Seeking work that is challenging and exciting
where there is never a dull moment? Are you a
creative individual who likes solving problems?
This could be the career for you!
Advantages include:
• High demand career field.
• Opportunities for growth and upward
mobility.
• Well-established career path for success.
• Public Service-YOU can make a difference.
• Better quality of life through:
• Job security.
• Work/life balance.
• Flexible schedule.
• Ability to telework.
Compensation and Benefits:
• Competitive, equitable, and transparent pay.
• General Schedule (GS) & Locality Pay
Tables.
• Federal Employees Retirement System
(FERS), provides benefits from three
different sources.
• Generous leave policies including annual
leave, sick leave, paid parental leave (up to
12 weeks), and all federal holidays.
• Options for health and dental insurance.
• Options for student loan repayment.
More information can be found at opm.gov:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-
oversight/worklife/
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-
leave/salaries-wages/
https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/fers-
information/
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-
leave/
Use the QR code to get an
electronic copy of this brochure
(https://www.fai.gov/resources/
leap).
Internship programs can be found at
https://www.fai.gov/careers/jobs-acquisition, in the
sections titled Jobs in Acquisition and Internships in
Acquisition.
Explore unique hiring paths (e.g., students and recent
graduates, veterans) that help the federal government hire
individuals that represent our diverse society at
usajobs.gov.
More information regarding a detailed career path can be
found at fai.gov:
https://www.fai.gov/sites/default/files/1102_Career_Map
_2018.pdf
For information about opportunities with [insert agency
here] visit [insert website] and contact [insert name/email
of POC here].
There is a critical need for contracting professionals both
domestically and overseas from NOAA and NASA to the
Navy to the National Park Service. Every federal agency
has 1102s!
Search by keyword (e.g., 1102, specific location) on
usajobs.gov for contracting opportunities all over the
world: https://www.usajobs.gov/
A-Z Index of U.S. Government Departments and
Agencies: https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies
WHY become an 1102?
CAREER
OPPORTUNITIES
IN THE FEDERAL
CONTRACTING
SERIES
(GS-1102)
WHERE can I work as an 1102?
HOW can I become an 1102?
There is a need now and into the future!
Now:
• Shortage of qualified 1102s. Because the
skills are transferable, 1102s often move
between agencies and the private sector
leading to high turnover and frequent
openings.
• There are open positions at almost every
agency due to an aging workforce and delays
in filling open positions.
In the future:
• Aging/retiring workforce.
• 1102s may not spend their entire careers in
federal contracting. They may go to the
private sector or change careers.
This series includes positions that manage,
supervise, perform, or develop policies and
procedures for professional work involving the
procurement of supplies, services, construction,
or research and development using formal
advertising or negotiation procedures; the
evaluation of contract price proposals; and the
administration or termination and close out of
contracts. The work requires 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.
Positions include contract specialist, contract
administrator, contract price/cost analyst, and
contract negotiator.
An 1102 is also:
• An expert in the Federal Acquisition
Regulation (FAR)
(https://www.acquisition.gov/), agency
supplements, and local policy.
• Highly trained and receives free marketable
Federal Acquisition Certifications in
Contracting (FAC-C), Levels I-III.
Indicators of career success include critical
thinking, intrinsic motivation, delegation, time
management, attention to detail, resiliency, and
strong analytical, interpersonal, and
communication skills (oral and written).
More information can be found at opm.gov:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-
oversight/classification-
qualifications/classifying-general-schedule-
positions/standards/1100/gs1102.pdf
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) describes
the following basic qualifications.
1102 Series Basic Requirements:
• A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s
degree with a major in any field; 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.
The following table shows the amounts of education
and/or experience to qualify for positions covered by
this standard.
More information can be found at opm.gov:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-
oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-
qualification-standards/1100/contracting-series-1102/
GRADE EDUCATION
SPECIALIZED
EXPERIENCE
GS-7
1 full academic year of
graduate education or law
school or superior
academic achievement
1 year equivalent
to at least GS-5
GS-9
2 full academic years of
progressively higher level
graduate education or
masters or equivalent
graduate degree or LL.B.
or J.D.
1 year equivalent
to at least GS-7
GS-11
3 full academic years of
progressively higher level
graduate education or
Ph.D. or equivalent
doctoral degree
1 year equivalent
to at least GS-9
WHO can become an 1102?
WHAT is an 1102?
WHEN can I start as an 1102?
Testimonial
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Program is a highly competitive program that
translates innovative ideas into commercial
products that address educational problems; it
encourages domestic small businesses to engage
in R&D with the potential for
commercialization. Through a competitive
awards-based program, SBIR enables small
businesses to explore their technological
potential and provide the incentive to profit from
its commercialization. These products have been
disseminated or commercialized, are in
widespread use by students and teachers, and
have a viable mechanism in place to enable
continued commercial success.
“From a contracting perspective, it is immensely
gratifying to not only participate in such
programs, but to actually see the results first-
hand, and know that these programs can make a
difference in a student’s life.” Thomas Smith,
Contract Specialist, U.S. Department of
Education
