Contract Specialist
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Ashburn, Virginia, United States, 22011
Summary
Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Acquisition, Immediate Office of the Assistant Commissioner, located in one of the following locations: Washington, DC Indianapolis, IN Ashburn, VA
Duties Joining Customs & Border Protection (CBP), Office of Acquisition, will allow you to utilize your expertise in procurement to perform a full range of contracting services and functions that improve the efficiency of acquisition programs.
This position starts at a salary of $125,776.00 (GS-14, Step 01) to $163,514.00 (GS-14, Step 10). Apply for this exciting opportunity to strengthen the Department's ability to perform homeland security functions by serving as a senior contract specialist with responsibility for contract solicitation, selection, and post award administration for CBP contracting missions.
In this Contract Specialist position you will become a key team member of Homeland Security professionals involved in performing a full range of contract service duties as part of an acquisition team; which includes serving as a subject matter expert in contract selection and review, providing support to assigned CBP/DHS organizations, programs, projects, or activities, and responsible for a variety of contracts that frequently require special handling or specialized terms and conditions.
Typical Work assignments include: Serving as contract specialist for a significant system or program with authority for all contractual actions (pre‑award and post‑award functions) and phases of the program; which includes contract specializations such as negotiation, cost and price analysis, and administration.
Serving as principal contracting advisor and subject matter expert to program officials and to program management office, representing the Office of Acquisition as contractual authority for assigned programs at conferences and in meetings, and advising program officials of the procurement objectives to be used and assisting in the preparation of statements of work.
Planning, developing, and establishing the contractual strategy for the assigned acquisition programs, with authority for all contractual actions and phases of the procurement, including requirements definition, advanced acquisition planning and development, contract negotiation, award and contract administration, and management in accordance with established procedures.
Serving as a lead negotiator, developing a pre‑negotiation position, determining the types of contracts and negotiation authority to be used, preparing justification, planning the negotiation strategy, and leading the negotiations which are conducted with contractors.
Requirements 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) All pre‑employment processes will be conducted in English 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. 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. Financial Disclosure: Financial Disclosure is required. 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
Qualifications Basic Requirement: You must provide supporting documentation in your application to show you meet the basic requirement below. A. Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS‑13 or higher level contracting positions, including at least 4‑years 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. 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‑14 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Serving as a contract specialist for a significant system or program, involving a range of contract specializations such as negotiation, cost and price analysis, and administration. Planning, developing, and establishing contractual strategy for assigned acquisition programs. Serving as a contracting advisor or subject matter expert to program officials and to program management office. Resolving complex contractual issues, claims, and termination settlements in accordance with established procedures. 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 02/24/2026. 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 on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers 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 The vacancy questionnaire includes four short, free‑response essay questions. This provides an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12877658 Telework: No - exemptions related to telework may be available in very limited cases Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (Professional): The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) modernized the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC‑C) Program and established the new FAC‑C (Professional) certification. The FAC‑C (Professional) shall be accepted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in accordance with the Office of Federal Procurement Policy's FAC‑C Modernization Memo, dated 02/01/2023 and serve as evidence that an employee meets initial readiness requirements to perform contracting functions. This position will require the completion of the FAC‑C (Professional) Program. This is a single‑level certification program that includes completion of foundational training, one year of experience, a professional certification exam, and an updated continuous learning requirement. Legacy FAC‑C Levels (I, II, or III) may be substituted for completion of the FAC‑C (Professional) Certification. DHS recognizes current DAWIA Certifications as equivalent to the FAC‑C (Professional), as long as the individual has met the educational and experience requirements. 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.
Customs & Border Protection (CBP): Securing America’s Borders The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling on those who want to help protect American interests and secure our Nation. DHS Components work collectively to prevent terrorism; secure borders and our transportation systems; protect the President and other dignitaries; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters. We achieve these vital missions through a workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS. Discover a challenging and rewarding career with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the sole organization responsible for securing the nation’s borders. At CBP, we: Secure and facilitate trade and travel while enforcing hundreds of U.S. regulations, including immigration and drug laws Screen passengers, vehicles, and shipments entering our country Seize illegal narcotics, vehicles, and agricultural products and prohibited goods. Prevent unauthorized entry into the country Rescue individuals who fall into dangerous conditions traversing our border Find us on X at @CBP and @CBPJobs Find us on LinkedIn at U.S. Customs and Border Protection CBP employees demonstrate the highest level of commitment to protect and serve the United States of America and to exemplify the CBP Core Values of Vigilance, Service to Country and Integrity. Learn more about CBP’s mission, core values and careers at https://www.cbp.gov/about
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Duties Joining Customs & Border Protection (CBP), Office of Acquisition, will allow you to utilize your expertise in procurement to perform a full range of contracting services and functions that improve the efficiency of acquisition programs.
This position starts at a salary of $125,776.00 (GS-14, Step 01) to $163,514.00 (GS-14, Step 10). Apply for this exciting opportunity to strengthen the Department's ability to perform homeland security functions by serving as a senior contract specialist with responsibility for contract solicitation, selection, and post award administration for CBP contracting missions.
In this Contract Specialist position you will become a key team member of Homeland Security professionals involved in performing a full range of contract service duties as part of an acquisition team; which includes serving as a subject matter expert in contract selection and review, providing support to assigned CBP/DHS organizations, programs, projects, or activities, and responsible for a variety of contracts that frequently require special handling or specialized terms and conditions.
Typical Work assignments include: Serving as contract specialist for a significant system or program with authority for all contractual actions (pre‑award and post‑award functions) and phases of the program; which includes contract specializations such as negotiation, cost and price analysis, and administration.
Serving as principal contracting advisor and subject matter expert to program officials and to program management office, representing the Office of Acquisition as contractual authority for assigned programs at conferences and in meetings, and advising program officials of the procurement objectives to be used and assisting in the preparation of statements of work.
Planning, developing, and establishing the contractual strategy for the assigned acquisition programs, with authority for all contractual actions and phases of the procurement, including requirements definition, advanced acquisition planning and development, contract negotiation, award and contract administration, and management in accordance with established procedures.
Serving as a lead negotiator, developing a pre‑negotiation position, determining the types of contracts and negotiation authority to be used, preparing justification, planning the negotiation strategy, and leading the negotiations which are conducted with contractors.
Requirements 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) All pre‑employment processes will be conducted in English 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. 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. Financial Disclosure: Financial Disclosure is required. 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
Qualifications Basic Requirement: You must provide supporting documentation in your application to show you meet the basic requirement below. A. Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS‑13 or higher level contracting positions, including at least 4‑years 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. 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‑14 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Serving as a contract specialist for a significant system or program, involving a range of contract specializations such as negotiation, cost and price analysis, and administration. Planning, developing, and establishing contractual strategy for assigned acquisition programs. Serving as a contracting advisor or subject matter expert to program officials and to program management office. Resolving complex contractual issues, claims, and termination settlements in accordance with established procedures. 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 02/24/2026. 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 on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers 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 The vacancy questionnaire includes four short, free‑response essay questions. This provides an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12877658 Telework: No - exemptions related to telework may be available in very limited cases Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (Professional): The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) modernized the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC‑C) Program and established the new FAC‑C (Professional) certification. The FAC‑C (Professional) shall be accepted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in accordance with the Office of Federal Procurement Policy's FAC‑C Modernization Memo, dated 02/01/2023 and serve as evidence that an employee meets initial readiness requirements to perform contracting functions. This position will require the completion of the FAC‑C (Professional) Program. This is a single‑level certification program that includes completion of foundational training, one year of experience, a professional certification exam, and an updated continuous learning requirement. Legacy FAC‑C Levels (I, II, or III) may be substituted for completion of the FAC‑C (Professional) Certification. DHS recognizes current DAWIA Certifications as equivalent to the FAC‑C (Professional), as long as the individual has met the educational and experience requirements. 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.
Customs & Border Protection (CBP): Securing America’s Borders The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling on those who want to help protect American interests and secure our Nation. DHS Components work collectively to prevent terrorism; secure borders and our transportation systems; protect the President and other dignitaries; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters. We achieve these vital missions through a workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS. Discover a challenging and rewarding career with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the sole organization responsible for securing the nation’s borders. At CBP, we: Secure and facilitate trade and travel while enforcing hundreds of U.S. regulations, including immigration and drug laws Screen passengers, vehicles, and shipments entering our country Seize illegal narcotics, vehicles, and agricultural products and prohibited goods. Prevent unauthorized entry into the country Rescue individuals who fall into dangerous conditions traversing our border Find us on X at @CBP and @CBPJobs Find us on LinkedIn at U.S. Customs and Border Protection CBP employees demonstrate the highest level of commitment to protect and serve the United States of America and to exemplify the CBP Core Values of Vigilance, Service to Country and Integrity. Learn more about CBP’s mission, core values and careers at https://www.cbp.gov/about
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