Purchasing Agent

Full Job Description

This position is responsible for performing direct medical supply purchasing and inventory management support to the administrative and clinical services of the VA.

Work involves initiating the obligation for all related requirements necessary to provide prosthetic and sensory aids services; working directly with the Veteran, his/her family, surgeon or clinical provider, and community care discharge planning staff; and initiating procurement of all outpatient medical requirements.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/06/2026.

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-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-04. 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 for the GS-05 based on your experience and/or education as described below: 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: Performing administrative duties in a healthcare setting; Purchasing equipment, supplies and services using an agency/organization purchase card; Reconciling charges and preparing and submitting reports.

OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed 4 years of education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite.

(Transcripts required) OR Combination of Specialized Experience and Education: 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).

(Transcripts required) You may qualify for the GS-06 based on your experience as described below: 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: Assisting in specialized purchases for clinics including medical equipment and medical appliances; Interpreting prescriptions and requests for medical equipment and services; Purchasing equipment, supplies and services using an agency/organization purchase card You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Acquisition Strategy Analytical Reasoning Computer Skills Oral Communication Technical Credibility 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: 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.

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/.

Major Duties:

Duties include, but are not limited to: Performs technical level purchasing support adhering to the FAR, VAAR, all applicable VHA Directives and Memorandums, Prosthetics Directives and Handbooks, 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 Veteran's medical condition.

Performs research to find alternate vendor resources not available in SAM to meet the needs of specific purchase situations.

Provides patient care and support services to an adult population and serves as the point of contact for external customer service inventory needs and support.

Reviews, for discrepancies or loopholes, lengthy specifications or statements of work that are very detailed, or otherwise difficult to understand.

Performs purchases of specialized/customized equipment or services that have an unstable price or product characteristic, hard-to-locate sources, have critical characteristics, or similar complicating factors and resolves a variety of purchasing problems.

Documents the services required per the contractual agreement and monitors, tracks and trends contractor performance.

Responsible for managing data collection used in preparing and submitting numerous reports.

Conducts thorough market research by obtaining competitive bids/Request for Quotation (RFQ) to determine fair and reasonable pricing.

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, 7:30am - 4:00pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility Telework: 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/PDS0101A and PDS0102A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized