I'm a current 1102 with a Level 1 DAWIA Cert, serving in an Administrative function with DCMA. I have 1 year of experience as an 1102; however, I also spent two years as a procurement technician in an operational contracting capacity where I purchased commodities and services below the simplified acquisition threshold. I am set to interview with the Department of Energy soon for a vacant position that performs both pre and post award contracting. The vacancy indicates the Contract Specialist will be "responsible for procurement of services with difficult and complex requirements." In addition to that, it says the Contract Specialist will use a variety of contract types, such as, but not limited to, fixed price incentive, cost plus fixed or incentive fee, and BOAs. According to the job posting, the Contract Specialist is also responsible for "detailed cost/price analyses."
The reason why I'm reiterating what was stated in the job posting is because I recently interviewed for a position at an Air Force R&D location, which performed mainly cost reimbursement type contracts due to the nature of the mission. I don't know exactly why I was not selected, and it could have been due to a variety of factors, but I suspect part of it is due to my inexperience with cost reimbursement type contracts. In order to acquire more of the type of experience I believe agencies I am interested in are looking for, I have been submitting my resume to places that I feel would broaden my experience and offer a new and challenging environment, like the DOE vacancy I wrote about above.
While this appears to be a great career opportunity, I have heard negative things about civilian agencies by DOD employees. While I believe most of it is hearsay, I also heard it from a DAWIA professor, but I have heard nothing concerning the Department of Energy. If you factor in the work being conducted in DOE's Research Labs, like those in New Mexico for example, the DOE could indirectly be considered to work in a Defense capacity, especially considering the nature of some of the work being performed, which could be utilized by the military at some point, as well as perhaps, serving to protect the nation from natural disasters, or anticipated and unanticipated events. Regardless, I am concerned there is a stigma associated with civilian agencies, and that the FAC-C may not be equivalent to a DAWIA cert.
This is important because I believe it's possible, even likely, that at some point during my career, the Government will contract and I may be forced to find another job. Considering Defense is one of the main core functions of the Federal Government, I imagine, depending on available vacancies, and demand to fill those vacancies, there may be positions available in the DOD when there are none in other agencies. In addition to this, there may be an opportunity to apply for a vacancy that is too good to pass up or close to a relative that may need assistance.
To summarize, assuming I am fortunate enough to be selected for this available vacancy, which would be an amazing opportunity that I would be very grateful to have, if in the future for whatever reason, I desire to get back into the DOD, will I have a difficult road ahead?
Chances are, this won't be an issue at all because I'll probably find a way to screw up the interview or will lack something the agency is looking for relative to the other candidates, but I appreciate any forthcoming responses to my question, as it will help me to navigate my career.