Address
Form of workSummary
Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Enterprise Services, Office of Acquisition, Procurement Directorate, located in one of the following locations:
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Open to all U.S. Citizens. This announcement will be utilized to fill positions through the Direct Hire Authority.
Duties
Joining Customs & Border Protection (CBP) will allow you to utilize your expertise in procurement to perform a full range of contracting services and functions, as a part of an acquisition team. This position starts at a salary of $69,107.00 (GS-11, Step 1) to $89,835.00 (GS-11 Step 10) with promotion potential to $107,680 (GS-12 Step 10). Apply for this exciting opportunity to strengthen the Department's ability to perform homeland security functions.
Salary: Salary reflects the Rest of U.S. scale and will be adjusted to meet the locality pay of the duty location upon selection.
In this Contract Specialist position you will become a key team member of Homeland Security professionals involved in procuring a variety of standard or technical supplies, services and/or construction through formal advertising or limited negotiation. The work involves analyzing a variety of factors and conditions to make recommendations concerning such matters as proper preparation of invitation for bid, inclusion of special provision clauses in proposed contracts, evaluation of bids and proposals, and apparent responsibility of contractors based on previous performance. Assignments are designed to provide diversified experience as a foundation for future responsibility. Employee uses problem solving skills to break down problems into fundamental parts, identify their root causes, analyze cost, benefits, risks, and chances for success of potential solutions, while creatively attacking problems in ways that lead to innovative solutions. The employee performs complete procurement transactions for commodities involving few complexities, i.e., items covered by standardized specifications where established competitive markets exist.
Typical Work assignments include:
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Qualifications
Basic Requirement: You must provide supporting documentation in your application to show you meet the basic requirement below.
A. 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field.
OR
B. 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.
C. Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy GS-1102 positions at grades 5 through 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified at GS-12. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade 12. However, employees must meet specialized experience requirements when seeking another position.
You qualify for this position if you meet the basic requirement listed above and possess one year of specialized experience, as described below .
Specialized Experience: You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties, under general supervision, such as:
Education Substitution:GS-11: Successful completion of 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education or Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for the experience required at this level. This education must demonstrate the skills necessary to do the work. Check with your school to determine how many credits hours comprise a y ear of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 18 semester or 27 quarter hours.
Combining Experience and Education:GS-11: To combine your education and experience, convert each to a percentage and then add the percentages. If your education is currently described in quarter hours, multiply by the fraction 2/3 to convert into semester hours then divide the semester hours by 18. To determine your percentage of qualifying experience, divide your total months of experience by the required number of months of experience. Add your percentages together. The total must equal at least 100% in order to qualify.
NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 12/12/2023.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information, review the following links: Background investigation and the e-QIP process.
Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:
Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.
Education
Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.
Additional information
Bargaining Unit: This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the National Treasury Employees Unions - NTEU. For local chapter contact information see Chapter Websites - National Treasury Employees Union - NTEU.
Financial Disclosure: Financial Disclosure is required.
Promotion Potential: Positions with known promotion potential do not guarantee promotion, nor is the promise of promotion implied.
Telework: Telework may be available on a regular recurring or situational basis.
Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) Requirements:In accordance with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Acquisition Workforce Policy Number 064-04-002, completion of FAC-C levels is required as outlined below.
GS-11: Level II (Mid-Level)**
**Employees assigned to GS-1102 positions in grades GS-11-12, who do not meet the FAC-C training requirements should be granted a reasonable amount of time to complete required training. However, FAC-C training requirements must be met within 24 months.
Defense Acquisition Work Improvement Act (DAWIA):For DoD applicants seeking to meet the certification requirements for FAC-C Level II through an equivalency determination, please provide one of the following required verification documents:
1. Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Contracting Level II Certification, or
2. Acquisition Career Record Brief (ACRB) showing proof of a DAWIA Level II certificate, or
3. Department of Defense Contracting Professional/Foundational Certification along with your DAU transcript.
DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Enterprise Services, Office of Acquisition, Procurement Directorate, located in one of the following locations:
- San Diego, CA
- Erlanger, KY
- Del Rio, TX
- Spokane, WA
- Imperial, CA (El Centro)
- El Paso, TX
- Euless, TX
- Tucson, AZ
- Washington, DC
- Indianapolis, IN
- Edinburg, TX (RGV)
- Laredo, TX
- Laguna Niguel, CA
This job is open to
- The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Clarification from the agency
Open to all U.S. Citizens. This announcement will be utilized to fill positions through the Direct Hire Authority.
Duties
Joining Customs & Border Protection (CBP) will allow you to utilize your expertise in procurement to perform a full range of contracting services and functions, as a part of an acquisition team. This position starts at a salary of $69,107.00 (GS-11, Step 1) to $89,835.00 (GS-11 Step 10) with promotion potential to $107,680 (GS-12 Step 10). Apply for this exciting opportunity to strengthen the Department's ability to perform homeland security functions.
Salary: Salary reflects the Rest of U.S. scale and will be adjusted to meet the locality pay of the duty location upon selection.
- GS Salary: Visit this link to view the locality pay tables by geographic area. If you do not see your geographic area listed, select the "Rest of United States" pay table. Some positions fall under a special pay rate depending on the series, grade level and location of the position.Please visit this link to view special pay rate charts.
In this Contract Specialist position you will become a key team member of Homeland Security professionals involved in procuring a variety of standard or technical supplies, services and/or construction through formal advertising or limited negotiation. The work involves analyzing a variety of factors and conditions to make recommendations concerning such matters as proper preparation of invitation for bid, inclusion of special provision clauses in proposed contracts, evaluation of bids and proposals, and apparent responsibility of contractors based on previous performance. Assignments are designed to provide diversified experience as a foundation for future responsibility. Employee uses problem solving skills to break down problems into fundamental parts, identify their root causes, analyze cost, benefits, risks, and chances for success of potential solutions, while creatively attacking problems in ways that lead to innovative solutions. The employee performs complete procurement transactions for commodities involving few complexities, i.e., items covered by standardized specifications where established competitive markets exist.
Typical Work assignments include:
- Providing acquisition services using a variety of contract types by planning and negotiating purchases in supplies, systems, services, equipment, and/or construction and is responsible for the pre-award and post-award functions involving highly specialized procurements.
- Developing procurement objectives for the program in terms of competition and price range, constructs the contractual vehicle, including use of pricing arrangements, subcontracting policy, set-aside policies, and similar considerations.
- Preparing and maintaining current acquisition plans, appropriate milestone charts, and related schedules.
- Developing materials to support meetings and presentations at government and non-government conferences, seminars, and meetings for pre-award and post-award acquisition matters.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
- Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below)
- You may be required to pass a background investigation
- CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
- As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link.
Qualifications
Basic Requirement: You must provide supporting documentation in your application to show you meet the basic requirement below.
A. 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field.
OR
B. 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.
C. Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy GS-1102 positions at grades 5 through 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified at GS-12. This includes positions at other agencies and promotions up through grade 12. However, employees must meet specialized experience requirements when seeking another position.
You qualify for this position if you meet the basic requirement listed above and possess one year of specialized experience, as described below .
Specialized Experience: You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties, under general supervision, such as:
- Providing formal advertising, negotiated methods of contracting support.
- Responsible for the pre-award and post-award functions using a wide range of complex contracting methods and types to procure complex purchases (e.g., price redetermination provisions, cost reimbursement, contracts with incentive provisions, special pricing of Government furnished property, inspecting and testing requirements, ownership of patents and payment of royalties, and/or presence of unfavorable market conditions in supplies, systems, services, equipment, and/or construction).
- Drafting replies to other agencies, appeal boards, or Congressional inquiries for management review and approval.
Education Substitution:GS-11: Successful completion of 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education or Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for the experience required at this level. This education must demonstrate the skills necessary to do the work. Check with your school to determine how many credits hours comprise a y ear of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 18 semester or 27 quarter hours.
Combining Experience and Education:GS-11: To combine your education and experience, convert each to a percentage and then add the percentages. If your education is currently described in quarter hours, multiply by the fraction 2/3 to convert into semester hours then divide the semester hours by 18. To determine your percentage of qualifying experience, divide your total months of experience by the required number of months of experience. Add your percentages together. The total must equal at least 100% in order to qualify.
NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 12/12/2023.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information, review the following links: Background investigation and the e-QIP process.
Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions:
- Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military
- A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government
- Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university
- Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government
Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.
Education
Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position.
Additional information
Bargaining Unit: This is a bargaining unit covered position, represented under the National Treasury Employees Unions - NTEU. For local chapter contact information see Chapter Websites - National Treasury Employees Union - NTEU.
Financial Disclosure: Financial Disclosure is required.
Promotion Potential: Positions with known promotion potential do not guarantee promotion, nor is the promise of promotion implied.
Telework: Telework may be available on a regular recurring or situational basis.
Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) Requirements:In accordance with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Acquisition Workforce Policy Number 064-04-002, completion of FAC-C levels is required as outlined below.
GS-11: Level II (Mid-Level)**
**Employees assigned to GS-1102 positions in grades GS-11-12, who do not meet the FAC-C training requirements should be granted a reasonable amount of time to complete required training. However, FAC-C training requirements must be met within 24 months.
Defense Acquisition Work Improvement Act (DAWIA):For DoD applicants seeking to meet the certification requirements for FAC-C Level II through an equivalency determination, please provide one of the following required verification documents:
1. Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Contracting Level II Certification, or
2. Acquisition Career Record Brief (ACRB) showing proof of a DAWIA Level II certificate, or
3. Department of Defense Contracting Professional/Foundational Certification along with your DAU transcript.
DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
- Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employee...
