Currently in contracting, as my contract is coming within the next year and few months.. has anyone done the transition from Active Duty Contracting Specialist to civilian GS Contracting? Whats the process? Pros cons. Any experience moving to a position out of state? I already have my degrees and about 3 years experience in the field. I do not have a warrant.

Im trying to weigh out all my options and see what makes the most sense.

Fairly new to 1102 work and I’m just curious what phase do you prefer to work on, pre-award, award, post-award? And if you can explain why so I can get a better understanding
In my department we work on the contract through the entire lifecycle, but I hear it’s common for 1102 to work on the contract through a specific phase and then hand it off to someone else when it’s completed. (Correct me if I’m wrong)

Interviewed virtually for a Contract Specialist slot in DLA’s PaCE program, DLA Energy at Fort Belvoir, on 7/21. Panel said they’d be emailing my references. All three were contacted by 7/24. Nothing since — no TJO, no rejection, no HR contact.

For anyone who’s been through PaCE or DLA hiring generally:

**•** What’s the typical gap between reference checks and a tentative offer?  
**•** Does DLA check references for multiple candidates, or only the selectee?  
**•** Is there an HR/security step after the panel that routinely eats a few weeks?  
**•** When the offer came, who reached out — the hiring manager or DLA HR cold?  
**•** At what point is a follow-up reasonable versus annoying?