Purchasing Agent

Veterans Health Administration • Phoenix, AZ

33d • Onsite

About The Position

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder, with the major duties listed representing 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, progressively acquiring 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. The role is responsible for complex purchasing that requires research, analysis, and collaboration to ensure best value and appropriate devices for Veterans. It also involves routine purchasing using established contracts or vendor resources. The position adheres to Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Veteran Affairs Acquisition Regulations (VAAR), Veteran Health Administration (VHA), and Prosthetics directives and handbooks, as well as Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) policy and station memorandums to acquire patient-specific medical equipment, supplies, and services based on a medical provider's clinical assessment. The role involves submitting Acquisition Plans and Procurement Packages, utilizing Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) information, ensuring vendors are in the System for Award Management (SAM), and verifying accountability of prosthetics expenditures. The Purchasing Agent must quickly deduce needs from prescriptions or requests, monitor and analyze Prosthetic Consults and prescriptions, ensure consults are completed within guidelines, and track pending requests for workload statistics. The incumbent will be a government purchase card holder, obligating funds on behalf of the government. Promotion potential exists to the full performance level without further competition upon meeting all requirements.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply.
• Must complete all required steps in the process, including the application, questionnaire, and an online assessment measuring critical general competencies.
• 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement.
• Must serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period.
• 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.
• GS-05 Specialized Experience: 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 include: 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; Communicating with internal and external customers via various methods.
• GS-05 Education: Four (4) years above high school. Transcripts must be submitted.
• GS-05 Combination: A combination of specialized experience and education beyond 4 years above high school.
• GS-6 Specialized Experience: 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 include: 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; Reconciling charges and preparing and submitting reports.
• Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title; duties; month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week.
• Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs and other organizations.
• A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
• There is no educational substitution at the GS-6 grade level.
• Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment.
• If using foreign education, a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcript must be submitted.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of medical disorders and prosthetic devices utilized in the treatment.
• Procurement of durable medical equipment and services.
• Familiarity with Community Care prescriptions.
• Knowledge of VHA Directive 1173.
• Experience working in a hospital or other clinical setting.
• Knowledge of standard and custom durable medical equipment, prosthetic and orthotic appliances.
• Budget management experience.
• Knowledge of VA software programs, e.g., VistA, PIP/GIP inventory programs, CPRS (electronic health record), etc.
• Experience in working directly with customers in person and via electronic correspondence.
• Able to communicate orally and in writing.
• Experience in federal government procurement using a purchase card.
• Knowledge of Federal Acquisition and VA Acquisition Regulations.
• Experience working in Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for complex purchasing that requires irregular research, analysis, collaboration, and many other steps to ensure both best value and the most appropriate devices are purchased for the Veterans.
• Responsible for routine purchasing that includes routine purchase orders on established contracts or through established vendor resources using regular significant research, analysis, or collaboration.
• Performs technical level purchasing support adhering to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Veteran Affairs Acquisition Regulations (VAAR), Veteran Health Administration (VHA), and Prosthetics directives and handbooks, Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) policy and station memorandums to acquire patient specific medical equipment, supplies and services based on a medical provider's clinical assessment and evaluation of the Veteran's medical condition.
• Submits 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 Electronic Contract Management System (eCMS).
• Utilizes Unique Entity Identifier number (UEI) information and ensures each vendor is in the System for Award Management (SAM) and in good standing to do business with the government.
• Verifies accountability of all prosthetics expenditures in both the purchase menu and the prosthetics program and associate all obligations to the individual veteran.
• Quickly deduce from written prescriptions or oral requests what items or services are needed and/or conduct follow up information requests to the initiator to clarify the medical need or device specifications.
• Independently monitors, receives, tracks, interprets, and analyzes Prosthetic Consults, and prescriptions (VAF 10-2431) for items, services and home medical equipment from physicians, therapists, medical center personnel, patients, or their representatives.
• Ensure consults are competed and appropriately 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.
• Ensure pending requests are posted to the suspense log and enters data to verify the workload statistics used to determine facility funding for Prosthetic activities.
• Independently responsible for successfully completing the mandatory purchase card training, allowing the incumbent to be a government purchase card holder and obligate funds on behalf of the government.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree