U.S. Customs and Border Protection · 11 hours ago
Administrative Contract Specialist (ACO)
Indianapolis, IN
Contract
Onsite
Senior Level
$126K/yr - $164K/yr
5+ years expU.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is part of the Department of Homeland Security, focusing on protecting American interests and securing the nation. They are seeking an Administrative Contract Specialist (ACO) to manage contract administration and improve the efficiency of acquisition programs, acting as a key liaison for contract solicitation and post-award administration.
National Security
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Utilize expertise in focusing on the administration of existing contracts and performing a full range of contracting services and functions that improve the efficiency of acquisition programs
Independently oversee and perform a full range of contract service duties as part of an acquisition team
Manage highly complex, high-dollar acquisitions, programs, and construction projects with large funding levels and long-term commitments, exercising authority as a Warranted Contracting Officer and overseeing all phases of the acquisition lifecycle
Manage post-award contract administration including negotiating contract modifications, addressing equitable adjustments, and resolving termination settlements while acting as a business advisor for DHS/CBP major acquisition programs, balancing cost, schedule, and performance concerns whereas ensuring compliance with agency policies
Resolve critical contractual issues, negotiate and execute contract modifications and supplemental agreements ensuring compliance with agency policies and regulations
Monitor contractor performance and ensure adherence to contract terms, addressing issues such as cost overruns, delays, and disputes
Provide leadership, advanced strategic thinking, and manage sensitive and politically charged issues while maintaining the integrity of CBP's acquisition processes
Qualification
Required
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years
All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English
You may be required to pass a background investigation
CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
Financial Disclosure is required
Completion of all mandatory training prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to GS-13 or higher level contracting positions, including at least 4-years experience in contracting or related positions
At least 1 year of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower level of the position
A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management
You qualify for this position if you meet the basic requirement listed above and possess one year of specialized experience
Specialized Experience: You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Serving as an Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO) with robust expertise in construction contracts
Managing post-awards for complex procurements that include construction contracts
Overseeing and performing a full range of contract services, as part of an acquisition team, involving pre and post-award administration and a range of contract specializations such as negotiation, cost, and price analysis, and administration
Managing the life cycle of contracts, with a focus on post-award administration, monitoring contractor performance, compliance, contract modifications, auditing, claims, delivery schedules, change orders, and close-out activities
Serving as a liaison between Contracting Office, Contracting Specialist, and the Contractors to facilitate and lead effective communications with authority, resolving critical contract issues and shifting priorities
Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible
You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 02/17/2026
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees
Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment
During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances
There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP
Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years
If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver
Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment
Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Contracting Officer's Warrant
The position will require the completion of the FAC-C (Professional) Program
Benefits
Recruitment Incentive: Upon appointment, you may be eligible to receive a recruitment incentive up to $20,000, pending budgetary approval and per the terms outlined in agency policy.
Company
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is a federal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security. It is a sub-organization of U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Sunil Madhugiri
Chief Technology Officer
Wolf Tombe
Chief Technology Officer
Recent News
2026-01-23
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