Acquisition & Utilization Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Richmond, VA

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Acquisition & Utilization Specialist serves as the medical center liaison and advisor on contract-related services, with a focus on critical clinical and healthcare services, product acquisition, and support services. The specialist supports project managers, program managers, leadership, and stakeholders on procurement matters involving a wide variety of items and specialized services.

The role provides expert pre-award and post-award contract support to administrative and clinical services at the medical center and throughout its supported catchment area. It develops procurement policies and procedures consistent with federal acquisition regulations, analyzes service requirements, advises on acquisition strategy and contract administration, supports negotiations, and monitors contract performance and quality assurance. The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Ad-hoc telework is available; this is not a virtual position.

Requirements

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-09 in the normal line of progression, including experience with contract-related services, product acquisition, and procurement in a healthcare environment; pre-award and post-award contract oversight; procurement packages for unique, emergent, and complex requirements; acquisition analyses and recommendations; negotiations and contract administration; and expenditure monitoring and reporting deviations from contract terms.
• Alternatively, a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level education leading to such a degree, or a related LL.M. may substitute for the required experience.
• Alternatively, a combination of specialized experience and education beyond graduate-level education in excess of 18 semester hours may qualify.
• Current federal employees and certain former federal employees applying for a GS-11 position must meet the time-in-grade requirement of 52 weeks at GS-09; supporting SF-50 documentation is required.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• A valid driver's license must be maintained.
• Selected applicants must complete an online onboarding process and may be required to serve a probationary period and undergo a background/security investigation.
• Healthcare personnel must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and, subject to legally required accommodations, the COVID-19 vaccination program.
• Competencies include attention to detail, customer service, flexibility, integrity/honesty, interpersonal skills, learning, reading comprehension, reasoning, self-management, stress tolerance, and teamwork.
• Education used to qualify must be from an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; transcripts are required when qualifying based on education. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.
• Work is primarily sedentary, with occasional travel to inspect contract facilities or motor vehicles providing healthcare resources.

Responsibilities

• Develop procedures, policies, and supporting materials to ensure procurement activities comply with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR), and other applicable federal procurement laws and regulations.
• Analyze clinical and administrative service requirements and recommend courses of action that address construction, budgeting, supporting manpower, and other factors.
• Train facility Contracting Officers on procurement policies and new procurement processes and procedures.
• Establish, expedite, and review consolidated procurement packages, including unique, emergent, and complex requirements, to meet the timely and technical needs of assigned acquisitions.
• Develop and deliver presentations and recommendations to leadership and stakeholders explaining regulations and procedures.
• Negotiate performance requirements among sites and service lines to reach agreement and standardize enterprise equipment, supply, and service requirements in support of strategic acquisition plans.
• Establish and maintain controls to ensure contracts are performed in accordance with their terms.
• Advise contract specialists and Contracting Officers on all phases of negotiation and contract administration, including modifications, change orders, supplemental agreements, delivery orders, requirements definition, justification and approval, service contract extensions, contracting methods, and proposal evaluation.
• Monitor quality assurance surveillance plans to ensure contracted services meet facility expectations and needs.
• Conduct occasional inspections of contract facilities or motor vehicles providing healthcare resources to verify Joint Commission and safety requirements.

Benefits

• Federal employees earn annual leave at a rate of 4, 6, or 8 hours per pay period based on years of federal service; selected applicants may request and receive approved credit for prior work or military service toward leave accrual.
• A comprehensive federal employee benefits package is available; specific benefit eligibility depends on position type.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree