ROLE
We are seeking a Junior Acquisition Support Specialist to support the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) Office of Acquisition in Norfolk, VA. In this role, you will provide day-to-day federal contracting support across the acquisition lifecycle, helping MARAD’s ship operations and mission programs execute accurate, compliant & timely contract actions under the guidance of senior acquisition staff.
This is a part-time opportunity ideal for retired federal Contracting Officers and other experienced federal acquisition professionals.
Apply today!
RESPONSIBILITIES
I. Acquisition Planning & Pre-Award
- Support acquisition activities for Maritime Administration (MARAD) contracts supporting Ready Reserve Force (RRF) vessels, training ships, and other fleet needs throughout the contract lifecycle
- Assist with market research and data gathering to inform acquisition strategies, contract types, competition approaches, and schedules
- Draft core acquisition documents such as Statements of Work (SOWs), Performance-based Work Statements (PWSs), and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plans (QASPs) using templates and senior staff guidance
II. Pricing & Cost Analysis
Contribute to proposal evaluations by assembling pricing data and documenting price, cost, and technical evaluation inputs for the source selection recordMaintain and update Microsoft Excel pricing workbooks using pivot tables, lookup functions, conditional formatting, and other formulas to support ship management services contractsBuild and refine spreadsheets and basic calculators that help Administrative Contracting Officers (ACOs) and Contracting Officer’s Representatives (CORs) track billing, pricing adjustments, and invoice approvalsAssist in developing Independent Government Cost Estimates (IGCEs) by collecting historical purchase information, market research, and comparable acquisition data from other agenciesIII. Solicitation & Source SelectionPrepare draft sections of Requests for Quotations (RFQs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and combined synopsis and solicitations using approved templates and checklistsVerify inclusion of required terms and conditions and route solicitation packages for funding confirmation and legal reviewSupport informal and formal source selections by setting up evaluation tools, distributing proposals, tracking scores and compiling documentation for Source Selection Decision Memoranda (SSDMs)Coordinate with evaluators and the Contracting Officer (CO) to schedule meetings, capture action items and prepare discussion materials for communications with offerorsIV. Award, Administration & Closeout
Assemble award packages for task orders, delivery orders, and stand-alone contracts, and prepare supporting COR documentation for senior reviewEnter contract and modification data into the FPDS-NG and the Voice of Acquisition (VOA) system, and confirm accuracy against source documentsPrepare draft documentation for option exercises and other post-award contract modifications for review by senior acquisition staffTrack contractor performance issues, discrepancy reports, and closeout actions, and maintain related logs and e-filesV. Systems, Data & Training
Use the ESC-PRISM contract writing system to create, route, and track procurement requests, awards, and modifications under senior staff directionRetrieve and compile acquisition data from ESC-PRISM and FPDS-NG to support reporting requirementsMaintain electronic contract files in SharePoint by ensuring documents are properly stored, labeled, and accessibleCreate user-friendly spreadsheets, trackers, and basic job aids in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to support contracting and program staffVI. Policy & Stakeholder Support
Follow MARAD acquisition policies, procedures, and templates, and flag inconsistencies or needed updates to senior staffStay current on key changes to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Transportation Acquisition Regulation (TAR), Transportation Acquisition Manual (TAM), and related guidance as communicated by senior acquisition personnelParticipate in acquisition team meetings, take notes, and action itemsProvide administrative and coordination support to senior acquisition staffREQUIRED EXPERIENCE
At least five (5) years of operational experience in Federal ContractingREQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES
Knowledge of Federal contracting law, regulation, policies, and precedents, and related principles, policies, and procedures sufficient to plan, lead, review, or audit the most complex procurement functionsKnowledge of Federal and Departmental procurement regulations (e.g., FAR & TAR)Knowledge of the regulations and techniques of source selection sufficient to conduct a selectionSkill in promoting e-commerce, and supporting the use of automated acquisition systems, and other electronic systemsSkill in Microsoft Excel / pricingCustomer service-oriented, responsive, and accessibleStrong organization and multitasking skillsExcellent professional writing skillsEDUCATION
FAC-C (Professional) or DAWIA (Professional) certification (both formerly “Level III”) requiredLOCATION
Norfolk, VA, 23505TELEWORK
Telework availableCLEARANCE
U.S. citizenship is required as it supports the U.S. federal governmentCLIENT
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)TRAVEL
Minimal travel may be requiredWORK HOURS
Flexible days & hoursEMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION
Employment Classification Eligibility — ExemptRELOCATION
Not eligible for relocation benefitsKMRG, LLC is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action (EEO / AA) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, age, marital or civil partnership status, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, pregnancy, maternity status, political affiliation, military or veteran status, genetic information, traits historically associated with race, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, and / or local law.
Other Considerations. Applicants will be subject to a background investigation. Individual’s primary workstation is located in an office area. The noise level in this environment is low to moderate. Regularly required to sit for extended periods up to 100% of the time; frequently required to move about to access file cabinets and use office equipment such as PC, copier, fax, telephone, cell phone, etc. Occasionally required to reach overhead, bend, and lift objects of up to 10 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include the use of computer monitor screens up to 100% of the time.
