Procurement Specialist
State of Nebraska

The work we do matters!

Hiring Agency:
Transportation - Agency 27

Location:
Lincoln, NE

Hiring Rate:
$22.989

Job Posting:
JR2024-00012122 Procurement Specialist (Open)

Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed, job is posted as open until closed):

Job Description:
At the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT), we reward our employees' hard work with a positive and supportive work culture that encourages forward-thinking. We provide training/career development, advancement opportunities, ample paid time off, work-life balance, and exciting and challenging work opportunities. As a Procurement Specialist in our Operations Division, you will be an important part of the process of working with a team to develop safe highway systems for the state of Nebraska.

We reward our employee's hard work with a friendly and supportive work environment and a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• State-matched retirement contribution of 156%
• 13 paid holidays
• Generous leave accruals that begin immediately
• Military leave
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Dependent tuition reimbursement program with partnering Nebraska community colleges
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) through the Federal government
• 79% employer-paid health insurance plans
• Dental and vision insurance plans
• Employer-paid $20,000 life insurance policy
• Wide variety and availability of career advancement as the largest and most diverse employer in the State
• Opportunity to be part of meaningful work and make a difference through public service
• Training and Development based on your career aspirations
• Job security and stability, even during times of economic hardship
• Employee Assistance Program
• Fun, inviting teammates

JOB DUTIES:

- Perform procurement responsibilities for a wide range of technical, complex, and high-cost goods/equipment, services, maintenance projects, and capital construction projects through formally advertised bid procedures and firm-fixed-price contracts using standard clauses in accordance with Nebraska state statutes and regulations.
- Prepare detailed bid documents, Invitation to Bids (ITB's), and Request for Proposals (RFP's) for bidding purposes for high-cost goods/equipment, services, maintenance projects, and capital construction projects, incorporating the technical requirements, clauses, delivery requirements, and when applicable, the terms and conditions, send out newspaper advertisements, coordinates pre-proposal conferences, bid openings, technical review committees, pre-award conferences, and walk-throughs.
- Responsible for tracking contract expiration dates and administering renewals of contracts. Including reviewing any quantity changes, and price increases, work with vendors Surety Companies and Insurance companies to obtain performance bonds and insurance certificates and coordinates with NDOTs general council.
- Review and prepare bid tabs on received bids for ITB's and RFP's for Compliance with Mandatory Requirements. Notates any exceptions to the States Terms and Conditions, or technical specifications. Conducts an analysis of the overall low vs. the low bidder per line or group of lines, analyzes prices, and ensures compliance to advertised specifications.
- Review information for the award of bid justification. Performs contract award obligations such as posting of bid tabulations and bids, intent to award, obtaining insurance certifications, Secretary of State letter of good standing, and works with Surety Companies and Bonding Agencies to obtain Certificates of Insurance and contract performance bonds. Reviews bids for proprietary information and ensures it is kept confidential.
- Prepare and generate contract awards and renewals, in E1 and in compliance with statutes, specifications, and policy, including ensuring contract lines being awarded correlate to the deliverables and costs per ITB and RFP bid documents and routes the contract for approvals/signatures required.
- Receive and review informal and formal bids and quotes. Review quotes for price reasonableness and determine if requirements for competition have been met. Evaluate quotes in terms of price, item, discount, transportation, costs, and delivery time and determine the offer most advantageous to the government. Negotiate with vendors on a variety of procurement issues.
- Solicit oral/written quotes using Open Market Purchase Authority and informal/formal processes.
- Prepare the final contract with the necessary documentation and award recommendations.
- Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements / Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:Bachelor's degree in business administration, procurement, supply/inventory operations, or related field AND procurement-related experience. Experience can be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with negotiations and maintaining effective working relationships with internal and external entities.
• Experience with research and evaluation of products, services, productivity, and processes.
• Experience writing bid commodity and service specifications/technical requirements and evaluation of bids
• Experience with basic accounting, policies and procedures, communication, and objectives as they relate to the management of programs and contracts and state contracting regulations.
• Experience using Oracle/JD Edwards EnterpriseOne System or other comparable systems as well as MS Office in creating bid documents and spreadsheets.

KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS / ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

• State purchasing regulations, methods, procedures, and business practices to make purchases involving specialized requirements.
  
• Solicitation or purchasing methods, analysis of products and services that have unique aspects and many critical aspects, various procurement clauses, price analysis techniques, and post-award procedures.

Skills in:

• Being highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to perform repetitive work in a high-volume, fast-paced work environment.
• Accurate keyboarding and proofreading skills.
• Effective communication; English grammar and usage; listening to and retaining information and/or instructions received to perform assigned tasks.

Ability to:

• Independent problem-solving.
• Multi-task.
• Detail oriented.
• Have sound judgment, be a self-motivator, work independently and as a contributing team member, and have a customer service mindset.
• Accommodate new methods.
• Sharp attention to detail.
• Predictable and reliable attendance.
• Maintain records and files, scanning, multi-function copy machines, telephones, and other office equipment.
• Perform repetitive tasks in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation.

Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and employment status. For more information on benefits, please visit: https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits

Equal Opportunity Statement

The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex. age, national origin, disability, marital status or genetics.

Current employees of the State of Nebraska should NOT apply on this external career. Instead go to Workday and access the Jobs Hub - Internal Apply app from your home landing page.

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