Contract Specialist

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Contract SpecialistDepartment of EnergyWestern Area Power AdministrationProcurement Office A9102 A9103 A9105 and A9106

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### Summary

This position is part of the WAPA Headquarters. As a Contract Specialist you will be responsible for pre- and post-award functions on simplified and complex multidisciplinary supply service information technology construction Architect-Engineer A&E contracts and interagency agreements IAAs in support of WAPAs mission responsibilities.

This open & continuous announcement establishes a standing register of eligible applicants. See Additional Information section.

[Learn more about this agency]

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### Overview

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Accepting applications

Open & closing dates 04/03/2026 to 07/06/2026

Salary $89,508 - $129,742 per year

Pay scale & grade GS 12

Locations Many vacancies in the following locations:

• Phoenix, AZ
• Folsom, CA
• Lakewood, CO
• Loveland, CO
• Montrose, CO
• Billings, MT
• Bismarck, ND
• Huron, SD
• Watertown, SD
• Salt Lake City, UT

Remote job No

Telework eligible Yes-Situational as determined by the agency policy.

Travel Required Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Relocation expenses reimbursed No

Appointment type Permanent

Work schedule Full-time

Service Competitive

Promotion potential 12

Job family Series 1102 Contracting

Supervisory status No

Security clearance Not Required

Drug test No

Position sensitivity and risk Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process Credentialing

Suitability Fitness

Financial disclosure Yes

Bargaining unit status No

Announcement number 26-WA-00437-12923608-DHA

Control number 863842300

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### This job is open to

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The public

U.S. Citizens Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency This is a Direct Hire Public Notice. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.

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### Duties

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As a Contract Specialist you will:

• Serve as a business consultant to program officials providing expert guidance on acquisition planning, market research, socio-economic programs, and contract strategy development to achieve mission objectives.
• Plan, negotiate, lead award, and administer complex procurements for a variety of supplies, services, information technology (IT), construction, and Architect-Engineer (A&E) requirements, including interagency agreements (IAAs), utilizing diverse contract types and innovative methods under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).
• Coordinate procurement actions with necessary personnel and all program and support offices to achieve successful project outcomes, often serving as lead negotiator for highly complex acquisitions.
• Perform comprehensive contract administration functions including managing modifications, processing claims, settling disputes, monitoring contractor performance, directing CORs, approving payments, and close outs to ensure contract compliance and successful project execution.

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### Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Suitable for Federal employment as determined by a background investigation.
• Appointments made under the DHA are processed as new appointments. Current Federal employees may be required to serve a new probationary period (5 CFR 315.802b). Employees serving on a probationary period may be terminated at any time during the probationary or trial period for performance, conduct, or business-related reasons in the interest of Federal service.
• Limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. If more than two pages are submitted, only the first two pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility and qualifications.
• In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to the four short free-response essay questions in the questionnaire. Answers to these questions are not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration.
• Incumbent must have a valid and current State drivers license.
• You may be required to complete a financial disclosure (OGE-450).
• Federal Acquisition Contracting-Certification (FAC-C) Professional via the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) or the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) is required upon selection and must be maintained by the incumbent.

Qualifications To qualify for the GS-12, Applicants MUST meet ALL 3 requirements as described below:

1. BASIC REQUIREMENT

• A. A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelors 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.

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement above, applicants must also meet the Specialized Experience listed below.

2. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT A qualified candidates online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as:

• Accomplishing pre- and post-award functions on simplified and complex contracts in any of the following: supply, service, information technology (IT), construction, Architect-Engineer (A&E) contracts, and interagency agreements (IAAs).

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include volunteer work done through National Service programs such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps, as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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.

3. SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR - FAC-C / DAWIA CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT Federal Acquisition Contracting-Certification (FAC-C) Professional via the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) or Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) via the Defense Acquisition University is required upon selection and must be maintained by the incumbent.

Time-in-Grade Current career or career-conditional GS employees of the Federal government or former career or career-conditional GS employees who have a break in service of less than one year are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade (GS-11), with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current career or career-conditional federal employees applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Education This vacancy specifically states that certain educational requirements must be met, also known as a positive educational requirement. In order to be rated as qualified, you must provide documentation supporting any education claims in your application, including copies of your college transcripts. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Department of Education Accreditation Search to verify school accreditation.

Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

DO NOT email or mail in any of your application documents. Documents will not be accepted outside of the online application system.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an Ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

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### Additional Information

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

This open and continuous announcement establishes a standing register of eligible applicants.

• Applications received by April 17, 2026 will be considered for the first referral.
• Applications received after April 17, 2026 but by May 15, 2026 will be considered for the second referral.
• Applications received after May 15, 2026 but by July 6, 2026 will be considered for the final referral.

You do not need to resubmit your application between referral periods unless your contact information, qualifications, or interest change.

For general information on government-wide Telework policies, visit www.telework.gov.

Applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) when applying or competing for a job due to a medical condition or to exercise religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Agency Contact listed on this vacancy announcement.

If selected, you may be required to complete a one-year supervisory probationary period.

Promotion Potential This position is at the full performance level. Upon reporting and annually thereafter, the selectee may be required to file one or more financial statements and/or a procurement integrity certification. These certifications may be subject to public disclosure.

The selectee for this position may be eligible to receive a recruitment or relocation incentive. You will need to sign an employment agreement to be eligible for this incentive.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs are not authorized.

This position may be eligible for creditable service towards annual leave. Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate of 4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period, which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. DOE may offer newly-appointed Federal employees 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.

Salary The salary range indicated in this announcement will be adjusted to include locality payment for selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.

• Lakewood, Loveland, CO: $99,800 - $129,742
• Folsom, CA: $99,218 - $128,987
• Phoenix, AZ: $93,629 - $121,720
• Remaining locations fall under Rest of U.S.: $89,508 - $116,362

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### Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

### 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. [Learn more about federal 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.

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### How you will be evaluated

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

This position is announced under a government-wide Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) for Contract Specialist positions in the 1102 series. Under the DHA, applicants who meet the Education and Qualification requirements listed in this announcement will be referred for consideration. Veterans Preference category rating and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply under the DHA process.

Once the application process is complete, the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications.

USAHire To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

Reasonable Accommodation Requests If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental) covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis.

If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.

Minimum Qualifications Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Offices or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will review the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications.

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated ineligible, not qualified, or your score may be adjusted accordingly.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics:

• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Influencing
• Negotiating
• Integrity
• Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

Career Transition Assistance Programs To receive selection priority for this position, you must:

1. Meet the eligibility criteria.
2. Be rated well-qualified.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date 07/06/2026 of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12923608.

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### Required Documents

Required Documents

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To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes:

1. Your two (2) page RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid), including duties performed, full name and address of each employer, start and end dates (month/day/year), work schedule (part-time/full-time/number of hours if intermittent), salary, and any completed education and training program (title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
2. Federal Acquisition Contracting-Certification (FAC-C) Professional or Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA): MUST submit copy of certification or proof of training showing you meet the requirement.
3. TRANSCRIPTS: Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour), and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the basic requirement.
4. Submit one or more of the following to support your eligibility to apply to this job announcement:
   • Career Transition Assistance Program documentation.
   • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action and most recent performance appraisal). For more information, see the OPM Guide to Career Transition.
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     Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

     If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

     Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

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     ### How to Apply

     Help

     Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on the announcement closing date to receive consideration.

     The application process is as follows:

     1. You must have a login.gov account to sign into USAJOBS (https://www.usajobs.gov/help/how-to/account).
     2. To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button.
     3. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.
     4. You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm ET on the announcement closing date.
     5. You may update your application documents and some questions related to your personal information at any time during the announcement open period. However, you will not be able to make changes to questions related to assessing the minimum qualifications and competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics) mentioned in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section above. To make an allowed update to your application, return to your USAJOBS account (https://usajobs.gov). There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to "Edit my application." This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
     6. Upon application, you may be provided a testing window to complete additional assessments. This testing window may stipulate a completion deadline before the announcement closes. It is your responsibility to complete the additional online assessments within the timeline provided to remain in consideration for this vacancy announcement. Failure to complete the online assessments within the testing window for this announcement will not preclude you from being considered for and completing the online assessments during a testing window on a future announcement.

     To verify the status of your application during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account. Applications will appear on the Welcome screen. 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.

     If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder), visit the USAJOBS Help Center (https://www.usajobs.gov/help).

     If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS after clicking the Apply Online button or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible to aid technical support.

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     ### Agency contact information

     PMA Careers Email: PMACareers@wapa.gov Address: WAPA Headquarters 12155 W. Alameda Pkwy Lakewood, CO 80228 US

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     ### Next steps

     Once your online application is submitted, you will receive a confirmation notification by email. The status of your application will be updated in USAJOBS as it is evaluated.

     You can check the status by logging into USAJOBS. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application changes by logging into your USAJobs Account and editing the Notification Settings.

     You will be contacted directly if an interview is required.

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     ### 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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     ### Additional locations

     • Montrose, CO
     • Billings, MT
     • Bismarck, ND
     • Huron, SD
     • Watertown, SD
     • Salt Lake City, UT
     • Western Area Power Administration

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     ### Join the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) Team - Discover Your Next Adventure

     At WAPA, we do more than keep the lights on. As part of the Department of Energy, we are a collective of innovators and problem-solvers dedicated to reliable, cost-based federal hydroelectric power.

     Why WAPA We market and transmit wholesale electric power generated from 57 federally owned hydroelectric power plants across a 15-state region with over 17,000 miles of transmission lines. As one of the nations largest transmission providers, WAPA brings wholesale power to market at cost-based rates to preference customers such as public utilities and cooperatives, municipalities, national security facilities, and irrigation districts.

     Our priority is your career growth and development with comprehensive training and professional opportunities in a supportive environment. Enjoy competitive salaries, a robust retirement plan, health benefits, flexible schedules, and a work-life balance that values your well-being.

     Power Your Career with WAPA Ready to be part of our dynamic team? Apply to our current openings and take the first step towards a rewarding career that empowers both the West and your future.

     Your skills. Our legacy. A shared Future.

     Are you in? [Learn more about WAPA] [Learn more about WAPA careers] [Read our Strategic Plan - Power Forward 2030]

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     ### Agency contact information

     PMA Careers Email: PMACareers@wapa.gov Address: WAPA Headquarters 12155 W. Alameda Pkwy Lakewood, CO 80228 US

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     ### Summary

     This position is part of the WAPA Headquarters. As a Contract Specialist you will be responsible for pre- and post-award functions on simplified and complex multidisciplinary supply service information technology construction Architect-Engineer A&E contracts and interagency agreements IAAs in support of WAPAs mission responsibilities.

     This open & continuous announcement establishes a standing register of eligible applicants. See Additional Information section.

     [Learn more about this agency]

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     ### Overview

     Help

     Accepting applications

     Open & closing dates 04/03/2026 to 07/06/2026

     Salary $89,508 - $129,742 per year

     Pay scale & grade GS 12

     Locations Many vacancies in the following locations:

     • Phoenix, AZ
     • Folsom, CA
     • Lakewood, CO
     • Loveland, CO
     • Montrose, CO
     • Billings, MT
     • Bismarck, ND
     • Huron, SD
     • Watertown, SD
     • Salt Lake City, UT

     Remote job No

     Telework eligible Yes-Situational as determined by the agency policy.

     Travel Required Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

     Relocation expenses reimbursed No

     Appointment type Permanent

     Work schedule Full-time

     Service Competitive

     Promotion potential 12

     Job family Series 1102 Contracting

     Supervisory status No

     Security clearance Not Required

     Drug test No

     Position sensitivity and risk Moderate Risk (MR)

     Trust determination process Credentialing

     Suitability Fitness

     Financial disclosure Yes

     Bargaining unit status No

     Announcement number 26-WA-00437-12923608-DHA

     Control number 863842300

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