Purchasing Agent

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-06. At the GS-05 grade level you will perform 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-06. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance availability of higher-level work and availability of funds.

The Purchasing Agent is responsible for performing direct medical supply Purchasing and Inventory Management support to the administrative and clinical services of the VA to initiate the obligation for all related requirements necessary to provide prosthetic and sensory aids services to include durable medical equipment and supplies directly to Veterans. Major duties and responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Reviewing and triaging prosthetic consults and prescriptions in VISTA and APAT to determine Veteran needs urgency eligibility and appropriate procurement actions
• Clarifying medical needs device specifications and clinical requirements with requesting providers to ensure accurate interpretation of prescriptions and appropriate acquisition of equipment and services
• Prioritizing routine and emergent requests including STAT orders to meet established procurement timelines and prevent delays in discharges surgeries and care coordination
• Monitoring pending consults suspense logs and workload statistics to ensure timely processing compliance with mandated deadlines and accurate reporting of Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service activities
• Procuring Veteran-specific medical equipment supplies prosthetic appliances and services through applicable contracts mandatory sources purchase card transactions and open-market acquisitions in accordance with federal procurement requirements
• Evaluating vendor quotes product specifications medical justification diagnosis and purchasing hierarchy to select appropriate equipment that meets clinical needs and provides the best value to the government
• Preparing acquisition plans and procurement packages obtaining required supporting documentation and uploading quotes bids invoices and related records into electronic contract management systems
• Establishing purchase orders and obligating funds within authorized micro-purchase thresholds applicable contracts delegated purchasing authority and established purchase card policies and procedures
• Reconciling invoices verifying charges against Veteran records and services provided resolving discrepancies with vendors maintaining transaction records and completing required adjustments before certifying payments
• Managing prosthetic inventory tracking equipment identification and expiration dates coordinating replacement or replenishment and maintaining accountability for purchased consigned and issued equipment

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday; 08:00 a.m. to 04:30 p.m.
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

• 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
• 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) - See Required Documents below for details.

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 your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Minimum Requirement: The following are minimum requirements for appointment as a Purchasing Agent in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) which all applicants must meet.

For GS-05

• Specialized Experience (GS-05): You must have one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge skills and abilities (KSAs) to perform successfully the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (i.e. GS-04). Qualifying examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: processing purchase requests and equipment orders according to purchasing procedures and procurement policies; researching vendors contracts and product specifications to identify appropriate equipment and supplies; entering and tracking purchase orders; maintaining purchasing records and inventory accountability; verifying invoices and transaction information; and communicating with vendors staff and customers to support timely procurement and delivery of goods and services. (CLEAR DETAILS OF EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Your resume must show complete information for each job entry such as beginning and ending dates of employment duties performed and/or total hours worked per week.) OR
• Education (GS-05): Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 4 years of successfully completed education 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. NOTE: One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours 45 quarter hours or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business or technical school. (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED: If you do not submit your transcript your application may not be reviewed.) OR
• Combination (GS-05): Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and successfully completed post-high school education as described above. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e. beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED: If you do not submit your transcript your application may not be reviewed.)

For GS-06

• Specialized Experience (GS-06): You must have one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge skills and abilities (KSAs) to perform successfully the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (i.e. GS-05). Qualifying examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: performing purchasing or procurement-related work involving medical equipment medical supplies prosthetic devices durable medical equipment or other healthcare-related products including gathering and reviewing purchase request information; researching vendors product descriptions prices and established contracts for medical products; preparing and tracking purchase orders using established purchasing procedures; reviewing and processing medical product transactions/invoices; maintaining purchasing records and monitoring order status; resolving routine order and payment discrepancies involving medical products; and communicating with vendors and internal customers regarding medical product purchasing requirements deliveries and order status. (CLEAR DETAILS OF EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Your resume must show complete information for each job entry such as beginning and ending dates of employment duties performed and/or total hours worked per week.)

For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at 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 is 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. Often walking between the main medical center and other parts of Prosthetics to conduct professional duties.

Required Experience:

Unclear Seniority