Acquisition Program Specialist

Job Details

Position Overview

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), works within the U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to prevent or stop waste, fraud and abuse in departmental programs. This position is located within the Office of Inspector General, Assistant IG for Operations, Office of Organizational and Administrative Services. 

Duties

Major duties include, but not limited to the following:

• Supports OIG program offices in developing complete procurement packages, including statement of work (SOW), performance work statements (PWS), statement of objectives (SOO) and technical specifications. Advises staff on independent government cost estimates (IGCE), market research, determination and findings (D&F), and justification for other than full and open competition (JOFOC). Prepares and reviews PRISM requisitions to ensure accuracy and funding compliance. Assists leadership in determining resource needs, sourcing strategies, and acquisition timelines.
• Acts as the primary liaison to the OST Office of Procurement, tracking requisition progress and ensuring DATA Act compliance. Provides administrative and technical support to OIG’s Contract Officer’s Representatives (CORs), helping maintain contract files, monitor deliverables, manage performance timelines, and support post‑award tracking and closeout coordination.
• Manages OIG internal processes for Interagency Agreements (IAAs), including documentation and milestone tracking. Serves as OIG’s point of contact with ESC for IAA and G‑Invoicing matters. Reviews Working Capital Fund (WCF) reports for billing accuracy and supplies procurement data to leadership for budget planning and acquisition forecasting.
• Interprets acquisition policies and develops internal guidelines, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and job aids to improve quality and workflow. Performs special administrative projects such as quarterly undelivered order (UDO) reviews, equipment tracking, and process improvement assessments.

Qualifications & Requirements

All documents must be received and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.  Your resume must be well documented with the specialized experience, otherwise you may be deemed ineligible.

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE qualifications for the grade(s) at which you are requesting consideration. Applicants must meet qualifications and time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

For GS-12: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in Federal service performing (obtained in either the public or private sectors) listed below:

• Applying comprehensive knowledge of Federal administrative procedures, program management principles, and departmental procurement policies—including the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Transportation Acquisition Regulation (TAR), and Transportation Acquisition Manual (TAM) to guide staff in developing compliant SOWs, performance work statements (PWSs), IGCEs, and market research documentation.
• Managing Interagency Agreements by applying expertise in G‑Invoicing requirements and Enterprise Services Center (ESC) workflows to monitor agreement status, maintain documentation, and coordinate interagency activities.
• Using automated procurement and financial systems such as PRISM and related databases to prepare requisitions, track lifecycle progress, reconcile expenditures, and analyze acquisition trends.
• Conducting analytical reviews to assess procurement package completeness, identify administrative bottlenecks, evaluate market research findings, and recommend process improvements.
• Providing clear and effective written and oral communication to advise program managers, collaborate with CORs and financial personnel, coordinate with contracting officials, and deliver administrative guidance supporting acquisition planning and execution.

Competencies: Your resume will be evaluated on the following competencies in addition to the specialized experience as stated above:

1. Acquisition & Procurement Compliance
Demonstrating the ability to interpret and apply Federal and departmental procurement policies (FAR, TAR, TAM) to ensure program requirements, SOWs/PWSs, IGCEs, and market research packages are accurate and compliant.

2. Interagency Agreement & Financial Coordination
Managing interagency agreements and G‑Invoicing activities with proficiency in ESC workflows, ensuring accurate documentation, status monitoring, and alignment with financial operations.

3. Data & Systems Proficiency for Acquisition Lifecycle Management
Using automated platforms (e.g., PRISM) and financial databases to prepare requisitions, track lifecycle progress, reconcile expenditures, and generate analytical insights that support program decisions.

4. Analytical & Problem‑Solving Ability
Assessing procurement packages, identifying administrative bottlenecks, evaluating market research findings, and recommending process improvements to strengthen acquisition workflows and program efficiency.

5. Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
Providing clear, effective written and oral communication to guide program managers, collaborate with CORs and financial staff, and coordinate with Contracting Officers to ensure accurate interpretation of requirements and successful acquisition execution.

Education

There are no educational requirements for this series. 

Requirements

Evaluations

All applicants: Your application will be reviewed in two phases to determine how you move forward in the hiring process.

Phase I: Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. ONLY two (2) pages of your resume will be reviewed. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) will not be reviewed. Applicants who do not respond to the application questions may be rated ineligible.

Applicants passing “Phase I” will move on to the “Phase II” of the assessment process where your application will be reviewed and rated based on the KSAs/Competencies listed in the vacancy announcement by a Subject Matter Expert (SME). Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents). Applicants who do not respond to the application questions may be rated ineligible.

Federal employees must meet Time-In-Grade (TIG) requirements for merit promotion consideration.  TIG is the 52-week requirement Federal employees in competitive service, General Schedule (GS) positions at GS-5 and above must serve before they are eligible for promotion to the next grade level. TIG requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Supporting documents may either be uploaded or faxed to 571-258-4052. The requested information MUST be received by fax within 48 hours prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement (not including Saturdays, Sundays or government holidays).

NOTE: If you exaggerate or falsify your experience, education and/or your responses to questions, your ratings are subject to change or you may be removed from employment consideration.

Applicants who fail to submit all the required documentation listed in the announcement, in addition to their resumes, will be considered ineligible for further consideration for this announcement.

Required Documents

Resume (required) - Your resume must sufficiently describe how your experience fully meets the specialized experience requirements as stated in this announcement for each grade level(s) you are applying (see "Qualifications" section). **Please limit your resume to 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your qualifications. Your resume must also support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. Credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. We cannot assume you have performed the experience required for this position regardless of your employment history or academic career. Resume must contain all of the following for each experience/position listed: job title, name of employer, beginning and ending dates of employment (month/year format), hours worked per week, detailed description of duties performed, and if a Federal position, series and grade or equivalent. We will not access web pages linked on your resume to determine your qualifications. Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information.

For additional information see:

• USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job?
• USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirements

PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL -Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation (documented within the last 18 months of employment) and 2) a list of any awards (e.g., superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last three years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the selection process. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is unavailable and indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at a satisfactory or above level.

Merit Promotion - All current Federal employees must submit a recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) documenting proof of competitive status, tenure, current grade level and full performance level of the position held.  All reinstatement eligibles/former Federal employees must submit a SF-50 documenting proof of competitive status, tenure, grade level and full performance level of the position.  

DO NOT submit an award SF-50 as these often do not verify grade or eligibility. For consideration for a promotion, Box 4 of the SF-50 must show a date that is at least 52 weeks prior to the job announcement closing. We recommend submitting your last promotion SF-50, current SF-50 or within-grade increase SF-50. Pay adjustment raise SF-50s for the current year will not support the 52 weeks’ time-in-grade requirements. https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/service/SF-50/

Non-competitive eligibles - If requesting concurrent consideration for Non-competitive (NC) appointment eligibility, you must provide the appropriate SPECIAL APPOINTING AUTHORITY DOCUMENTS, such as PCS orders (military spouse) describing move & marriage certificate; letter from VA or DD214 describing 100% disability of spouse; letter from State Vocational Office certifying disability (schedule A), etc. For more information, visit military spouse NC appointments or Persons with Disabilities NC appointments.

DD-214 and/or Vet Letter/SF-15 or VEOA - To receive consideration including veteran's preference points, all veterans must submit a copy of their DD-214 (copy Member #4). If you are claiming 10-point preference, you must submit your SF-15 (revised 12/04) and Vet letter. The form is available at http://www.opm.gov/forms/html/sf.asp. If you are a current service member, in lieu of a DD-214, you may submit a statement from your military personnel center certifying the nature and dates of your service and expected date of separation.

SCHEDULE A - To receive consideration for Schedule A appointment, you must submit your certification from a State Vocational Rehabilitation Office or the Department of Veterans Affairs that you are likely to succeed in the performance of the position.

CTAP/ICTAP - If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 80) and provide all the following documents:  

• your most recent performance appraisal,
• the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and
• your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.

Displaced employees may be eligible for ICTAP or CTAP priority consideration. For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition.

How to Apply

Applications submitted via WWW.USAJOBS.GOV must be received before midnight eastern time on the closing date of the announcement. No extensions will be granted.  If you fail to submit a COMPLETE on-line resume, you WILL NOT be considered for this position. Please make sure that the responses provided in the questionnaire are fully supported by your resume, that your resume is detailed and you have highlighted your most relevant experience for this position (to include starting and ending dates of employment for each position held), and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity. If you fail to provide this information, it may result in you being rated "ineligible" or "not qualified" for this position.

If you exaggerate or falsify your experience, education and/or your responses to questions, your ratings are subject to change or you may be removed from employment consideration. Applicants who do not respond to the application questions will be rated ineligible.

If applying on-line poses a hardship to any applicant, the Servicing Personnel Office listed on the announcement will provide assistance to ensure that applications are submitted on-line by the closing date. Applicants must contact the Servicing Human Resources Office PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE to speak to someone who can provide assistance for on-line submission.  Requests for extensions will not be granted.

Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of your application status by the servicing human resources specialist via e-mail. It is essential that you have a current e-mail address on file and remove any restrictions from your e-mail account that may prohibit our contacting you via e-mail. You may also check the status of your application at WWW.USAJOBS.GOV.