Purchasing Agent

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-6. At the GS-5 grade level the employee performs assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-6. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance availability of higher level work and availability of funds.
Duties include but may not be limited to the following:

• Perform technical level purchasing support adhering to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Veteran Affairs Acquisition Regulations (VAAR) Veteran Health Administration (VHA) and Prosthetics directives and handbooks Veterans Integrated Service Networks (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.
• Submits Acquisition Plans and Procurement Packages for stock and veteran specific needs to the Network Contracting Office and uploads quotes bids invoices consults and other important documents to Electronic Contract Management System (eCMS).
• Verifies Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and Bradstreet information and ensures each vendor is in System for Award Management (SAM) and in good standing with the government to do business with.
• Verifies accountability of all prosthetics expenditures in both the purchase menu and the prosthetics program and associate all obligations to the individual veteran.
• Ensure the services provides are documented not only as the type of service but the duration.
• Complex purchasing: requires irregular research analysis collaboration and many other steps to ensure both best value and the most appropriate devices are purchased for the Veterans.
• Routine purchasing: includes routine purchase orders on established contracts or through established vendor resources using regular significant research analysis or collaboration.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent/PD24161A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Suitable for Federal employment determined by a background investigation
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Services Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 09/21/2026.


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-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. 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-5

• Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience at the GS-4 level that equipped you with the knowledge skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Purchasing Agent position and that is typically in or related to the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: performing administrative duties in a healthcare setting; reviewing and working with patients medical records; completing training or assisting in routine and complex specialized purchases for clinics including medical equipment prosthetic and orthotic appliances; utilizing computer software programs; and communicating with internal and external customers via various methods. OR
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed four (4) years above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. (This education must have been obtained in an accredited business secretarial or technical school junior college college or university.).. OR
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond.

GS-6

• SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience at the GS-5 level that equipped you with the knowledge skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Purchasing Agent position and that is typically in or related to the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: interpreting prescriptions and requests for medical equipment and services; maintaining regular contact with vendors contractors medical center professionals and staff; utilizing a variety of databases and computer systems; purchasing equipment supplies and services using an agency/organization purchase card; and reconciling charges and preparing and submitting reports.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Attention to Detail
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Reading Comprehension
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

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; religions; 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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. 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.

Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical effort such as standing walking bending or sitting. There are no special physical demands.

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