What are the responsibilities and job description for the Purchasing Agent position at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
Summary
The incumbent must work directly with the Veteran - his/her family - surgeon or clinical provider - and the community care service. Initiates procurement of all outpatients' medical requirements to include but not limited to direct individual purchases to the Veteran - stock purchases for the immediate availability- point of care - all medical surgical implants used during surgery - and/or rental requirements associated with continual outpatient medical equipment and supplies.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 11/10/2025. GS-05: 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-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-04. 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 announcement. In 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. GS-06: 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 announcement. In 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 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: 1) Manages the collection of data to be used in numerous reports. 2) Researches the use of different solicitation methods - ordering or reporting procedures - and purchasing methods. 3) Skills in dealing with a large community base - vendors - hospital staff and the public is required to display a positive image of the the organization. 4) Resolves conflicts in administering purchase orders - such as protests - claims - duplicate billing & terminations for convenience or default. 5) Examines contracts - purchasing policies - equipment sources - shipping procedures and corresponding terminology. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have: Four (4) years of 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. One year of full-time academic 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 - secretarial - or technical school.. 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 the first 60 semester hours (i.e. - beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience.(i.e. 6 months of specialized experience and 3 years of education above the high school level). NOTE: Only education beyond the second year can be used in combination with specialized experience to qualify for this grade. GS-06 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: 1) Verifies accountability of all expenditures and associate all obligations to the individual patient. 2) Initiates procurement of all outpatient medical requirements. 3) Performs technical level purchasing support adhering to all policy and regulations to acquire patient specific medical equipment - supplies and services. 4) Works independently to complete purchase orders and reconcile charges. 5) Quickly deduce from written prescriptions or oral requests what items or services are needed - selecting the most appropriate cost-effective source to deliver the items/service in the most reliable manner. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Manages Resources Technical Competence 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 is primarily sedentary with long periods of sitting at a desk - working with computers daily. Some work may require walking in offices and similar areas for meetings. Work may also require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the worksite. The work does not require any special physical effort. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Duties
The incumbent must work directly with the Veteran - his/her family - surgeon or clinical provider - and the community care service. Initiates procurement of all outpatients' medical requirements to include but not limited to direct individual purchases to the Veteran - stock purchases for the immediate availability- point of care - all medical surgical implants used during surgery - and/or rental requirements associated with continual outpatient medical equipment and supplies.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 11/10/2025. GS-05: 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-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-04. 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 announcement. In 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. GS-06: 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 announcement. In 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 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: 1) Manages the collection of data to be used in numerous reports. 2) Researches the use of different solicitation methods - ordering or reporting procedures - and purchasing methods. 3) Skills in dealing with a large community base - vendors - hospital staff and the public is required to display a positive image of the the organization. 4) Resolves conflicts in administering purchase orders - such as protests - claims - duplicate billing & terminations for convenience or default. 5) Examines contracts - purchasing policies - equipment sources - shipping procedures and corresponding terminology. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have: Four (4) years of 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. One year of full-time academic 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 - secretarial - or technical school.. 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 the first 60 semester hours (i.e. - beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience.(i.e. 6 months of specialized experience and 3 years of education above the high school level). NOTE: Only education beyond the second year can be used in combination with specialized experience to qualify for this grade. GS-06 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: 1) Verifies accountability of all expenditures and associate all obligations to the individual patient. 2) Initiates procurement of all outpatient medical requirements. 3) Performs technical level purchasing support adhering to all policy and regulations to acquire patient specific medical equipment - supplies and services. 4) Works independently to complete purchase orders and reconcile charges. 5) Quickly deduce from written prescriptions or oral requests what items or services are needed - selecting the most appropriate cost-effective source to deliver the items/service in the most reliable manner. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Manages Resources Technical Competence 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 is primarily sedentary with long periods of sitting at a desk - working with computers daily. Some work may require walking in offices and similar areas for meetings. Work may also require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the worksite. The work does not require any special physical effort. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Duties
- Duties include - but are not limited to: Performs technical level purchasing
- Obtain all necessary procurement information to successfully submit Acquisition Plans and Procurement Packages for stock and Veteran specific needs
- Uploads quotes - bids - invoices - consults and other important documents to the Electronic Contract Management System
- Independently performs the process of vetting and vendorizing following VHA Prosthetics guidelines to complete purchases for items that aren't available through established vendor networks
- Routinely reviews for discrepancies or loopholes in lengthy specifications or statements of work that are very detailed - or otherwise difficult to understand
- 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
- Verifies adherence to training and other contractual agreements
- Conducts thorough market research by obtaining competitive bids/ Request for Quotation (RFQ) to determine fair and reasonable pricing
- May need to resolve disputes or claims related to billing or vendor selection directly with 3rd party vendors
- Regularly resolves conflicts in administering purchase orders - such as protests - claims - duplicate billing - and terminations for convenience or default
- 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 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Not Approved Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent/PD08445-T Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Salary : $42,954 - $62,244
