1 Career Path: Roadmap Guidelines for Contract Specialists (1102 series) June 23, 2009 Facilitator: Karen Weaver 9/3/2015

Roadmap Guidelines A career development tool to be used along with other career development tools to guide employees as they pursue formal training, on-the-job experience and other developmental opportunities to enhance their overall career development. The intent is to capture both the formal and unwritten rules. 29/3/2015

Roadmap Guidelines are: To be used in dialogue with your management and/or a career development professional To be used to prepare an Individual Development Plan To be used with other career development tools such as the Performance Requirements, Procurement Training Policy, NASA (Agency)/GSFC training resources, etc. 39/3/2015

Roadmap Guidelines are not: To be used as a check-the-box for career development To be considered a formula for promotion 49/3/2015

5 GS 7-9 Roadmap Guidelines Work w/assigned Mentor to dev. basic understanding of Procurement field Begin/update Individual Development Plan (IDP) with Supervisor Complete FAC-C Level I Identify opportunities to present information (office staff meeting, tag-ups with supervisors, meetings with customers) Meet with the Procurement Training Coordinator (FAC-C requirements) Take a training class on Contract Management Module (CMM) procedures Award, administration and closeout of less complex contracts; Purchase Orders; Firm Fixed Price; overview of types of contracts Develop customer relationships/networking; take a tour of the Center Review Cost Contract Vouchers, 533’s, Cost Proposal, and/or other pricing documents with your supervisor (Develop Pricing Skills) Entry Level Participate on a Division team or group (Contract Specialist Learning Group, Learning Group) Know where to find the various resources needed to perform your job (on the Code 210 web- site) Junior Level GSFC Professional Intern Program (PIP) Pursue leadership training (GSFC or Agency) Research questions before asking for help Learn how to navigate other computer systems (SATERN, HCIE, etc.) 9/3/2015 Trng. – Red, Mentoring – Green, Wk. activities – Black, Networking – Brown, Teamwork – Blue, Dev. Opp. - Purple

6 GS 9-11 Roadmap Guidelines Mentor less senior professionals or new hires as assigned Identify an opportunity to present information Pursue opportunities to award / administer more complex procurements [cost contracts; analyze 533’s, subcontract consent, Undefinitized Contract Actions (UCA’s)] Administer cost reimbursement; award fee or incentive fee contract Attend pre-Procurement Strategy Meeting; shadow or participate as a recorder in a Source Evaluation Board (SEB) Continue to develop relationships w/customers, contractors, legal, financial mgmt., and resources Continue to develop relationship w/ assigned mentor (Contract Specialist or Contracting Officer) Prepare/present Pre-negoitiation Planning Memorandums (PMM) Prepare Cost- type Contracts for transfer to closeout office Pursue outside Professional Development opportunities [National Contract Mgmt. Association (NCMA), Continuing Education, etc.] Consider becoming a Protégé in the GSFC Mentoring Program Participate on a Directorate or GSFC team/group (such as Celebrate Goddard Day) Utilize the available resources on the Code 210 website Intermediate Level Junior Level Pursue leadership training (GSFC or Agency) Continue CON classes (Continuous Learning Points) 9/3/2015 Trng. – Red, Mentoring – Green, Wk. activities – Black, Networking – Brown, Teamwork – Blue, Dev. Opp. - Purple

7 GS Roadmap Guidelines Continue to utilize the tools on the Code 210 website Participate on a Source Evaluation Board (SEB) Mentor less senior professionals or new hires as assigned Complete FAC-C Level II Pursue leadership training (GSFC or Agency) Negotiate Independently Continue to develop relationships w/customers, contractors, legal, financial mgmt, and resources Continue to develop relationship w/ assigned mentor (Contract Specialist or Contracting Officer) Consider becoming a Protégé in the GSFC Mentoring Program Pursue outside Prof. Dev. opportunities (NCMA, Continuing Education, etc.) Participate on a Directorate or GSFC team/group ( such as Diversity Dialogue Program) Take Cost/Price class (as available); Develop Pricing Skills Intermediate Level Journeyman Level Author documents (Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition, Acquisition Plans) Pursue opportunities to award and administer more complex procurements (Significant Sole Source Action, Projects) 9/3/2015 Trng. – Red, Mentoring – Green, Wk. activities – Black, Networking – Brown, Teamwork – Blue, Dev. Opp. - Purple

8 GS Roadmap Guidelines Guide others on how to use the tools on the Code 210 web- site Participate on a Source Evaluation Board (SEB) Discuss readiness for a warrant with your supervisor Pursue leadership training (GSFC or Agency) Negotiate Independently Continue to develop relationships w/customers, contractors, legal, financial mgmt., and resources Continue to dev. relationship w/ assigned mentor (Contract Specialist or Contracting Officer) Consider becoming a Protégé in the GSFC Mentoring Program Continue to enhance Pricing Skills Journeyman Level GS-13 Author documents (JOFOC’s,Acq. Plans) Continue to pursue opportunities to award and administer more complex procurements (Significant Sole Source Action, Projects) Pursue opportunities to present to senior management Teach more junior specialists how to research information Build relationships with counterparts at HQs & other centers/agencies Complete FAC-C Level III 9/3/2015 Trng. – Red, Mentoring – Green, Wk. activities – Black, Networking – Brown, Teamwork – Blue, Dev. Opp. - Purple Participate on a GSFC team or group Pursue outside Prof. Dev. opportunities (NCMA, Continuing Education, etc.)

9 GS Roadmap Guidelines Participate on a GSFC or Agency- wide team Pursue Non-CON training (Continuous Learning Points) Consider pursuing an opportunity to lead a SEB Perform reviews of documents prepared by lower-graded professionals Prepare Final Determinations for Contract Admin. issues Continue to develop relationship with customers & contractors Pursue opportunities to present to Senior Mgmt. Build relationships with counterparts at HQs, other centers/agencies Serve as informal Team Lead (as requested) Serve as Contracting Officer for more junior level employees Pursue leadership training (GSFC or Agency) Consider serving as an acting Procurement Manager Pursue outside Prof. Dev. opportunities, including leadership roles (NCMA, Continuing Education, etc.) Consider serving as a Mentor in the GSFC Mentoring Program Consider serving on a Procurement Survey Team Guide others on how to utilize resources on the Code 210 website Senior Level Non- Sup. GS-14.Pursue obtaining a warrant Mentor,Coach and Train a team of contracting professionals 9/3/2015 Trng. – Red, Mentoring – Green, Wk. activities – Black, Networking – Brown, Teamwork – Blue, Dev. Opp. - Purple

10 GS Roadmap Guidelines Participate on a GSFC or Agency-wide team Pursue Non-CON training (Cont. Learning Points) Perform final reviews of documents prepared by lower-graded professionals Prepare Final Determinations for Contract Admin. issues Continue to develop relationships with customers & contractors Pursue opportunities to present to Senior Mgmt. Build relationships with counterparts at HQs, other centers/agencies Serve as informal Team Lead (as requested) Encourage employees regarding career development Pursue leadership training (GSFC and Agency) Supervise and coach employees; provide on-going feedback Pursue outside Prof. Dev. opportunities, including leadership roles (NCMA, Continuing Education, etc.) Consider serving as a Mentor in the GSFC Mentoring Program Consider serving on a Procurement Survey Team Guide others on how to utilize resources on the Code 210 website Senior Level Manager Pursue obtaining a warrant Prepare perf. appraisals; work with employees to prepare perf. plans, & IDP’s; ensure plans are followed Purse opportunities to serve as acting Associate Consider pursuing an opportunity to lead a SEB Take supervisory and management training (EEO, ADR, etc.) 9/3/2015 Trng. – Red, Mentoring – Green, Wk. activities – Black, Networking – Brown, Teamwork – Blue, Dev. Opp. - Purple

11 GS Roadmap Guidelines Participate on GSFC or Agency- wide team Perform reviews of documents prepared by lower-graded professionals Prepare Final Determinations for Contract Admin. issues Continue to dev. relationships with customers & contractors Pursue Non-CON training (Continuous Learning Points) Pursue opportunities to present to Senior Mgmt. Build relationships with counterparts at HQs, other centers/agencies Serve as informal Team Lead (as requested) Develop and interpret policy Pursue leadership training (GSFC or Agency) Keep up-to-date on Agency policy changes Pursue outside Prof. Dev. opportunities, including leadership roles (NCMA, Continuing Education, etc.) Consider serving as a Mentor in the GSFC Mentoring Program Consider serving on a Procurement Survey Team Guide others on how to utilize resources on the Code 210 website Senior Level Policy (Procurement Analyst) Pursue obtaining a warrant Develop and present training material to the procurement community Collect lessons learned and share with the procurement community. Respond to data calls 9/3/2015 Trng. – Red, Mentoring – Green, Wk. activities – Black, Networking – Brown, Teamwork – Blue, Dev. Opp. - Purple

12 GS Roadmap Guidelines Participate on a GSFC or Agency- wide team Coach less experienced Professionals (Provide Feedback thru the year) Perform final Reviews of Lower-graded professionals Continue to develop relationship with customers & contractors Build relationships w/counterparts at other centers/agencies Communicate to team NASA Strat.Plan/other Agency documents Act for the Procurement Officer/Deputy as needed Prepare performance appraisals; work with employees to prepare plans, & IDP’s; ensure plans are followed Consider serving as Acting Associate Work with the Associate to set office goals & supervise all personnel on teams Review perf. appraisals, plans, & IDP’s for direct reports Implement initiatives under NASA Strat. Plan & other Agency documents Undertake special projects & team memberships which build alliances across geographical, organizational, functional, & cultural boundaries Pursue outside Prof. Dev. opportunities, including leadership roles (NCMA, Continuing Education, etc.) Consider serving as a Mentor in GSFC’s Mentoring Program Guide others on how to utilize resources on the Code 210 website Manager Associate Pursue executive leadership training (Agency or Government-wide) 9/3/2015 Trng. – Red, Mentoring – Green, Wk. activities – Black, Networking – Brown, Teamwork – Blue, Dev. Opp. - Purple

Acronyms SATERN – System for Administration, Training, and Educational Resources for NASA HCIE – Human Capital Information Environment FAC-C – Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting 9/3/201513