Purchasing Agent

Full Job Description

This developmental position is located in the Prosthetics & Sensory Aid Service within the Prosthetic Service Line.

The purpose of this position is to perform 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.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/13/2026.

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.

Advancement to positions up to GS-5.

Candidates may be advanced without time restriction to positions up to GS-5 if the position to be filled is no more than two grades above the lowest grade the employee held within the preceding 52 weeks under his or her latest non-temporary competitive appointment.

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

Applicants must provide SF-50(s) - Notification of Personnel Action, to verify their eligibility to apply to the area of consideration listed in this announcement and to verify that they possess the time-in-grade requirements for the position.

The following information is provided to assist applicants in the submission of appropriate SF-50s to verify eligibility and time-in-grade requirements: To verify your eligibility to apply to the area of consideration listed in the announcement, you must provide your most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee.

An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must also 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 outlined in the announcement.

In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade An award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.

Examples of appropriate SF-50's to document time-in-grade include: Within grade increases at the highest grade held; OR, Promotions with an effective date more than one year old.

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-5 Specialized Experience: You must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-4 level in the Federal service that equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this Purchasing Agent position.

Examples of specialized experience at the GS-5 level would typically include one or more of the following: Working independently to complete purchase orders and reconcile charges, Conduct face-to-face and telephone conversations with patients, family members, and private medical staff, contractors, vendors, and co-workers, Researches the use of different solicitation methods, ordering or reporting procedures, and purchasing methods to distinguish between different purchasing strategies.

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

To qualify based on education for the GS-5 grade level you must have successfully completed four academic years above high school, leading to a bachelor's degree.

OR, - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-5 level.

You must have a combination of specialized experience and four academic years of education above high school leading to a bachelor's degree.

GS-6 Specialized Experience: You must have at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level in the Federal service that equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this Purchasing Agent position.

Examples of specialized experience at the GS-6 level would typically include some of the following: Working independently to complete purchase orders and reconcile charges.

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.

Maintains an inventory of all purchased and consignment equipment with expiration date, imitate exchange and/or replacement of expired stock.

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

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/.

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.

Major Duties:

This position is a multi-grade career ladder position. 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: - Performs technical level purchasing to acquire Veteran specific medical equipment, supplies and services based on a medical provider's clinical assessment and evaluation of the Veteran's medical condition.

Functions include, but are not limited to, rentals to meet the outpatient medical needs of the services, outpatient durable medical equipment and supplies, rehabilitation equipment, mobility and daily living aids, neuro-sensory, home oxygen, surgical implants, and supplies.

- Provides Veteran care and support services - serving as the point of contact for external customer service needs and support.

Tailors the Veteran care/support services to meet the specialized need(s) of the individual patient and the clinical service it supports.

- Independently executes the purchase of specialized/customized equipment or services that have an unstable price, product or critical characteristics, hard-to-locate sources, or similar complicating factors.

- Review requests for completeness, comparing disability or diagnosis to equipment and/or services normally provided for the condition for which they are requested, and/or proper documentation has been provided to justify the issuance.

- Ensures consults are completed and closed within guidelines and follows-up on all pending consults to ensure services are rendered as quickly as possible or as indicated on the prescription/consult.

-Reconciles all invoices for certification of payment by reviewing Veteran records against invoice presented to ensure that accurate cost is being charged for service/item rendered.

Computes correct total cost, resolves all discrepancies with the vendor, maintains accurate records of transactions and completes all adjustments before final payment to vendor is certified.

- Resolves a variety of purchasing problems, such as inadequate or restrictive specifications, lack of multiple suppliers, urgent need, insufficient price history, or with continual requirement changes, sole service justification and updated products.

Independently distinguishes between purchasing strategies which vary based on complexity of the clinical prescription. - 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 from 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Ad-hoc only.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent/PD10312-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): ???????Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO):