Contract Specialist (Technical Career Field (Tcf) Trainee)

Summary

The Technical Career Field (TCF) is a national workforce development program within VHA that was designed to replenish technical staff in critically identified positions.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: Contracting Specialist

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

07/01/2024 to 07/11/2024

• Salary

$39,576 - $64,037 per year

Salary will be determined upon selection and dependent upon duty location, grade, step, and locality pay of selectee

• Pay scale & grade

GS 5

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Locations

9 vacancies in the following locations:

• Anchorage, AK

• Phoenix, AZ

• Tucson, AZ

• Fresno, CA

• Show more locations (17)

• Long Beach, CA

• McClellan, CA

• Palo Alto, CA

• Pleasant Hill, CA

• Boise, ID

• Las Vegas, NV

• Reno, NV

• Portland, OR

• Roseburg, OR

• White City, OR

• Duncanville, TX

• San Antonio, TX

• Dupont, WA

• Seattle, WA

• Spokane, WA

• Vancouver, WA

• Walla Walla, WA

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

Yes-Telework or Remote Work may be authorized for this position. Please see the Duties section for additional information.

• Travel Required

25% or less

• You may be expected to travel 1-5 nights per month for this position.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent

• Work schedule

Full-time

• Service

Competitive

• Promotion potential

9

• Job family (Series)

1102 Contracting

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test

No

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CBZY-12460537-24-GF-RPOW

• Control number

798091700

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This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

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

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current permanent VHA employees and CTAP/ICTAP applicants.

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Duties

The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field. Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for two years during which they are trained, coached, and supervised by a preceptor. Preceptors are selected through an extensive application process, for their technical expertise, their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location.

*Selectees will be required to sign Mobility, Training, and Continued Service Agreements.

This is a developmental position leading to a GS-9, performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision. The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Knowledge will be gained of basic procurement procedures and techniques to carry out recurring assignments that involved the use of the sealed bid method that will be gained of negotiated procurement procedures, and the laws, regulations, and precedents governing procurements by this method, to perform developmental assignments or segments of large procurement actions. Skill in solving practical problems relating to transportation, commodity usage, interchangeabilities, and pricing matters as they relate to the development of specifications or to contract administration involving product quality. Trainee will obtain knowledge of Logistics support at a healthcare facility. Trainee shall be knowledgeable and capable of providing good customer service. The employee in this position serves as a Contract Specialist Trainee. As a trainee, the employee will receive on-the-job training in the principles, procedures and techniques of the Department of Veterans Affairs contracting occupation, and will receive formal training by completing/attending training program courses. Trainee must successfully complete each of the required courses. The trainee will be taught the basic knowledge of procurement principles, regulations, processes, practices and techniques. The trainee will perform developmental and/or recurring assignments in support of the Network Contracting Office, as scheduled in the trainee's Personal Development Plan. Training and development activities will include exposure to and hands-on training with key pre-award and post-award contracting responsibilities, including but not limited to: market research, development of solicitations, evaluation of bids/proposals, negotiation, cost/price analysis, contract award, administration and closeout.

Work schedule: 8:00 A.M.

• 4:30 P.M.

Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Available

Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Remote: This may be a remote position. (Remote refers to work performed on full-time basis anywhere other than a VA facility or using VA-leased space.)

Virtual: This is not a virtual position. (Virtual refers to work performed on full-time basis using VA-leased space or at a VA facility other than the facility that hired the employee.)

For this position, telework (up to 80% per pay period) or remote work (100% off site) may be authorized upon supervisor approval if within the local commuting distance of the advertised duty stations. Office space will be available for individuals that prefer to work at one of the duty stations advertised.

Position Description Title/PD#: Contract Specialist (Technical Career Field (TCF) Trainee)/ 17002A, 20002A, 21002A, 22002A

Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary in nature. There are no special physical requirements. The work is performed primarily in office areas or conference rooms and similar environments. However, it may require some traveling and visits to Government and/or contractor's facilities and other contract-related performance sites.

Financial Disclosure Report: Required

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job

• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

• You may be required to serve a probationary period

• Subject to background/security investigation

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

• Position requires filing a Financial Disclosure Report within 30 days from your start date

• Training-Service Agreement and Mobility Agreement required

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/11/2024.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-04. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

Basic Requirements for GS-5 through GS-12: 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.

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.

NOTE: The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) does not grant Academic degrees; therefore courses completed at the DAU are not creditable towards meeting the 24 semester hour requirement, in the fields identified above, unless the coursework has been evaluated by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and appears on a college or university transcript.

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; religions; 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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

Transcripts: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts must depict the name of the college to determine accreditation, and your name must also be displayed on the transcripts. If qualifying based on a degree, or for positions requiring a degree, the transcript must show the date the degree was conferred. If selected, you must provide official transcripts. Transcripts should state degree conferred, and have a date. Undergraduate transcripts are required to meet the basic requirement for this position; please submit all transcripts. Copies of Official Transcripts are accepted and are the best way to ensure your education is interpreted correctly in accordance with OPM qualification standards, but unofficial transcripts are accepted if they contain all the required information. If credit for a course is being questioned by the HR Professional performing qualifications, it is your responsibility to provide supporting descriptive information (course syllabus/descriptions) in your application package.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

The intent of the TCF Program is to have the trainee placed at the hiring facility. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, a mobility agreement is required to protect the employee as well as the agency.

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

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• Benefits

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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.

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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.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

You will be rated on the following competencies based on your application for this position:

• Contracting Regulations: Knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulations (VAAR), and procedures applicable to acquisition and contract administration including change orders, supplemental agreements, terminations, claims, and close out of contracts.

• Time Management: Ability to meet deadlines and deal with rapidly changing situations.

• Communication: Ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, to develop, solicit, award, and administer contracts and to present ideas, data, and recommendations effectively.

• Customer Service: Ability to lead discussions and to reconcile differing objectives and viewpoints.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.