance. Qualifying experience is experience that demonstrated accomplishment of planning, directing, and administering complex acquisition project assignments that required a wide range of knowledge of procurement and contracting principles and technical program requirements and techniques. This knowledge is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant actively participated in multiple levels (i.e., sole source, 8a, limited competition, full and open competition), multiple forms (i.e., simplified acquisitions, GSA Schedule competitions, negotiated and/or sealed bids), multiple needs (i.e., services, supplies, equipment), and multiple portions of the process (i.e., pre-award, post-award, policy, price analysis).

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-14: In addition to the basic requirement, to qualify for this position you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 which is the next lower grade level of the normal line of progression of this position in the Federal government. Specialized experience is experience that is related to the work of this position and has provided you with the competencies required for successful job performance. Qualifying experience is experience that demonstrated accomplishment of the full range of planning, directing, and administering complex acquisition project assignments that required a wide range of knowledge of procurement and contracting principles and technical program requirements and techniques. This knowledge is generally demonstrated by assignments where the applicant actively participated in multiple levels (i.e., sole source, 8a, limited competition, full and open competition), multiple forms (i.e., simplified acquisitions, GSA Schedule competitions, negotiated and/or sealed bids), multiple needs (i.e., services, supplies, equipment), and multiple portions of the process (i.e., pre-award, post- award, policy, price analysis).

For positions with an education requirement, or if you are qualifying for this position by substituting education or training for experience, submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page .

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click here for Foreign Education Credentialing instructions.

Additional information

  • A 1-year probationary period is required.
  • Have your salary sent to a financial institution of your choice by Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer.
  • If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
  • We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies. Additional jobs may be filled.
  • The salary range indicated in this announcement reflects the minimum locality pay up to maximum locality pay for all duty locations listed. The range will be adjusted for selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages .
  • This is bargaining unit position.
  • Tour of Duty: Day Shift - Start and stop times between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
  • Alternative work schedule, staggered work hours or telework may be available.
  • Obtain and use a Government-issued charge card for business-related travel.
  • If this position is designated as hard to fill and you were referred by an IRS employee, the employee may be eligible to receive a bonus for referring you under The Employee Referral Bonus Program (ERBP) , recruiting strategy.
This is an open continuous announcement which allows applicants to apply up to the closing date of the announcement, 12/13/2024. This announcement will establish an inventory of applicants. Contingent upon funding and space requirements, one or more vacancies may be filled at the locations listed in this announcement as they come available.

  • Benefits

    A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .

    Review our benefits

    Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

This position will be filled through the Direct Hire Authority. Under this authority, competitive rating, ranking, and veterans' preference procedures do not apply. Your application will be considered based on education, training, and quality of your experience. For more information on Direct-Hire Authority visit: OPM Direct Hire Fact Sheet .

Your application must include your resume, responses to the online questions, and required supporting documents. Please be sure that your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resume may result in a "not qualified" determination.

Referral: Applicants who meet the basic qualification requirements may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. Candidates may be required to participate in a selection interview (telephonic and/or in person at the discretion of the Selecting Official in accordance with hiring practices). We will not reimburse costs related to the interview such as travel to and from the interview site.

If you are a displaced Federal employee (eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) , you must be found "well qualified" for the position. Well qualified is defined as: experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, demonstrated by meeting all the competencies for this position.

  • Benefits

    A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits .

    Review our benefits

    Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
  • Required Documents

    As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

    The following documents are required and must be provided with your application. All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English.
    1. Resume - Your resume MUST contain dates of employment (i.e., month/year to month/year or to present). To ensure you receive full credit for relevant experience, include the hours worked per week. We recommend that your resume not exceed 5 pages, only the first 5 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. If including Federal service experience, provide pay plan, series and grade, i.e. GS-0301-09. Your resume and optional cover letter must NOT include photographs, inappropriate content, or personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number. If your resume does not contain the required information specified, or contains prohibited information as listed above, your application will be determined incomplete, and you will not receive consideration for this position. ( Cover letters are optional.) Please view Resume Tips.
    2. Online Application - Questionnaire
    3. Education - See Education Section above
    4. Registration/License (If Applicable) - active, current registration/license
    5. Veterans' Preference (if applicable) - You MUST submit a copy of your DD-214 (Member 4 copy), or other official documentation from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs showing dates of service and type of discharge. If you are serving under active duty, provide certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of certification. The certification must indicate your dates of service, rank and that you will be separated under honorable conditions.
      10-point preference eligible - Submit an Application for 10-point Veteran Preference, SF-15 , along with the required documentation listed on the back of the SF-15 Veterans Affairs/Armed Forces certification must include the percentage of the service-connected disability or disabilities (including the "combined" percentage if you have more than one disability). Refer to FedsHireVets for additional information on veterans' preference
    6. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) (If Applicable) - IRS CTAP eligibles can apply for jobs within and outside the commuting area. Treasury CTAP eligibles can apply for jobs within the commuting area. Find required documentation at: Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP).
    7. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) (If Applicable) - If you are a displaced or surplus Federal employee, click CTAP/ICTAP for eligibility and a detailed list of required documents.
    8. High School Diploma (or equivalent) - If you are 16 or 17 years of age, you MUST submit documentation of graduation from high school (or equivalent); OR completion of a formal vocational training program; OR statement from school authorities agreeing with your decision to pursue employment rather than continuing your education.
    Please note that if you do not provide all required information, as specified in this announcement, you may not be considered for this position (or may not receive the special consideration for which you may be eligible).
  • How to Apply

    This Direct Hire Public Notice is to gather applications that may or may not result in a referral or selection. Your application will remain active through the open period of this Public Notice. Applicants will be referred on a first in, first out basis. Those applicants who are applying earlier in the process will stand a much better chance of being referred for consideration in the selection process.

    The following instructions outline our application process. You must complete this application process and submit any required documents by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 12/13/2024 in this announcement. We are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, please contact us by noon ET on 12/13/2024. To preview the Application Questionnaire, please click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12225191
    • To begin the application process, click the "Apply Online" button.
    • You will be re-directed to USA STAFFING to complete your application process; answer the online questions and submit all required documents. (To submit supporting documents, import documents from USAJOBS to the appropriate document types. If the document you need was not imported from USAJOBS, you may upload it directly into this application. To protect your privacy, we suggest you first remove your SSN).
    • To complete, you must click the "Submit Application" button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on 12/13/2024.
    To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account ( https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login ). There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

    To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account: https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login . All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/ .

    Agency contact information

    (ERC) Employee Resource Center

    Phone 866-743-5748 Email hco.mphs.apply@irs.gov Website https://irsgov.sharepoint.com/sites/EmployeeResources/SitePages/ERC-Help-Desk.aspx

    Address OCPO
    1111 Constitution Ave NW
    Washington, DC 20224
    US

    Learn more about this agency

    Next steps

    Treasury believes in a working environment that supports inclusion; please view our reasonable accommodation policies and procedures at https://www.jobs.irs.gov/midcareer/reasonable-accommodation.html . We will provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis; please contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process.

    Once your application package and online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email. You are responsible for checking status updates and notifications in USAJOBS. Hard copy notifications will not be sent to you. You may check the status of your application for this position at any time by logging onto the USAJOBS "My Account" tab and clicking on "Application Status." For a more detailed update of your application status, you may click on "more information." Please notify us if your contact information changes after the closing date of the announcement. If your email mailbox is full or blocked (SPAM) you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
  • Fair and Transparent

    The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
    • Criminal history inquiries
    • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
    • Financial suitability
    • New employee probationary period
    • Privacy Act
    • Reasonable accommodation policy
    • Selective Service
    • Signature and false statements
    • Social security number request
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