XL EagleKSA (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)
KSA stands for Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. KSA stands for knowledge, skills and abilities. Knowledge is what a person knows, skills are what they can do, and abilities are the qualities that let them perform. Federal job announcements once required separate KSA essays, but federal hiring reform in 2010 largely did away with that requirement for initial applications.
In government contracting, KSAs appear in labor category descriptions, key personnel requirements and staffing plans. A solicitation may list the KSAs a site supervisor or technician must have, and evaluators may check resumes against them.
Why it matters to a small contractor
When a solicitation lists required KSAs, treat them like a checklist for your people. Show in each resume exactly where the person gained that knowledge or skill, with years and examples. Generic resumes that do not match the stated KSAs can cost you points.
Example
A solicitation requires the project manager to have knowledge of OSHA safety standards, skill in scheduling crews and the ability to communicate with facility staff. The contractor's resume shows the manager's OSHA 30 card, 8 years scheduling crews and a reference from a facility director.
KSA: common questions
Do I still need to write KSA essays for federal jobs?
Most federal job announcements no longer require KSA essays at the application stage, though qualifications are still assessed in other ways.
How do KSAs relate to labor categories?
Labor category descriptions often list the education, experience and KSAs a worker in that category must have. Your proposed staff should meet them.
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