Summary This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. About the Position: Serves as senior Cost Engineer on engineering cost estimates for planning design and execution of construction by contract projects. Responsible for the preparation of construction cost estimates for all architectural, and engineering features and reviews the estimates. Responsibilities This is a developmental position; duties listed below will be performed in a developmental capacity at the GS-9/11 grade level. At the full performance, GS-12, the incumbent will: Serve as senior Cost Engineer on engineering cost estimates for planning design and execution of construction by contract projects. Prepares Current Working Estimates and design control estimates from sketches, plans, notes and specifications by others. Prepares preliminary Government Estimates using parametric methods and historical data to be used for budgetary and programmatic purposes. Reviews estimates prepared by peers and contracted architect/engineering design firms or firms specializing in construction cost estimating for correct format, etc. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Basic Requirement: This position has a basic entry requirement. The entry requirement requires completion of education or a combination of education and experience sufficient to be comparable to that normally acquired through the completion of a four-year course of study with a major in the professional or scientific field. Please refer to the following sites for all possible ways to meet the Basic Requirements for this position: Basic Requirement for Engineer: Click here Basic Requirement for Architect: Click here Basic Requirement for Landscape Architect: Click here In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: Your resume must describe at least one year of specialized experience which prepared you to do the work in this job. Specialized Experience GS-9: I have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service which includes preparing cost estimates for construction projects with guidance, including architectural and engineering features; Assisting senior cost engineers in reviewing construction cost estimates prepared by peers and external contractors for format accuracy, material costs, labor, and equipment rates; Preparing basic parametric estimates and budgetary estimates using standard historical data for budget planning; AND Assisting in the preparation of Fair Cost Estimates (independent government estimates), primarily in support of more experienced cost estimators. OR Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Engineering or Computer Science. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. GS-11 Specialized Experience: I have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service which includes preparing cost estimates for more complex military and civil construction projects, including modifications to existing structures; Performing detailed independent government estimates for moderately complex projects and change orders, including parametric and control estimates based on incomplete information; Reviewing designs, recommending corrections, and coordinating with design teams (architects/engineers) to ensure design modifications based on cost efficiency and technical considerations; Conducting reviews of cost estimates prepared by contracted firms, ensuring compliance with regulations, and analyzing material, labor, and equipment costs; AND Using MCACES or other approved cost estimation software independently to prepare estimates and ensure compliance with relevant guidelines. OR Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position such as: Engineering or Computer Science. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. GS-12 Specialized Experience: I have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service which includes extensive experience independently preparing cost estimates for highly complex and specialized military, environmental, or civil works projects, including in challenging environments like the Arctic; Leading the preparation of detailed construction cost estimates, including complex government estimates and change orders; Making high-level recommendations for design changes, alternative solutions, or cost-effective project alternatives during value engineering studies; Addressing highly specialized construction issues requiring unique methods or no existing precedents, including analyzing contractor risk and proposing mitigation; AND Mastery in using approved cost estimation software such as MCACES to prepare a full range of estimates from preliminary to final control and change orders. Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job at the GS-12 level, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted. Education FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. One year trial/probationary period may be required. Direct deposit of pay is required. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. This is a(n) Engineers and Scientists (Resources and Construction) Career Field position. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ for more information. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest. Recruitment and/or Relocation Incentives may be authorized subject to an agency determination. Since Alaska is considered a non-foreign overseas location, statutory return rights are applicable in many circumstances. Management may select at any grade level announced for this position with noncompetitive promotion to the GS-12. Noncompetitive promotion potential to target grade. This recruitment provides promotion opportunity to the target grade of the position without further competition when selectee is eligible and recommended by management.