Procurement Analyst ( Authority)

Summary

This vacancy is for a Procurement Analyst (Direct Hire Authority) in the Office of the Secretary within the Department of Commerce.

This position Is located In the Acquisition Policy and Oversight Division within the Office of Acquisition Management. The position serves as a procurement analyst and supports the Department's operating contracting units and Department-wide programs by serving as a subject matter expert for contracting and policy and compliance issues.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

This position is being advertised through the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Direct-Hire Authority and is open to all U.S. citizens. Under this authority, competitive rating, ranking and veterans' preference procedures do not apply. All applicants who meet the basic qualification requirements will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for consideration.

Duties

As a Procurement Analyst (Direct Hire Authority), you will perform the following duties:

Serves as the policy and planning authority, expert advisor to top managers, and outside officials.

Reviewing and analyzing acquisition and other transaction documents to offer guidance and technical support.

Researching, interpreting, analyzing and applying acquisition and other transaction-related statutes, policies, regulations and guidance to provide advice and technical assistance.

Reviewing new or proposed legislation or regulations to determine impact on procurement operations; conducts studies of the organization and recommending improvements.

Researching and analyzing data and other information to develop reports and identify trends.

Recommending, formulating, and implementing acquisition policies that lead to the accomplishment of major programs.

Managing procurement and other transaction-related projects and programs.

Ensuring that the Department effectively manages its programs, including those using procurements, other transactions authorities, or loans.

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Procurement Analyst (Direct Hire Authority) ZA-1102-4 (FPL:04) positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.

You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use of possession of drugs.

A probationary period may be required.

Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see

If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application.

All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.

Drug Test: No

License required: No

Pre-employment physical required: No

Bargaining Unit Position: No

Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): Yes

Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: Will not be paid

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at:

This position is being filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). The system replaced the Federal GS pay plan structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band. Non supervisory positions cap out at interval 3 of the band.

The ZA-IV is equivalent to the GS-13/14 grade levels.

To qualify you MUST meet the Basic Requirements and Specialized Experience as stated below for the appropriate grade level.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: (You must submit a copy of certification/training certificates. Also, you must submit a copy of your transcripts, official or unofficial, to document your education.)

A. Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS-13/ZA-IV or higher-level contracting positions, including at least 4 years of experience in contracting or related positions. 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 perform successfully the work of the position. AND

B. A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, that included or was supplemented by 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. OR

C. Exceptions: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the standard for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. This also applies to positions at the same grade in the same agency or other agencies if the specialized experience requirements are met. However, they will have to meet the basic requirements and specialized experience requirements in order to qualify for promotion to a higher grade, unless granted a waiver under Paragraph D.

D. Waiver: When filling a specific vacant position, the senior procurement executive of the selecting agency, at his or her discretion, may waive any or all of the requirements of Paragraphs A and B above if the senior procurement executive certifies that the applicant possesses significant potential for advancement to levels of greater responsibility and authority, based on demonstrated analytical and decision-making capabilities, job performance, and qualifying experience. With respect to each waiver granted under this Paragraph D, the senior procurement executive must document for the record the basis of the waiver. If an individual is placed in a position in an agency on the basis of a waiver, the agency may later reassign that individual to another position at the same grade within that agency without additional waiver action.

AND

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. To qualify at the ZA-IV level, you must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-III or GS-12 in the Federal service or its non-Federal equivalent. Specialized experience is defined as experience:

Serving as an advisor or authority on procurement/ acquisition policies, operations, and planning contracting related functions (such as evaluate contract price proposals, terminate, and close out contracts, and analysis cost analysis factors.

Researching, analyzing, and interpreting of Federal Acquisition regulations (FAR), statutes, and policies for procurement transactions and programs.

Analyzing and evaluating contracting and/or acquisition policies or programs to provide counsel to senior-level officials.

Performing acquisition planning, pre-award and post-award contracting work for supplies and services, or construction and negotiating and awarding contracts and modifications.

Highly desired: Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C professional) or equivalent demonstrated with a certification.

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.

Education

This position has an EDUCATION REQUIREMENT, please refer to the above qualification section.

Additional information

ICTAP and CTAP Eligibles: CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at:

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).

A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location;

A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and

Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;

A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;

A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and

Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential. Current or Former Political Appointees: 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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualification requirements for the position. Under the provisions of the Direct-Hire Authority (DHA), rating, ranking and veterans' preference does not apply; therefore, your responses to the questionnaire will not be used to determine a scored rating. All applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements, as defined in the job opportunity announcement, will be referred for selection consideration. While veterans' preference does not apply in DHA, preference eligibles are encouraged to submit their supporting documentation (DD-214 stating disposition of discharge or character of service, VA letter, SF-15, etc.).

Applicants applying as CTAP or ICTAP candidates, and are determined CTAP or ICTAP eligible, must exceed the minimum qualification requirements to be referred under this selection priority placement program by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. For those deemed eligible and who meet the minimum qualifications, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions). Your resume and/or optional cover letter must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. CTAP/ICTAP eligibles who are not determined well-qualified by scoring at least 85 will not be referred under the CTAP/ICTAP selection priority placement program; however, will be referred for selection consideration with other minimally qualified applicants. The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:

Contracting/Procurement Policy

Research and Analytical Skills

Writing

Program Management

Do NOT include the following types of information in your resume/application. If any are included, you will be deemed INELIGIBLE for consideration.

Classified or government sensitive information

Social Security Number (SSN)

Photos of yourself

Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc. We recommend that you preview the online questions for this announcement before you start the application process. To preview the questionnaire, click the following link:

Required Documents

A complete application consists of the following:

Resume showing relevant experience; cover letter optional. Your resume should list your educational and work experience including the dates (mm/dd/yy) of each employment along with the number of hours worked per week. Your resume may be used to validate your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire. Your resume should also indicate your citizenship and if you are registered with the Selective Service System if you are a male born after 12/31/59. Refer to the "How you will be Evaluated' section for types of information not to include in your resume/application.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documentation, if applicable (see other information).

Education. If this position requires proof of higher education, or you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes the following information: name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to for more information.

Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:

Position title;

Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);

Agency; and

Beginning and ending dates of appointment. You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.

Failure to provide such documents when requested may result in lost consideration.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized