Purchasing Agent

Major duties at the full performance level include but are not limited to:

• Performs technical level purchasing adhering to the FAR VAAR VHA and Prosthetics Directives and Handbooks VISN policy and station memorandums to acquire Veteran specific medical equipment supplies and services based on a medical providers clinical assessment and evaluation of the Veterans medical condition.
• Obtains all necessary procurement information to successfully submit Acquisition Plans and Procurement Packages for stock and Veteran specific needs.
• Independently performs the process of vetting and vendorizing following VHA Prosthetics guidelines to complete purchases for items that arent available through established vendor networks.
• Provides Veteran care and support services to an adult population and serves as the point of contact for external customer service inventory needs and support.
• Routinely reviews for discrepancies or loopholes in lengthy specifications or statements of work that are very detailed or otherwise difficult to understand.
• Independently responsible for utilizing PSAS reporting tools to monitor and track PSAS open purchase card orders to ensure timely service is provided to Veterans.
• Authority to obligate the Government in procurement actions.
• Independently researches the use of different solicitation methods ordering or reporting procedures in both the purchase card menu and the prosthetics program for both complex and simplified purchases.
• Independently monitors receives tracks interprets and analyzes Prosthetic Consults and prescriptions for items services and home medical equipment from physicians therapists medical center personnel Veterans or their representatives.
• Independently examines clinical health records and claims folders to determine eligibility and entitlement for items and services.
• Assists and trains new Purchasing Agents in ordering of appropriate prosthetic appliances purchase card reconciliation stock and inventory control etc.
• Maintains an inventory of all purchased and consignment equipment with expiration date imitate exchange and/or replacement of expired stock.
• Accounts for and balances expenditures in both the purchase card and prosthetics inventory program.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory qualification and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: This position may be authorized for ad-hoc telework.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent/PD91628-S and PD91727-VS

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 09/16/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement- GS-06: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade as required by the this instance you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

GS-05 Purchasing Agent

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: ability to adjust to changing priorities regulations or work assignments; willing to follow established procedures and take responsibility for their actions; familiar with the utilization of computer software; focus on the patient experience and responsiveness to their concerns; multi-task prioritize workload and meet deadlines. OR
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelors degree with courses related to the occupation.OR
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and at least two full academic years of study or 60 semester hours with courses related to the occupation

GS-06 Purchasing Agent

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: ability to adjust to changing priorities regulations or work assignments and ability to use sound judgement for potential issues in daily work; be proactive and follow-up on concerns issues or orders before the problem escalates; utilization of computer software including Microsoft Excel Microsoft outlook Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat; follow and adhere to compliance policies and procedures; multi-task prioritize workload and meet deadlines.
• Education: There is no educational substitution at the GS-06 level.

For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at

Required Experience:

Unclear Seniority