Purchasing Agent

Summary

The incumbent serves in the developmental capacity as a Purchasing Agent for Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) - within a VA Medical Facility. This position reports to either the Chief of Prosthetics or a Supervisory Prosthetic Representative within PSAS.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 09/24/2026. 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 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: Specialized Experience GS-05: You must have one year of experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: includes familiarity with processes - or methods related to status updates - strategies and urgency of the requirements. Experience executing and coordinating returns - warranty work and complicated repairs which may include modifications to purchase orders. Experience with reconciliation of purchase requests. Experience modifying and researching reconciliation discrepancies and responding to a variety of audits and requests for data. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 4 years above high school. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED). 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 an Associates degree. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) Specialized Experience GS-06: You must have one year of 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: includes knowledge of relevant purchasing regulations - procedures and business practices required to procure specialized medical equipment - and supplies. Knowledge of price analysis techniques is sufficient to evaluate prices or costs. Knowledge of various acquisition clauses pertaining to inspection - acceptance - packaging - or testing. Knowledge in various purchasing strategies - such as how to solicit - who to solicit - etc. Thorough knowledge of supply and procurement regulations - policies - procedures and instructions are required; thorough knowledge of purchasing and purchase card program regulations - methods and procedures is required. Knowledge of and skill in interpreting and applying purchase card management related policies - non-payment complaints from vendors. Skill in analyzing critical patient equipment orders. Knowledge of equipment repair requests for quote. Knowledge of relevant fiscal policies and procedures of budgeting control-point maintenance. 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 outlined below are at the GS-6 full performance Purchasing Agent
• Administration: The incumbent receives and analyzes Prosthetic Consults - and prescriptions for items - services and home medical equipment
• The incumbent reviews requests for completeness - proper documentation and make arrangements to procure these items
• Establishes workflow protocols to ensure the timely execution of work
• Coordinate work for special circumstances
• As the subject matter expert (SME) - will advise other services on the policies and procedures to establish requisitions for services - equipment and commodities
• Review requests from various sources and making substitutions if necessary (within scope)
• As a subject matter expert - the incumbent will provide general guidance to potential vendors on requirements and information needed to be entered into the VHA's local vendor file
• Examine clinical health records and claims folders to determine eligibility and entitlement for items and services
• Advise Veterans and clinicians in relation to eligibility for entitlements for items and services
• Review clinical requests - determine sources and determine the availability of replacement parts and alternatives for power mobility - artificial limbs and other pieces of medical equipment
• Review unique requests to ensure the requesting entity has addressed any special prescribing procedure or guidance
• Reconcile all invoices for certification of payment by reviewing Veteran records against invoices to ensure that accurate cost is being charged for service/item rendered and verifies the correct total cost
• Follow up in relation to parts and labor orders - returns shipping back to manufactures and accounting for warranty work
• Maintain accurate records of transactions and to complete all adjustments to computerized system
• Maintain accurate funding - billing - reconciling of accounts and sub-account balances to include the Prompt Payment Act as it affects vendors and the payment process between vendors and the VA Medical Center
• Purchasing: Procures specialized medical equipment - supplies and services for Veterans
• Examples include but are not limited to augmented speech devices specialized for veterans individual need such as eye tracking - Custom wheelchairs built with measurements and specs unique to the veteran - vehicle modifications - specialized ramping with prep work and labor
• Review of various configurations and determine the most cost effective to meet the veterans need
• Procure specialized medical equipment with critical and unique characteristics and associated guidance from a variety of sources
• Purchases various equipment - supplies - and services through the use of the government purchase card for micro purchase
• The incumbent will be responsible and knowledgeable in various purchasing strategies - such as how to solicit - who to solicit - what clauses to include - which offers to accept or how much lead time
• The incumbent will negotiate prices with sole source vendors - persuade reluctant vendors and collect data for requirements not previously required
• Authorizes and prepares complex purchase orders for a wide variety of devices - medical supplies and durable medical equipment
• Prepares complex purchase orders for a wide variety of devices - medical supplies and durable medical equipment
• Execute price adjustments
• resolve any discrepancies - modifications - amendments to purchase orders and cancelations of purchase orders
• Coordinate medical device orders that may require more than one vendor and more than one end user
• The incumbent will also coordinate work with local vendors
• 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: Ad-hoc available
• This position may be authorized for telework
• Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent/PD0826VS Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized