Contract Specialist (1102 Equivalent)

Ready to put your 1102 expertise to work where it truly counts? FedWriters (FWI) is a fast-growing small business that invests in its people, and we're hiring a Contract Specialist to support our client, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). As a Contract Specialist for FWI supporting the IMLS Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), you will work fully remote as the trusted right hand to the IMLS Contracting Officer, supporting the full acquisition lifecycle — from market research, solicitations, and price analyses to purchase, task, delivery, and call orders, contract modifications, CPARS evaluations, and audit-ready contract files, all in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Over the year, you'll help carry a large acquisition from planning through end-of-fiscal-year award while keeping day-to-day order execution on track. This is a small-agency seat with big-agency scope: high visibility, real ownership of your work, and the chance to help fund the museums and libraries that strengthen communities across the country.

Work Schedule and Location:

Remote: This full-time  remote position will work Monday through Friday, 8 AM EST to 5 PM EST 

• Provide Contract Specialist-level acquisition support to the IMLS Contracting Officer, with additional support to other OCFO team members, across the full acquisition lifecycle
• Conduct market research and prepare solicitations, including large acquisition planning and solicitation development
• Conduct open market acquisitions and issue purchase orders under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) pursuant to FAR Part 12
• Prepare and issue task, delivery, purchase, and call orders, including orders under FAR Subpart 8.4 and FAR 16.5
• Prepare contract modifications, including exercising options under FAR Subpart 17.2, bilateral supplemental agreements, and contract close-outs
• Conduct price analyses and prepare Memoranda to File, Summaries for Award, and other required acquisition documentation
• Create, collect, and organize supporting documents so contract files are complete and compliant with law and agency procedures
• Prepare and complete Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) evaluations for current IMLS contracts
• Support end-of-fiscal-year award activity and ongoing Task/Delivery/Purchase Order execution
• Read, interpret, and apply procurement policy, regulations, and directives, and provide clear guidance to IMLS program offices
• Submit a weekly status report on accomplishments against Contracting Officer metrics (contracting actions completed, efficiency, and deadlines met)
• Submit a weekly labor hours report to the COR covering hours performed, cumulative hours, percentage of ceiling consumed, actions assigned/completed/pending, accomplishments, and anticipated work for the next period
• Meet performance standards of at least 95% of work products accepted without material error and at least 95% of tasks completed by the Government due date; acknowledge new assignments and questions within two business hours
• Develop options and implement courses of action under IMLS oversight; all final decisions and Government authority remain with IMLS Federal employees

Required: 

• Bachelor's degree (4-year) from an accredited university
• At least 24 semester hours in any combination of accounting, law, business, finance, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management
• 4+ years of experience as a GS-1102 or equivalent providing acquisition support to the U.S. Federal Government (experience as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) does not qualify)
• Experience conducting open market acquisitions and issuing purchase orders under the SAT pursuant to FAR Part 12
• Experience issuing delivery/task orders under the SAT pursuant to FAR Subpart 8.4 and FAR 16.5
• Experience exercising option modifications under FAR Subpart 17.2
• Experience with other administrative contract actions, such as contract close-outs and bilateral supplemental agreements
• Experience preparing Memoranda to File, Summaries for Award, and Price Analyses, and documenting the contract file as required by law and agency procedures
• Experience conducting past performance evaluations in CPARS
• Working knowledge of the FAR and federal acquisition systems; ability to develop and interpret solicitations, price analyses, modifications, and option exercises
• Ability to conduct detailed research and analysis of technical and cost data, and to read, interpret, and execute procurement policies, regulations, and directives
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with a warm, customer-service-focused demeanor and the ability to provide clear guidance to program offices
• Strong attention to detail; ability to deliver quality work with few errors or discrepancies
• Ability to manage several projects at once without compromising data integrity, and to track and report progress weekly
• Self-starter who works independently without major oversight and collaborates well as part of a team; sound judgment and problem-solving skills amid frequent changes
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) and Microsoft Project
• Ability to complete IMLS onboarding, security and confidentiality training, an IMLS Confidentiality and Nondisclosure form, and conflict-of-interest screening and disclosure prior to starting work

Desired: 

• Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) or equivalent agency 1102 certification
• Experience supporting large acquisitions from acquisition planning through solicitation and award
• Experience supporting end-of-fiscal-year award surges
• Experience supporting a small or micro federal agency, or a Contracting Officer as the primary acquisition support resource
• Experience working fully remote with Federal customers using Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Office 365
• Experience applying agency AI-use policies to acquisition work products

Work Setting and Environment:

• 100% remote; communication with IMLS by phone, email, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom
• Employee provides their own computing device; IMLS provides a network account and Office 365 access
• Normal work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, not to exceed 40 hours per week, excluding federal holidays
• Anticipated start by late October 2026, following Government review of qualifications and onboarding
• One-year period of performance (September 30, 2026 – September 29, 2027), with an option to extend up to six additional months
• This is a Key Personnel position; the successful candidate will be a full-time employee of FedWriters (FWI) supporting IMLS, not an employee of IMLS or the Federal Government

FWI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets. 

At FWI, we place the highest importance on creating an exceptional employee experience. You'll have opportunities to achieve your career aspirations through internal promotions, professional development, and other recognition and rewards programs. Join our team and take advantage of the many benefits we offer, including:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) Plan
• Holiday Pay
• Paid Time Off

$40.00 to $43.00, depending on experience, education and clearance level.