Purchasing Agent

This position serves as a Purchasing Agent for the Prosthetics Service for the Birmingham Alabama VA Health Care Systems VA Clinic Bessemer Alabama.

Duties include but may not be limited to the following:

• Coordinates the delivery of home medical equipment including oxygen therapy through contracted providers.
• Reconciles all invoices for certification of payment by reviewing Veterans records against invoices presented to ensure that accurate cost is being charged for the service or item.
• Makes purchases through an automated process or through utilization of a purchase card.
• Receives and analyzes request forms and prescriptions from physicians therapists patients and patient representatives.
• Compares diagnoses to the equipment or services normally provided for the condition.
• Provides services and assistance to Veterans across a wide range of age groups.
• Operates the Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) software package to maintain detailed and accurate accounting of all actions taken for veterans and documents their records to show all items and services provided.
• Advises patients family members or other representatives on decisions appeal rights and equipment safety and maintenance.
• Computes correct total costs and resolves any discrepancies with the vendors.
• Advises physicians and other professional staff on the availability and acquisition of prosthetic devices or services.
• Reviews requests for completeness including proper documentation and justification of items services and home medical equipment being requested.
• Ensures that pending requests are posted to the suspense logs and enters data to verify workload statistics used to determine Prosthetics funding.
• Maintains an accurate record of transactions.
• Reconciles daily activity sheets with actual service expenditures.
• Posts all adjustments that affect service fund control points in a timely manner to ensure availability of funds.
• Performs in strict conformance with proper accounting procedures.
• Issues items from stock and initiates purchase orders to replenish stock items when needed.
• Identifies priorities on pending requests to comply with mandated timeliness standards.
• Responsible for adhering to regulations and instructions regarding computer security and access to files codes etc.
• Responsible for protecting information from unauthorized release loss alteration or deletion of regular access to printed and electronic files containing sensitive information.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:30pm full-time. Work schedule subject to change based on agency needs.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service increase worker productivity and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework on an ad hoc basis. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent/PD11378A
Travel: Yes 25%
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

To be considered for this position you must complete all required steps in the process. This position requires the application assessment and questionnaire to be fully completed. The assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 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 or trial 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 09/28/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: 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 as described below:

• Specialized Experience: To qualify for this position at the GS-6 level you must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level in the Federal service that equipped you with the particular knowledge skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to the work of this Purchasing Agent position. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to: experience performing clerical or assistant duties in support of purchasing and procurement; procuring supplies and services to meet the purchase rental or lease needs of an organization; working with medical staff to determine procurement needs and priorities; resolving a variety of shipment payment or other discrepancies in support of procurement programs and operations; purchasing various equipment supplies and services through the use of a purchase card; and assembling and/or summarizing information from files and documents as required to create reports utilizing automated computerized supply/inventory management systems and Microsoft Office software programs such as MS Word and Excel.

NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Preferred Experience: One year of purchasing experience.

Competencies:

• Contracting/Procurement: Knowledge of various types of contracts techniques or requirements (for example Federal Acquisition Regulation) for contracting or procurement and contract negotiation and administration.
• Compliance: Knowledge of procedures for assessing evaluating and monitoring programs or projects for compliance with Federal laws regulations and guidance.
• Control of Funds: Knowledge of the principles procedures and requirements for maintaining control and accountability of obligations and expenditures for all appropriations and fund accounts (for example revolving non-appropriated multiyear and single-year appropriations).
• Computer Skills: Uses computers software applications databases and automated systems to accomplish work.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. Peace Corps AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g. professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies knowledge and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience including volunteer experience.

Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary when conducting purchasing functions for PSAS. However while conducting inventory management functions the incumbent may work comfortably in a warehouse environment sitting standing walking bending lifting carrying retrieving and managing inventory. Prolonged periods of working at a computer terminal are required. Ability to retrieve equipment from a storage room is required. Climbing associated with stocking of equipment and other items in storage areas is necessary. Incumbent may carry/lift items weighing up to twenty-five (25) pounds. Normal safety precautions are adequate. The work involves moderate discomfort when visiting sites away from the office. At times the employee may be required to wear protective clothing when visiting the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Fabrication Laboratory. The position often requires walking between the main medical center and Prosthetics locations to conduct professional duties.

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

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.