Program Support Specialist (Contracts)

Summary

• -----------

This position is located in Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Office of the Chief Security Officer (OCSO), Assistant Director, Administrative Services Division. The Program Support Specialist manages the development of contract packages and evaluation review.

Learn more about this agency

This job is open to

• -----------------------

### The public

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

### Clarification from the agency

See Requirements section of this announcement for information on who may apply. Please be advised that federal retired annuitant candidates may only be considered as a temporary employee if the role can be filled in that capacity.

Duties

• ----------

Reporting to the Business Operations Manager, the Specialist (Contracts) is responsible for managing and monitoring contracting activities and providing expert administrative, analytical and programmatic support for contract management and acquisition\-related activities. Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) certification to meet the needs of this position.

Duties include:

• Supports contract management on behalf of OCSO. Provides contracting support for OCSO’s requirements.
• Monitors compliance with contract terms and conditions, communicate with OCSO staff and across offices and jurisdictions to understand acquisition requests, conducts market research per guidance received to glean pertinent and relevant information about goods and services being requested, assists in the creation of new call orders and contracts through support for scope of work creation, cost estimations, contracting package development and technical evaluation review.
• Supports the review and application of existing appropriation and contracting regulations as they pertain to the documentation needed to procure supplies and services, to include operation and maintenance, repair of mechanical equipment, campus utilities, telecommunication, data processing and electronic system repairs and security projects under the jurisdiction of OCSO.
• Tracks and maintains relevant documentation of vendor relationships for the procurement supplies and services.
• Serves as a subject matter expert in explaining contract performance requirements, technical data, regulations and other guidance.
• Identifies trends, risks or performance concerns and elevates issues to appropriate officials for resolution.
• Prepares recurring and ad\-hoc reports on contract status, acquisition timelines, funding and performance indicators.
• Serves as an additional point of contact for contractor administrative issues, monitors progress and adherence to contracts and develop modifications under the guidance of others as necessary, monitors administrative requirements of contracts to ensure deliverables are provided.
• Develops, drafts and reviews statement of work (SOW) for conformance with required templates, including grammatical review and making corrections to ensure all required documents are included in the request package.
• Review projects at all phases for conformance with project and program requirements.
• Provides guidance to managers or directors on contracting procedures and translates program goals and objectives in terms of planning and analysis.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

\Duties quoted at GS\-12 level; If selected at the GS\-11, candidate will have non\-competitive promotion potential to the GS\-12\.\

*This is a career ladder position description; the assignments are progressively more difficult and with less supervision until the full\-performance level is reached.*

Requirements

• ----------------

### Conditions of employment

• You must be able to pass a drug test.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.

To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet one of the categories below:

• A citizen of the United States;
• A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3\)(B);
• A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible;
• A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408\); or
• A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States.

### Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site at General Schedule Qualification Standards.

*Specialized experienceis experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, an applicant's one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for successful job performance.*

To qualify at the GS\-11 level, your resume must clearly demonstrate that you have one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to at least the GS\-09 level in the federal service. Examples of qualifying experience include the following types of tasks performed on a regular and recurring basis:

• Performing administrative functions, including compliance with processes and procedures and efficiency and effectiveness of business operations;
• Conducting contract reviews to evaluate performance;
• Monitoring contractor activities through personal contact and/or review to ensure compliance with technical, financial, delivery, and other terms of the contract;
• Conducting analyses of contractors' financial and management systems and facilities for ability to perform and for compliance with federal regulatory requirements;
and
• Preparing statistical and narrative reports and charts/graphs that depict and compare results of programs and initiatives.

OR

Have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or at least 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or an LL.M. To be qualifying, the higher\-level graduate education must be in a major field of study with course work directly related to the work of this position; OR

Have an equivalent combination of the above specialized experience AND higher level graduate education that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.

To qualify at the GS\-12 level, your resume must clearly demonstrate that you have one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to at least the GS\-11 level in the federal service. Examples of qualifying experience include the following types of tasks performed on a regular and recurring basis:

• Performing contract administration activities for procurements;
• Using a financial management system to perform purchasing\-related activities for an organization;
• Managing program operations and allocation of resources and program results;
• Managing and reviewing budgets and fiscal analysis;
and
• Reviewing Statements of Work (SOW) for conformance to standards and ensuring all required documents are included in the request packages.

### Education

GS\-11: Education may be substituted for specialized experience as indicated above. If using education to qualify, candidates must provide transcripts if selected.

*Special Instructions for Foreign Education:*

Education completed outside of the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment.

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 of foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree.

You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course\-by\-course listing if selected.

### Additional information

Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement. If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD\-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF\-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable. For more information, please visit Vet Guide for HR Professionals.

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC’s suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide and cover the cost for the drug test.

The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol.

The Architect of the Capitol is an E\-VERIFY Participant. E\-VERIFY is an Internet\-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I\-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I\-9 will be verified through the DHS "E\-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E\-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc\_1185221678150\.shtm.

The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or disability.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case\-by\-case basis.

Moving expenses are not authorized.

Relocation expenses are not authorized.

Probationary Period: A newly appointed selectee is subject to the completion of a one\-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol.

All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.

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

========

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 windowLearn more about federal benefits.

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits, including medical and life insurance, flexible spending accounts and student loan repayment and forgiveness. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have—whether you're a permanent, part\-time, temporary or an intermittent employee.

Selected applicant(s) may be eligible to earn a higher annual leave accrual rate credit towards annual leave accrual based on prior non\-Federal or uniformed service work experience. The amount of service credit will be based on specialized experience or qualifying experience that is provided on the applicant profile submitted. As such, if you are a new employee to the Federal Government or a rehire, it is important that you provide a work history that lists all directly related positions held, and it must include the dates of employment (month/day/year).

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.

Review your resume and responses carefully. Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self\-assessment questions.

Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate the competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics) for this position, possession of any specialized experience, and how well your background and experience relate to the self\-assessment questions in the job announcement. The self\-assessment questions relate to the following competencies:

• Contract Administration
• Planning and Evaluation
• Program Management
• Oral/Written Communication

Your responses to the self\-assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions. Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter. Your resume must support your answers to the self\-assessment questions. Falsifying your background, education and/or experience is cause for non\-selection or disqualification from further consideration.

Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the “Required Documents” section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

• ----------------------
• Your resume should include relevant work experience, applicable education and your contact information. For current or previous federal employees, include the pay plan, series and grade.

The Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) job application process is designed to ensure you only provide information necessary to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility for the position vacancy.

To apply for this position, you only need to submit: a) your resume and b) answers to the online vacancy assessment questionnaire. The online questionnaire contains eligibility and screening questions and other relevant information. No additional documentation or attachments are required at the time of application.

Your resume should list your education, training and work experience including job titles, employment dates, duties and accomplishments.

Nothing further is required until it is requested by AOC’s Human Capital Management Division. If additional documentation is required for the position, you will be asked to provide it during the interview or selection process. At that time, you may be asked to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume.

For example, you may be asked to provide a copy of your diploma, college transcripts, or proof of Federal employment status. If the position requires licensure or certification, you will be asked to provide proof at the time of selection.

If Veterans’ preference is claimed, you will be asked to submit proof (DD\-214, and, if claiming a 10\-point preference, a SF\-15 and the proof required by that form).

Failure to provide the required documents will end further consideration and/or result in the withdrawal of any tentative job offers.

### 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.

How to Apply

• ----------------

You must apply online. FORMS RECEIVED BY FAX, EMAIL OR U.S. POSTAL SERVICE DELIVERY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

If you are a new user to the USAJOBS Site and have never registered for an account; you will first need to create an account profile with your basic contact information and a resume to begin applying. You must be a registered USAJOBS user AND you must be signed in to your account in order to apply for this position. For help with setting up an account or for general assistance in using USAJOBS, go to https://help.usajobs.gov/how\-to.

NEED HELP?

If you experience any difficulties with the application site, help is available! If you have problems completing your on\-line application, contact the Monster Hiring Management Help Desk at 1\-866\-656\-6831 or by e\-mail at MGSHELP@monster.com. The help desk is available Monday \- Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You may call and leave a voice mail message at all other times.

All required supporting documents will be collected electronically via the USAJOBS “Saved Documents” feature.

If you are unable to apply on\-line, you may visit our Employment Center for technical assistance in entering your application. The Employment Center is located at 441 Second \& D Streets S.W., Washington, D.C., Room H2\-178, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You may call (202\) 226\-7000 for directions.

### Agency contact information

Clarissa Anderson

Phone

202\-215\-4316

Email

clarissa.anderson@aoc.gov

Address

Architect of the Capitol

United States Capitol

Washington, District of Columbia 20515

United States### Next steps

You will receive a notice generated by the USAJOBS System when you have successfully submitted your application. We will review your application and transcript(s) (if you are qualifying based on education) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements.

You can check the status of your application by logging into http://www.usajobs.gov. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application has changed by logging into your USAJOBS Account, editing your profile and changing the ‘Notification Settings’ to indicate that you want to be notified by email when the status changes. Information regarding the status of your application should be updated in the system within two (2\) weeks after the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

Overview

• ------------

Accepting applications

Open \& closing dates

04/15/2026 to 04/30/2026

This job will close when we have received 200 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more

Salary

$85,447 \- $133,142 per year

Pay scale \& grade

GS 11 \- 12

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

Washington, DC

1 vacancy

Remote job

No

Telework eligible

Yes—Telework eligible as determined by agency policy.

Travel Required

Not required

Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

Appointment type

Permanent \- Permanent, Full\-time

Work schedule

Full\-time \- This is an excepted service position and does not require or confer civil service competitive status.

Service

Excepted

Promotion potential

12 \- Position has non\-competitive promotion potential to the GS\-12\.

Job family (Series)

• 0301 Miscellaneous Administration And Program

Supervisory status

No

Security clearance

Other

Drug test

Yes

Position sensitivity and risk

Non\-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process

• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure

No

Bargaining unit status

No

Announcement number

OCSO\-2026\-178

Control number

865328700