Purchasing Agent

Full Job Description

This position serves as a member of the Prosthetics & Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) within the Prosthetics Service Line, St. Cloud VA Medical Center, physically located in St. Cloud, MN.

Performs direct medical supply Purchasing and Inventory Management support to the administrative and clinical services of the organization to initiate the obligation for all related requirements necessary to provide prosthetic and sensory aids services, to include durable medical equipment and supplies.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/20/2026.

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.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must meet one of the following criteria: Specialized Experience: You must have one (1) year (52 weeks) 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; reviewing and working with patients' medical records; completing training or assisting in routine and complex specialized purchases for clinics including medical equipment, prosthetic and orthotic appliances; utilizing computer software programs; and communicating with internal and external customers via various methods.

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

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed four (4) years 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.) TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED.

OR, Combination: 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 beyond two (2) years. TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED.

To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level, you must meet the following criteria: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal Service that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of a Purchasing Agent.

Qualifying specialized experience includes, but are not limited to: interpreting prescriptions and requests for medical equipment and services; maintaining regular contact with vendors, contractors, medical center professionals and staff; utilizing a variety of databases and computer systems; purchasing equipment, supplies and services using an agency/organization purchase card; and reconciling charges and preparing and submitting reports.

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.

There may be frequent walks between the main medical center and other parts of Prosthetics to conduct professional duties.

Work Conditions/Environment: The incumbent works in a health care office with the possibility of contact with ill and diseased patients.

Normal duties are performed in an office setting, which has adequate heat, light, and ventilation; however, the incumbent must retrieve prosthetic items from various storage areas daily.

The incumbent may on occasion, accompany the Site Manager and/or Prosthetic Representative on visits to the patients' homes or to a vendor for shop inspections.

Incumbent has direct daily contact with patients and may handle equipment returned from Veterans with contagious diseases; hence, the incumbent is required to practice universal precautions in observance of normal safety practices with office equipment, prosthetic equipment and supplies; avoidance of trips and falls, and observance of fire regulations is required.

The area is adequately lit, heated, and ventilated.

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:

Major duties include but not limited to: Complex Purchasing: Performs technical level purchasing adhering to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulations (VAAR), Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and Prosthetics Directives and Handbooks, Veterans Integrated Services Network (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 Veterans' medical condition.

Obtains all necessary procurement information to submit Acquisition Plans and Procurement Packages for stock and Veteran specific needs to the Network Contracting Office and uploads quotes, bids, invoices, consults, and other important documents to the Electronic Contract Management System (eCMS/FORCE).

Performs research to find alternate vendor resources not available in the System for Award Management (SAM) to meet the needs of specific purchase situations.

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

Routine Purchasing: Performs independent technical level purchasing support to acquire Veteran-specific medical equipment, supplies and services based on a medical providers clinical assessment including rentals to meet outpatient medical needs, outpatient durable medical equipment and supplies, rehabilitation equipment, mobility, and daily living aids, neuro-sensory, home oxygen, inpatient surgical implants, and supplies.

Monitors, receives, tracks, interprets, and analyzes Prosthetic Consults, and prescriptions for items, services and home medical equipment from physicians, therapists, medical center personnel, Veterans, or representatives.

Independently examines clinical health records and claims folders to determine eligibility and entitlement for items or services based on adopted criteria.

Uses and is proficient with all office automation equipment such as, computer, word processor, facsimile/scanner machines, automatic data processing (ADP) equipment (keyboard and visual display), barcode scanners, label makers, calculator, copiers, and telephones to effectively communicate with others, place purchase orders, produce forms and complete correspondence.

Promotion Potential: This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed above 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.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 Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent/PD23554A and PD23555A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers.

This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest.

As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran.

This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community.

This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.