State of Maryland

An Agency Procurement Specialist II is the full performance level of work procuring equipment, services, construction, supplies, information technology, and other needs, which must be obtained through the competitive or negotiated procurement process. Employees in this classification are responsible for soliciting, evaluating, negotiating and awarding contracts, according to State Procurement laws, procedures and regulations, as well as maintaining contracts by ensuring compliance with terms and conditions. Employees in this classification do not supervise Agency Procurement Specialists, but may supervise or give guidance and direction to a unit of agency procurement associates and support staff.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from an Agency Procurement Specialist Supervisor or other designated administrator.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the Classification Job Evaluation Methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work Sections of a class specification.

The Agency Procurement Specialist Trainee, Agency Procurement Specialist I, and Agency Procurement Specialist II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees. The Agency Procurement Specialist Trainee learns to perform duties under close supervision, the Agency Procurement Specialist I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed, and the Agency Procurement Specialist II performs the full range of duties under general supervision. The Agency Procurement Specialist II is differentiated from the Agency Procurement Specialist Lead in that the Agency Procurement Specialist Lead trains and assigns, reviews and approves the work of lower-level Agency Procurement Specialists.

Instructs State contract managers in proper contract management techniques and/or assists with or manages contracts after award;

Reviews and analyzes purchase requisitions and determines the most appropriate procurement methods to use, such as negotiated awards, competitive sealed bidding, competitive sealed proposals, sole source or emergency in accordance with State Procurement laws, procedures and regulations;

Determines the basis for awards and evaluation criteria;

Develops contract specifications including performance and acceptance standards, payment terms, contract management elements, contract modifications, contract renewals and advertisement requirements in accordance with State procurement procedures, laws and regulations for the procurement of all necessary services, supplies, maintenance and equipment;

Conducts pre-bid and pre-proposal conferences, site inspections and conferences to explain procurement requirements;

Establishes procurement procedures and schedules and participates in, and conducts offerors discussions and contract negotiations;

Prepares minutes of pre-bid and pre-proposal conferences, addenda to Requests for Proposals (RFP) and Information for Bids (IFB) and answers written questions from potential bidders and offerors;

Examines bid proposals to determine issues of responsiveness and responsibility and/or the need for additional information;

Conducts bid openings for competitive procurements to determine whether offerors are reasonably qualified to be selected for award, and may recommend proposals for awards;

Assists with or conducts debriefings;

Negotiates the most favorable prices, terms and conditions for noncompetitive sole source and emergency procurements and resolves issues with contractors regarding price, delivery and terms;

Researches materials and provides testimony regarding Board of Public Works items; Evaluates contractor’s performance against terms and conditions of contracts and recommends corrective action such as the application of damages, withholding of payment or termination of contract;

Confers with Assistant Attorney General’s Office regarding bid irregularities, contract disputes, protests or appeals and Public Information Act requests;

Uses the Advanced Purchasing and Inventory System (ADPICS) portion of Financial Management Information Systems (FMIS) to facilitate the procurement process;

May provide advice and guidance to paraprofessional support staff; Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the theories, principles and practices of public procurement administration;

Knowledge of government procurement laws, regulations and policies; Knowledge of contract and specification writing techniques;

Skill in using computers and appropriate software to prepare contracts, specifications and procurement documents;

Skill in reviewing procurement contracts for compliance with State laws and regulations;

Ability to use the ADPICS portion of FMIS; Ability to prepare accurate and complete contracting and purchasing documents;

Ability to conduct pre-bid conferences and explain procurement regulations and procedures;

Ability to work and complete assignments under strict guidelines;

Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of officials and contractors both inside and outside the agency.

Experience: Six years of experience, two years of experience in contract management or procurement involving duties such as: soliciting, evaluating, negotiating and awarding contracts and ensuring compliance with governmental procurement laws, regulations and conditions and an additional four years of experience in professional or paraprofessional contract management or procurement.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and two years of experience in contract management or procurement involving duties such as: soliciting, evaluating, negotiating and awarding contracts and ensuring compliance with governmental procurement laws, regulations and conditions for the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute additional graduate education at an accredited college or university at the rate of thirty credit   hours for each year for up to six years of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute the following written certifications, obtained through passing an examination for four years of the required experience: Certified Public Manager from the National Association of Purchasing Management; Certified Professional Contracts Manager from the National Contract Management Association; Certified Public Purchasing Officer or Certified Professional Public Buyer from the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, Inc. or National Association of State Purchasing Officers.

4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Contracting and Industrial Management classifications or Contracting and Industrial Management specialty codes in the Procurement field of work for one year of the required experience.