Contract Specialist

Job Title

GS-11 Contract Specialist

The GS-11 Contract Specialist is responsible for contracting actions within contracting divisions, actively engaged in all phases and activities related to the procurement process. Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Perform the full range of pre/post-award functions using primarily negotiation procedures for procurements for complex service contracts that are highly specialized, new or innovative, where guidelines are normally not directly applicable.
• Responsible for providing and coordinating activities for all pre/post award functions for the acquisition of supplies and services critical to the mission of the Department; actively participates in all phases of the acquisition process.
• Receive requisitions and determine the appropriate method of procurement; draft determinations and findings; aid in the preparation of justifications and approvals for sole source actions; assemble solicitation documents; conduct market research to determine the availability of products and services.
• Select the type of contract to solicit based on factors such as potential for price competition, ability to establish a realistic price through price analysis, ability to realistically estimate cost, complexity of the requirement, and urgency of the requirement.
• Use judgment and ingenuity in interpreting the intent of broad or conflicting guidelines and precedents, developing applications to specific areas of work when guidance is inadequate to deal with the problem ntify problems and bring to the attention of the supervisor and provides feedback on special and on-going projects and assignments, as necessary.
• Use initiative, creativity, and judgment in selecting areas for review, interpreting data, and studying trends and patterns in the business environment, including forecasting price trends and economic factors that may affect a given acquisition.
• Make decisions based on analysis of alternatives, adaptation or modification of procedures, or resolution of incomplete or conflicting technical, program, or contractor data.
• Discuss and analyze complex procurement issues, resolve disagreements between competing interests, and persuade others of the proper course of action for resolving problems.
• Has contacts with a wide variety of high-level DOL employees and contractor personnel, including program management, contracting, audit, technical, and legal staff within various government agencies, to discuss and analyze complex procurement issues.
• Meet frequently with business management, accounting, and technical personnel from private industry in a structured environment to negotiate procurements of extensive services and/or construction projects.
• Negotiate complex issues in contacts with lateral and higher-level personnel within the government and with representatives of industry, working to resolve disagreements between competing interests and persuade others of the proper course of action.
• Prepare contract award documents, These documents include formal contracts, BPAs, Task Orders, Delivery Orders, and Purchase Orders. Prepare Negotiations Memorandums;
  Award Decision Memorandums;
  Price Fair and Reasonableness Determination;
  Preliminary Notice to Exercise a Contract.
• Draft determinations and findings, and aids in the preparation of justifications and approvals for sole source actions.
• Assemble solicitation documents, Request for Proposals;
  Request for Quotes;
  Combined Synopsis /Solicitation; and conducts market research to determine the availability of products and services.