Do you believe that the pen is truly mightier than the proverbial sword? If not, you may want to ask Boeing or the myriad other government contractors that live and die by the ink flowing from government contracting offices what they think.
Contracting Officers hold a power few in government retain - the authority to sign contracts on behalf of the government. They are the money people, and everyone needs money.
Whether the contract is for paper clips or battle ships, the Contracting Officer is responsible for overseeing all steps of the acquisition process and complying with the rules set forth in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). No matter how badly you want to blow up a terrorist training base, it won't happen until a contracting office signs the contract for the missiles used to destroy the target.
Given the high stakes game of government contracting, the scrutiny placed over contracting services from the private and public sectors is very high. The recent rebidding of the $35 billion aerial refueling contract after the Air Force awarded the contract to a half-foreign company demonstrates how politically volatile, public, and important the contracting process can quickly become.
New contracting scandal stories appear in the media regularly, from inappropriate access of passport records by Department of State contract employees to the indictment of a former Department of Defense chief and contractor for conspiracy. This is not the job for someone who wants a low-stress, low-impact life.
Neither is government services is a simple task; the complex and non-intuitive FAR and its many supplements can even give interpretation headaches to federal justices. But if reading legalese and supporting your agency's mission gets your motor running, then this may be the job for you.
The awarding of government contracts is big business. Whether one likes the idea or not, it is here to stay and the Contracting Officer plays a very important role in ensuring that our tax dollars are not squandered or directed into the pockets of unscrupulous characters.
A Contracting Officer directs the full range of contracting responsibilities for a particular agency or office. This individual is responsible for guidance, oversight, and coordination of agreement development; negotiates prices, terms and conditions, contract modifications and settlements; and provides leadership, training, direction and supervision to management and others.
Typical requirements for Contracting Officer positions include either a 4-year degree in any subject area or at least 24 hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. They are also required to have a Federal Acquisition Certificate, which can be completed at many universities and colleges.
Contracting Officers or Contract Specialists are usually paid at the GS-11 with promotion potential to GS-13/14 ($48,000 - $105,000 per year without locality pay). However, there are various GS-9 and lower level trainee positions available as well.
In addition to education and experience with federal procurement and contracting regulations and procedures, Contracting Officers must also be able to analyze data, communicate with others, and supervise and manage a staff.
Contracting Officer positions can be found on www.USAJOBS.com as well as on the web sites for individual agencies and departments.
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Today's Spotlight: USAspending.gov