Lead Contract Specialist

This position is located in the District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) in the Office of Procurement. The incumbent serves under the direction of the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO). The Office of Procurement maintains the responsibility for soliciting, evaluating, negotiating, and awarding contracts with commercial organizations, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and State, local or foreign governments for furnishing products, services, construction or research and development to the Federal Government; administering contracts by assuring compliance with the terms and conditions of contracts, including resolution of problems concerning the obligations of the parties; terminating contracts by analyzing, negotiating, and settling claims and proposals; analyzing and evaluating cost or price proposals and accounting systems data; planning, establishing, or reviewing contracts, programs, policies, or procedures; formulating and administering policies and procedures to insure achievement of Federal socioeconomic goals, such as those affecting small business, labor surplus areas, and disadvantaged business firms; developing acquisition strategies and directing or managing procurements; and providing staff advisory services in one or more of the specializations in this occupation.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serves as Lead Contract Specialist to enter contracts on behalf of the DCPL CPO for acquisition of significant systems, hardware, software, services, research and development, or contractual programs characterized by:
• Large Funding Levels and/or a commitment extending over a long period of time (approximately five to ten years);
• High visibility within DCPL and/or;
• The final contractual product includes highly complex terms and conditions, sophisticated pricing formulations and unique acquisition processes.
• Responsible for contract formation and management functions, as defined by statute and local regulation; reviewing, developing and implementing complex acquisition strategies for DCPL staff and others, as determined by the CPO; provide advice and guidance on acquisition matters to the CPO and other DCPL staff, including subordinate personnel in the Office of Procurement.
• Performs as the focal point for all contractual actions and phases of the program including initial planning, requirements definition, cost and price analysis, negotiation, and administration. Acquisitions typically ranging in value over $1 million dollars.
• Plans, develops, and executes the contractual strategy for the overall acquisition program.
• Analyzes supporting Contract Specialist recommendations and formulates contracting strategies and objectives to be pursued, considering overall DCPL and Government considerations such as socio-economic programs, competition maximization, pricing arrangements, subcontracting, and similar considerations requiring the use of innovative and unique acquisition techniques.
• Guides junior Contract Specialists and participates, as needed, in the analysis of the requirements and ensures clear articulation of Government requirements in the solicitation.
• Develops a pre-negotiation position, determines the type of contracts and negotiation authority to be used, and prepares justifications as necessary.
• Participates as lead negotiator of multi-disciplined Government negotiation teams and directs the analysis of the team evaluations.
• Coordinates with Program Managers, technical experts, legal counsel, audit, higher-level authorities, and subordinate activities.
• Makes decisions, as an agent of the Government, based on laws, statutes, regulations coupled with sound business judgment.
• Ensures compliance with the provisions of laws, regulations, and policies.
• Utilizes all information and sound business judgment to ensure the successful accomplishments of all assigned programs/contracts. 55%
• Establishes a full range of contractual administration actions required for the acquisition program including the issuance of contract modifications, negotiation of changes, exercise of options, investigation and resolution of contractor delays, contractor performance assessments, subcontractor surveillance, disposition of claims, and similar matters.
• Serves as principal contracting advisor to the program management office and can represents the agency as the program’s contractual authority at conferences and meetings.
• Monitors status of contractor performance.
• Performs in-depth review and analysis to verify progress. Initiates action to resolve contract-related problems affecting the PMs ability to meet program goals. 25%
• Maintains a continuous up-to-date awareness of all aspects of procurement and contract administration.
• Analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of the overall efforts against established objectives and schedules.
• Identifies potential problems and provides advice and guidance for a course of action to resolve problems. Serves as primary technical advisor to junior specialists.
• Communicates and distributes work assignments and adjustments as necessary to accomplish mission.
• Serves as principal contracting advisor to customers in the acquisition planning process, provides program updates and participates in decisions involving contractual matters.
• Explains and defends contractual actions to all levels of higher authority as requested or required.
• Provides expertise in life cycle acquisition by furnishing advisory, planning, and compliance services and develops acquisition streamlining procedures for implementation on projects or programs.
• This involves contact with managers, higher level leaders from the agency and other Federal agencies, project managers, technical representatives, and other contracting personnel in Government and Industry. 20%
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Education

The incumbent must possess a (4) year course of study leading to a Bachelor's degree with a major in any field or 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. At least 1 year of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level of the position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of the position plus at least 4 (four years) experience in contracting or related positions.

Applicants must have had progressively responsible experience and training sufficient in scope and quality to furnish an acceptable level of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision. In addition, the following is required:

• Knowledge of Federal/District contracting laws, regulations, principles, policies, and procedures to develop and issue solicitations and contracts.
• Ability to communicate in writing.
• Ability to solicit, negotiate, and monitor contracts.
• Ability to research, analyze, and interpret Federal/District contract laws, regulations, principles, and policies.
• Ability to lead a team.
• Ability to assess and meet customer needs.
• Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.

• Mastery of the concepts, principles, and practices of the broad field of procurement to determine and establish procurement strategy and to develop and manage the procurement and contract administration program.
• Mastery of procurement regulations and contracting principles including the latest procedures and techniques, e.g., sophisticated pricing arrangements, cost accounting, and life cycle costing sufficient to plan, develop, implement, and administer all contractual aspects of systems acquisition programs; to develop innovative contractual language, terms, and conditions; and to serve as program contractual authority and advisor on the acceptability and applicability of contractual matters related to the assigned acquisitions programs.
• Mastery of managerial and coordinating activities sufficient to serve as the technical leader for subordinates providing direction and oversight to ensure program milestones are met and to control a variety of contractual actions occurring concurrently in an overlapped fashion or sequentially and to control several simultaneous inter-related contracts with different contractors. Also includes a comprehensive knowledge of and experienced judgment in business strategy.
• Mastery of negotiation techniques to serve as the lead negotiator in developing pre-negotiation strategy in conducting negotiations for the acquisition of a system and in directing or performing post-award negotiations involving contract changes or modifications.
• Mastery of the acquisition planning function sufficient to develop acquisition strategies for complex procurements to assure attainment of mission goals.
• Skill in written and oral communication to inform, advise, persuade, present, and defend decisions and analyses.

Residency Requirement

A person applying for a position in the Career Service, Educational Service, Management Supervisory Service, an attorney position in the Legal Service (series 905) other than the Senior Executive Attorney Service (SEAS), or an attorney position in the Excepted Service (series 950) who is a bona fide District resident AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION for the position, may be awarded a 10-point residency preference over non-District applicants, unless the person declines the preference points. If selected the person shall be required to present, no less than 8 proofs of bona fide District residency and maintain such residency for 7 consecutive years from the effective date of the appointment. Failure to maintain bona fide District residency for the 7-year period will result in forfeiture of employment.

General Suitability Screening

This position is subject to general suitability screening; verification of employment history, reference checks and degree/license, as applicable. The appointee to the position may be offered employment contingent upon receipt of a satisfactory general suitability screening.

Enhanced Suitability Screening

The position for which the individual is applying has been identified and designated as requiring enhanced suitability screening; If tentatively selected for the position, a criminal background check, traffic record check, consumer credit check, and mandatory drug and alcohol test will be conducted (as appropriate); and the appointee to the position may be offered employment contingent upon receipt of a satisfactory enhanced suitability screening.

Employment Benefits

Selectee will be eligible for health and life insurance, annual (vacation) and sick leave and will be covered under the District of Columbia government's retirement plan. However, if selectee was previously employed in the District of Columbia government under an appointment for which he/she was eligible for Civil Service Retirement (CSR), contributions to CSR will resume upon re-employment.

Licenses and Certifications

None

Working Conditions/Environment

The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. The work may involve visits to work sites, and requires periods of walking, standing, bending, stooping and carrying of light items.

Work involves everyday risks or discomforts typically associated with libraries, offices, and meeting and training rooms which are adequately heated, lighted, and ventilated.

Other Significant Factors

Duration of Appointment: Career Service Regular Appointment

Collective Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under a collective bargaining unit.

Promotion Potential: None

Equal Employment Opportunity

The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer: all qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination, which is also prohibited. In addition, harassment based on any of the above-protected categories is prohibited.

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