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Qualifications for 1102-Contract Specialist


DEEFARRD

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I'm currently a 6C0 (Contract Specialist) in the Air Force and I have about 11 months until I get out (or re-enlist). I would like to stay within the contracting field but looking from USAJobs.gov, I don't seem to qualify for a 11-02 position even at GS-9. Every Federal agency has different requirements but for the most part, they are very similar. I will be receiving my CCAF (Community College of the Air Force) in Contracts Management shortly and have my level 1 in contracting and have already been trained in level 2 unofficially. One of my co-workers who was ex-military entered the civilian 11-02 position in 2003. He was a prior 6C0 I believe. I'm not sure what the exception was called but active duty military who are in contract specialist positions are waived from the requirements of having a 4 year degree; With this in mind, could I apply to a 11-02 position while I'm active duty and take the position once I'm separated from active duty since the hiring process could take 6-12 months from now. Is there any other way that I could enter the contracting workforce without a 4 year degree? I intend on finishing up school but would like to keep a full-time job doing what I have been doing for the last 3 years.

The DoA and DoD have slight differences in the requirements listed below.

Department of the Agriculture - http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/320871200

MINIMUM FEDERAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Grade 09: BASIC REQUIREMENTS

A. Successful completion of a full four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major in any field.

OR

B. Successful completion of at least 24 semester/36 quarter 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. EXCEPTION: Employees in GS-1102 positions will be considered to have met the basic requirement for positions they occupy on January 1, 2000. Employees who occupy GS-1102 positions at grades 5 through 12 will be considered to meet the basic requirements for other GS-1102 positions up to and including those classified at GS-12.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

In addition to meeting the basic entry qualification requirements, applicants must have one (1) year of specialized experience at or equivalent to at least a GS-7.

Specialized experience is experience which is in or directly related to contracting work and which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled.

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE

The experience requirements for the GS-9 level may be met by successful completion of two (2) full academic years of progressively higher level graduate education in an accredited college or university, in one or a combination of the following fields: accounting, business finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management; OR master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR LL.B. or J.D.

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

An appropriate combination of successfully completed education and experience may be used to meet the total qualification requirements.

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Air Force Material Command - http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/320877900

BASIC EDUCATION QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: (Must Submit Transcripts With Application)

Bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees AND at least 24 semester hours in business-related courses in any of the following disciplines: accounting, business finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. (This requirement can be obtained within the degree or in addition to the degree).

NOTE: The education requirements listed above apply only to individuals entering DoD 1102 positions on or after October 1, 2000. Current members of the armed forces and Current DoD employees are exempt from the basic requirements if they: 1) Served as a contracting officer with authority to award or administer in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold on or before 30 September 2000; 2) Served on or before 30 September 2000, in a position as either an employee in the 1102 series or as a member of the Armed Forces in a similar Contracting Officer Positions.

AND

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level close to the work of this position that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform. Typically, we would find this experience in work within this field that is closely related. To be creditable, the specialized experience must have been equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07), pay band or equivalent. Specialized experience is described as basic knowledge of the legislation, regulations, and methods used in contracting; and knowledge of business and industry practices, sources of supply, cost factors, and requirements characteristics.

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If you were pursuing an 1102 position in DoD, you could get a waiver from the Component Acquisition Executive. See DoDI 5000.66:

E6.1.4. Waiver. In exceptional circumstances, the CAE may waive qualification requirements for current DoD employees or members of the Armed Forces if the CAE determines that the individual possesses significant potential for advancement to levels of greater responsibility and authority, based on demonstrated job performance and qualifying experience. For any current DoD employee or member of the Armed Forces who has not occupied an 1102 or similar military occupational specialty, a waiver of qualification requirements must be approved prior to appointment to an 1102 position or similar military occupational specialty. Process waivers according to the Desk Guide for AT&L Workforce Career Management and DoD Component procedures.
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Really, you should look at the bachelor's degree as important -- you might qualify for a waiver for now, but you will want to get a degree for the sake of future opportunity and advancement. And even if you're eligible, the lack of a degree might work against you in a competition.

It's hard to justify calling the 1102 series a professional series if we always allow for waivers and exceptions.

YES, you can apply for civilian jobs while you are still active duty if you are within 120 days of honorable discharge. See the OPM letter dated June 15, 2012, at http://www.chcoc.gov/Transmittals/TransmittalDetails.aspx?TransmittalID=4881. I understand some agencies and personnelists are not aware of this policy (statute, really).

  • On November 21, 2011, President Obama signed the VOW (Veterans Opportunity to Work) To Hire Heroes Act of 2011.
  • The VOW amends chapter 21 of title 5, United States Code (U.S.C.) by adding section 2108a, “Treatment of certain individuals as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligibles.”
  • Section 2108a requires Federal agencies to treat active duty service members as veterans, disabled veterans, or preference eligibles for purposes of appointment in the competitive service when these service members submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions along with their applications for Federal employment.
  • A certification is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days from the date the certification is signed.
  • Agencies must accept, process, and consider applications for appointment from any service member who submits a certification in the same manner as they would consider other preference eligibles.
  • Prior to appointment, agencies must verify the veteran is eligible for veterans’ preference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 2108, unless the service member is appointed under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 5534a, “Dual employment and pay during terminal leave from uniformed services.”

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