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Procurement Trainee Program (PTP)

USDA Procurement Trainee Program

The USDA Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP) is launching a Procurement Trainee Program (PTP). The inaugural USDA PTP accepted applications from January 5-13, 2023, on USAJOBS.gov. Virtual information sessions were held in January 2023 to provide program information and answer applicant questions. The first PTP cohort started in July 2023. For additional information on the program, view the presentation from the information sessions (PDF, 485 KB).

The PTP is a GREAT opportunity for those looking to start their first career as a Contract Specialist, advance in the contracting career field, or change career fields. If you missed out on the opportunity to apply in January 2023, please note that we hope to start a new PTP class each year – so check back for future opportunities.

Basics about the PTP:

  • PTP positions are in the contracting field, with the job title Contract Specialist.
  • Positions are permanent, full-time, and REMOTE – meaning you can work from anywhere in the continental United States.
  • All selected employees will start at the GS-07 level, which offers a starting salary of $44K to $58K. Salaries are dependent on duty location and prior salary history. Read more below.
  • Over 3 years, employees progress to the GS-12 level, which offers a starting salary of $79K or higher, again dependent on duty location. Read more below.
  • PTP employees will be provided with the training and experience needed to obtain a Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C).
  • USDA makes a significant time and resource investment in PTP employees and requires that PTP participants sign a 3-year Continued Service Agreement (PDF, 162 KB), requiring the employee to work for USDA for at least three years after completion of the program.
How does the PTP work?

The PTP is a 3.25-year training program for new Contract Specialists. All positions will be hired at the GS-07 level, which is identified as a Contract Specialist Trainee. Assuming successful performance at each grade level, employees in the program will progress to the next grade level on an annual basis. PTP positions progress through grade levels 7, 9, and 11, with a full performance grade of GS-12. This means that in just over three years, your salary will increase by $35,000 or more.

During the PTP, employees will work in at least three different USDA contracting offices in support of at least two different USDA Mission Areas. Employees will be provided with formal and on-the-job training, mentorship, leadership opportunities, special project opportunities and more. PTP employees work together throughout the program to collaborate, share information, and grow together in the contracting profession.

Upon program completion, PTP participants will be placed in a permanent Contract Specialist position within USDA using a placement process that considers employee preferences and USDA Mission Area needs. As mentioned above, selectees for this trainee program will be required to sign a three-year Continued Service Agreement (CSA) (PDF, 162 KB); the CSA is signed prior to receiving an official job offer, and the three-year service commitment begins upon completion of the PTP and placement in their permanent position.

Making a Difference

USDA has opportunities for contracting professionals to make a difference in so many areas – for examples, check out the “Topics” on the USDA website such as biotechnology, broadband, farming, food and nutrition, forestry, research, and more. The contracting workforce enables the mission of USDA through the supplies and services that we procure.

Contract Specialists plan, advertise, award, and administer a wide variety of contracts that support the USDA mission. In 2022, USDA obligated $10 Billion on contract across eight mission areas. The supplies and services that we procure are diverse, and directly impact the lives of American citizens to include contracting for services from planes and helicopters to extinguish forest fires, the procurement of vaccines and testing services which protect our food supply, the procurement of agriculture commodities that feed the American public, and the support of agriculture research and development projects. USDA has eight distinct Mission Areas, all of which are supported by contracting professionals. Contracts help USDA deliver on its Strategic Plan (PDF, 9.6 MB). You’ll find contracts that support every USDA Strategic Goal in USDA’s Strategic Plan.

What are the key skills of a Contract Specialist?

PTP employees start the program as a Contract Specialists. As they gain experience and certification, they may be granted a warrant to sign government contracts as a Contracting Officer.

The Federal Acquisition Institute identifies the competencies of a Contracting Officer (CO) for all civilian agencies. It doesn’t matter where you work in the federal government – every CO and Contract Specialist needs to have these key skills. While the PTP will provide you with the contracting skills you need to be successful, every PTP employee should already possess the professional competencies identified for the contracting career field and be continually working to improve on these skills, including:

  • Problem solving
  • Customer service
  • Oral communication
  • Written communication
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Decisiveness
  • Technical credibility
  • Flexibility
  • Resilience
  • Accountability

How to Qualify – College Graduates Hiring Authority

The College Graduates Hiring Authority is available to any US Citizen who meets one of the following criteria:

  • College graduates who received a Bachelors or graduate degree within the previous two years from the closing date of the announcement (January 13, 2023).
  • A veteran within two years of release or discharge from uniformed service who was unable to apply within two years of receiving their baccalaureate or graduate degree due to a uniformed service obligation of at least four years.

In addition, the PTP positions start at the GS-07 level, so you must also meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Completed 1 full academic year of graduate level education in one or a combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. (NOTE: One year of full-time graduate level academic study is defined as 18 semester hours, 27 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university.)
  • Completed a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled such as accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management and meet superior academic achievement (SAA). Applicants can qualify for the SAA by at least one of the following three methods: (1) class standing- upper third of the graduating class based on completed courses in the college, university or major subdivision; (2) grade point average - 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcripts, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B " or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR (3) election to membership in a national scholastic honor society (note: membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision).
  • Completed at least one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-05 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is interpreting and applying basic contracting methods to assist in providing procurement services.
  • Possess equivalent combinations of education and experience.
How to Qualify – USDA-wide and Special Hiring Authorities Announcement

The USDA-wide and Special Hiring Authorities announcement is open to:

  • USDA Current Career/Career Conditional Competitive and Noncompetitive employees
  • Veterans
  • Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612)
  • People with Disabilities, Schedule A

Additional information on special hiring authorities is available on USAJOBS Help page. Please scroll down to the section titled “Explore Hiring Paths” for additional information on eligibility for special hiring authorities.

Individuals that meet the requirements of one or more of these hiring authorities must also possess the following qualifications:

  • One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 level; or its non-Federal equivalent that included experience interpreting and applying basic contracting methods to assist in providing procurement services.
  • Completed 1 full academic year of graduate level education in one or a combination of the following fields: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management. (NOTE: One year of full-time graduate level academic study is defined as 18 semester hours, 27 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university.)
  • Completed a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled such as accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, or organization and management and meet superior academic achievement (SAA). Applicants can qualify for the SAA by at least one of the following three methods: (1) class standing- upper third of the graduating class based on completed courses in the college, university or major subdivision; (2) grade point average - 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcripts, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B " or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; OR (3) election to membership in a national scholastic honor society (note: membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision).
  • A combination of specialized experience and education as described above.
What does it mean that this position is remote?

A remote position means that you may work from any location within the continental United States. Your work location is determined by you at the time you are hired, and you must live and work from that city, county and state. You are limited to one work location change every six months, and all work location changes are subject to supervisory approval. You may not work outside the continental United States.

How is salary determined?

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) publishes pay tables for identified locality pay areas. If your location is not listed, please reference the pay rate for the “Rest of United States” (listed at the bottom of the table). PTP positions start at grade 07, so you will want to look up the pay rate for Grade 7 in the OPM pay table. The majority of PTP employees will start at Step 1.

USAJOBS has a published FAQ called “How is pay set for employees new to the government?” – please reference this FAQ for additional information on pay setting if you are new to the government.

As you progress in the PTP, your grade level will increase annually assuming fully successful performance. Reference the rows in the OPM tables for grades 9, 11, and 12 to estimate future pay increases. Also note that federal government pay is generally increased annually, so what is shown in the pay tables now is likely to increase during the PTP.

Is travel required for this position?

Yes, travel is required, and should be less than 25% of your time during the PTP. Travel during the PTP is primarily for the purpose of taking training. While we try to limit travel to one week at a time, it is possible that travel may be required for two to four weeks at a time to take specific training courses.

What benefits does the government offer?

The federal government offers a variety of outstanding benefits. Key benefits include:

  • 11 paid Federal holidays each year
  • 13 paid vacation days each year during the first 3 years
  • 20 paid vacation days each year during years 4-15
  • 26 vacation days each year after the 15th year
  • 13 days of sick leave each year
  • Life and health insurance
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Thrift Savings Plan (401-K Plan)
  • Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
  • Long Term Care insurance

Read more about federal government benefits.