Program Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Salt Lake City, UT

18h • Hybrid

About The Position

The position is in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), at the VA Medical Center (VAMC) Salt Lake City, Utah in the Specialty Care Service. The Program Specialist serves as the service-level liaison and advisor on equipment and product acquisition and equipment/instrumentation service contracts for a wide variety of items to include specialized services.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Must complete all required steps in the process.
• In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment.
• The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• 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 GS9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7.
• For a GS11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9.
• GS9 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. This experience includes: guiding, assisting, Independently develops performance work statements and objectives, cost benefit analysis, gap analysis, sole source justifications, past performance, quality assurance 2 of 8 surveillance plans (QASP), market research, independent government estimates, evaluation criteria, options, funding, delivery schedules, lead times, and reporting requirements. Reviews procurement documents for accuracy, adequacy, and completeness to ensure final documents are acceptable. Develops sole source justification in relations to cost, limited availability or unusual nature, when the health care resource need is either unique in the medical community or is subject to maximum utilization only through health care resources contracting and identifies other alternative sources that exist within the local regional or national geographical areas.
• GS9 Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited college or university; OR, two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree; OR, an LL.B. or J.D., if related.
• GS9 Combination: Combination of specialized experience and successfully completion of 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree qualification requirements for the grade level GS-07.
• GS11 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Comprehensive detailed knowledge and understanding of acquisition statutes, regulation, directives and procedures as well as business practices associated with supporting the Salt Lake City VA Specialty Care service to effectively analyze, advise, and serve as the Program Specialist and Liaison to Logistics. Extensive working knowledge and understanding of the functions and processes required to maintain healthcare, maintenance operations, supply and support services in sufficient depth to be able to perform contract liaison work as a technical authority on contracting services for the facility, CBOCs, MOU affiliates and stakeholders business processes. Extensive working knowledge and understanding of the functions and processes required to maintain healthcare, supply and support services in sufficient depth to be able to maintain adequate levels of instrumentation, supply, scope, and equipment needs while working as a procurement technical authority for the Specialty Care service. In-depth knowledge and skill of Microsoft applications to include MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as Adobe PDF. Ability to develop reports, documentation, spreadsheets, graphs, and presentation materials when needed. Knowledge and skill of the following computer programs, but not limited to: Veterans Health Information & Technology Architecture (Vista) to access information in the Medical Center Computer System; Electronic Equipment Request (EER) portal to enter equipment and CPRC requests and to track the progress of those requests; Strategic Equipment Planning Guide (SEPG) to access and update equipment end-of-life status and enter new equipment into the EIL; and coding website to access current medical coding information.
• GS11 Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. if related that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.
• GS11 Combination: Combination of specialized experience and education beyond of a master's or equivalent graduate education may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-11 level.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and make recommendations to replace end of life equipment.
• Review requests for supplies from customers and provide supporting documentation as necessary.
• Contact vendors to attain quotes for items to be requested.
• Validate quotes for accuracy consulting the requesting subject matter experts when necessary.
• Using the Electronic Equipment Request (EER) portal, enter all equipment requests, track progress of the acquisition, ensure delivery, and ensure timely readiness of acquisitions for the Specialty Care service.
• Research and prepare documentation of salient characteristics, market research, sole source requirements, like or exact requirements, item descriptions, justification, reusable medical equipment (RME) cleaning instructions, Instructions for Use (IFU), and technical specifications.
• Collaborate with the vendors, Engineering and IRM to determine the need for and completion of Form 6550 if access to the VA network is required.
• Collaborate with facility subject matter experts to determine if requested equipment is laser, imaging, or x-ray equipment.
• Monitor and enter new equipment into the Strategic Equipment Planning Guide (SEPG) to enable entry into the EER.
• Work with the Logistics service to clarify any information needed to successfully send instrumentation, scope, accessory, supply and equipment requests to Contracting.
• Ensure timely activation of new equipment and receiving of all other acquisitions upon delivery of requested items.
• Serve as the liaison between the Specialty Care and Logistics services.
• Establish, expedite, and review consolidation of all Specialty Care service procurement packages, including unique, emergent, and complex requirements, to meet timely and technical needs of assigned acquisitions.
• Track data, provide updates and advise leadership with best actionable recommendations on contracting and equipment procurement on behalf of Service in the best interest of the VA as procurement technical authority for Specialty Care Service.
• Utilize initiative and experienced judgment to research and analyze the guidelines in developing, recommending, and implementing solutions.
• Possess strong knowledge of cost and pricing data and contract proposals to evaluate the offers and responsibility, and to evaluate contractor responsibility and performance.
• Perform cost benefit analysis, conduct gap analyses, and understand cost elements which go into the production, management or delivery of a healthcare resource service or product.
• Act independently responsible, take immediate actions to resolve issues.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level