Contracting Officer - Senior Level - National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

WE ARE THE NRO

For sixty years, the NRO has developed, acquired, launched and operated the satellites that are the foundation for America’s advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified architecture of spacecraft, NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance content on the planet.

Learn more at NRO.gov.

Basic Eligibility For A Position With The NRO
 

• This position is open to current federal employees only. May be eligible for a relocation incentive.
• You must be a U.S. Citizen
• You must be 18 years of age or older
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic drug testing
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic polygraph examinations

Where You Will Work 

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a Contracting Officer (CO) for a Contracting Team responsible for pre-award and post-award acquisition functions involving complex, highly specialized procurements critical to the national security and defense of the United States. The procurement program involves major acquisitions, related services, and support contracts for multi-discipline, operationally relevant intelligence in support of Intelligence Community (IC) requirements; or complex, long term research and development studies.

The Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) leads innovative, adaptive, and dynamic operations to enhance NRO intelligence collection. Historically, the NRO has operated in a relatively non-contested environment. This paradigm is rapidly changing, and requires innovative, adaptive and dynamic solutions to operate through crisis and conflict. MOD is actively pursuing strategies to ensure the NRO mission continues, including efforts to forge unity of effort across external agencies to increase our nation's security. The non-supervisory incumbent serves as the primary acquisition / business advisor to the Commander, Aerospace Data Facility South West (ADF-SW) and supports acquisition management of all contractor support at the site, including numerous contracts sponsored outside of MOD. The incumbent is fully integrated into MOD's Program Management Office (PMO) consisting of Budget, Contracts, Program Management, and multiple Contracting Officer's Technical Representatives (COTRs) and also supports the Management Services & Operations (MS&O) team.

MOD acquisitions have an enterprise strategic focus that encompasses support to multiple overhead missions operating from globally distributed mission ground stations. MOD's contracts include highly complex operations and maintenance (O&M) services contracts, the associated support contracts such as various systems engineering and integration efforts, and some operations focused research and development (R&D). MS&O facilitates the delivery of comprehensive, responsive, and efficient products and services for the worldwide NRO enterprise through the enactment of efficient acquisition outsourcing solutions. MS&O stands as the integrator of corporate, infrastructure, and support capabilities to enable the NRO’s global intelligence collection mission. MS&O acquisitions include worldwide Facilities Operations & Maintenance (O&M), Logistics, Transportation, Materials/Supply Chain Management, Administrative and Employee Support, Travel, Media Services, Wellness, Cover Liaison and Real Property/Leasing services. The incumbent will manage a diverse portfolio with interdependencies across the IC, NRO, and various foreign partners. Strong communications abilities and an ability to partner with diverse stakeholders are crucial for success in the position.

The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for full performance/senior level (GG-13/14), Contracting Officers, occupational series 1102. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, click here.

Your resume may be considered for other positions which your skills and experience may be a good match.

This is a full-time position that is open from October 28, 2024 to November 12, 2024. Resumes must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on November 12, 2024.

Who May Apply
 

• This position is open to current federal employees only. May be eligible for a relocation incentive.
• Federal government employees MUST currently be at the grade level or higher as indicated in this announcement. This is NOT a promotion opportunity for current Federal government employees. If selected for the position, Federal government employees will transition laterally at their current grade level and step.
• Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoD 1400.25 Volume 2006.
• The NRO is only accepting external applicants for this job announcement. Current NRO Cadre employees should apply internally.
• This position does not qualify for the appointment of a reemployed federal annuitant IAW DoDI 1400.25 Volume 300.

What You Will Be Doing  

As the Contracting Officer, you will be responsible for the following duties:
 

• Serve as the contracting officer responsible for pre-award and post-award functions involving complex, highly specialized MSA activities.
• Procurement of major acquisitions related to services and support contracts for multi-discipline, operationally relevant intelligence in the IC.
• Manage all aspects of the functional area of contract management, including contract formation, solicitation, negotiations, cost and price analysis, award, contract administration, termination and closeout for a variety of contracts.
• Responsible for executing any or all procurement administration of the resultant contracts.
• Perform all necessary acquisition functions in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and other agency-specific guidance.
• Plan, develop and establish long-and-short-range procurement plans, strategies and approaches for overall acquisition projects.
• Advise program office officials in procurement planning meetings of the procurement objectives to be used and explore new or innovative contracting approaches to arrive at equitable contract management.
• Consistently build productive relationships internal and external to NRO in support of mission execution and customer service. Provides insight into various aspects of NRO and the IC. Participates in cross-functional activities, and builds professional network
• Provide guidance and summation documentation, which enables ADF-SW Leadership to draft and disseminate guidance to the ADF-SW workforce. Ensure that written communications is in alignment with the NAM, FAR, and NOTIP guidance.
• Routinely meet with ADF-SW Leadership to provide contractual guidance, contract policy insight, and contractual decision impact awareness from both a tactical and strategic perspective.
• Engage with NRO Headquarters and ADF-SW Leadership on questions and concerns related NOTIPS and the ADF-SW site posture.
• Manage an extensive contract portfolio comprised of multiple contract types that ensure ADF-SW, and enterprise mission requirements are met. Subsequently, engage with contractor contracts personnel to ensure schedule, budgetary, and mission related deliverables are achieved in accordance to agreed upon terms.
• Assist mission partners in meeting expenditure rates in accordance to directorate and component thresholds. Provide timely and accurate responses/actions that enable mission requirements to be met.
• Compose well-written acquisition documents and briefings that highlight both the positive and negative aspects of the acquisition in correlation to the phase of the acquisition cycle.
• Analyze mission requirements in coordination with leadership, COTR, legal, audit, security, and resource partners to determine the appropriate acquisition approach.
• Serve as a lead negotiator, planning the negotiation strategy, coordination strategy with the negotiation team and leading the negotiations conducted with contractors to reach a fair and reasonable position for all parties involved.
• Lead and/or participate in the source selection process for competitive acquisitions.
• Perform detailed analysis of all elements of costs in contractor proposals.
• Serve as designated CO with signature authority to enter into and bind the government to contracts subject to established dollar threshold when required or as delegated.
• Monitor and ensure contractor performance in accordance with all terms and conditions of the contract.
• Negotiate and issue contract modifications driven by technological advances, upgraded operational requirements and other changes characteristic of the type of contract/program involved.
• Facilitates and oversees complex or mission-critical source selection efforts to include both informal and formal competitive source selections; concurs with final source selection determinations; and approves source selection documentation. Develops and implements approaches to manage risk across the organization, and presides over debriefs.

What You Need 
 

• DoD Professional Certification Level.
• Ability to obtain an NRO Tier III Warrant in accordance with the NAM prior to PCS.
• Extensive knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and NRO Acquisition Manual (NAM).
• Experience with FAR Part 15 Competitive Source Selections.
• Have strong organizational, attention to details and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency in the negotiation, award and administration of a variety of complex contracts and/or nontraditional acquisitions.
• Demonstrated knowledge of contract vehicles: award/incentive fee contracts, and cost-plus/firm-fixed price.
• Demonstrated strong critical thinking skills to problem-solve.
• Ability to work closely with customers/partners to ensure contractual obligations are fulfilled in compliance with the terms of the contract, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating or overseeing complex or mission-critical source selection efforts to include both informal and formal competitive source selections; experience with final source selection determinations; and experience approving or reviewing source selection documentation. Developed and implemented approaches to manage risk across the organization, and presided over debriefs.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating interactive and productive engagements with stakeholders, peers, senior leadership, and industry partners regarding acquisition planning, milestones, procurement priorities, and risk management.
• Extensive knowledge of price and cost analysis.
• Demonstrated experience consulting as a trusted advisor to formulate expert analysis/solutions, interpretation of complex requirements and contract actions, best business practices, and all phases of the acquisition planning and execution process from the pre-award and post-award phase.
• Ability to adapt to both innovative methods and comprehensive expertise in the NAM and FAR, or any applicable DoD supplements to multiple acquisition programs, to produce desired outcomes for the organization, and supported activities.
• Must be a self-starter, a problem solver, and be able to work independently.
• Ability to work collaboratively with site senior leadership.

Highly Desired
 

• Current or prior holder of NRO Warrant or CIA Warrant.
• Knowledge of NRO's procurement system (EPX), regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of NRO's budgetary process, federal and agency fiscal cycle, funding practices, and legal requirements.
• Proven ability to build, lead, and work with teams of people with diverse multi-agency backgrounds and perspectives.
• Demonstrated strong leadership qualities in management and organizational planning.
• Significant space, space-related, Acquisition Category I or equivalent contracting experience.

Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform and is typically in or directly related to the duties of the position as described above. Experience must be reflected in your resume. 


Rotational Assignment

This position requires a two-year rotational assignment agreement with possible extensions of two-years. Approved extensions will be in one-year increments based on mission requirements. At the conclusion of the rotational assignment, the position’s occupant will be required to relocate to NRO Headquarters, Chantilly, VA or another acceptable assignment within the NRO.

Other Information
 

• Overtime Statement: MAY be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
• Travel Statement: MAY be required to travel in military or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.
• Financial Disclosure: MAY be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
• This is a Defense Acquisition Work Improvement Act (DAWIA) position: Employees Grades 14 designated in Critical Acquisition Positions, must meet appropriate certification requirements IAW the DAWIA within the designated grace period (Professional - 3 years) after accepting the position. As a Critical Acquisition Position (CAP), unless specifically waived by the appropriate Component Official (i.e., the Director of Acquisition Career Management for the Component, the Service Acquisition Executive, or the Service Secretary) or if the employee is "grandfathered" under 10 U.S.C. 1736 (c) (1), the following are statutorily mandated requirements (Reference 10 U.S.C. 1733 and 1737). 1. Employee must have 4 years of acquisition experience.
• DoD 5000.52 requirements: The employee must meet DoD 5000.52 requirements as applicable to the duties of the position. Note: The position serves as a Contracting Officer (CO), which requires the employee co achieve a certificate of appointment after successfully passing a Warrant Board.

Location

Las Cruces, NM

Telework is not available and you must be able to work at the specified location(s).

Salary

2024 salary range for the Las Cruces, NM area:

GG-13: $103,409 – $134,435. 

GG-14: $122,198 – $158,860.

**This position is a full performance/senior level DCIPS position. The NRO is accepting applications from U.S. Citizens and current federal government employees for this position. To qualify for the position,federal government employees MUST currently be at the GG – 13/14 grade level and may ONLY apply for a lateral reassignment at their current grade level and step. Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoD 1400.25 Volume 2006.

Hiring Incentives

The NRO may offer hiring incentives and other entitlements at management’s discretion.

Trial Period

All new DCIPS employees will be required to serve a 2-year trial period.

Veterans’ Preference

DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans’ Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Vol 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans’ preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 USC, you must submit documents verifying your eligibility upon request.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants

Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.

Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:
 

• An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events.

You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please send your request to Hiring@nro.mil.

Privacy Act Notice

Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): We use this information to determine qualifications for employment. This is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.

Read more about the Privacy Act of 1974 

 

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