Purchasing Agent

Veterans Health Administration•Buffalo, NY

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Purchasing Agent serves in Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) within the Prosthetic Service Line of Legacy VISN 2 NY/NJ. The incumbent may work at any medical center, health care system, or associated Community Based Outpatient Clinic in the network. The role provides direct medical-supply purchasing and inventory-management support to VA administrative and clinical services, initiating obligations for requirements needed to provide prosthetic and sensory aids, durable medical equipment, and supplies to Veterans. It is a direct patient-care position requiring work with Veterans, their families, surgeons, and clinical providers. The incumbent procures outpatient medical requirements, including individual purchases for Veterans, stock purchases, surgical implants, and rentals of outpatient medical equipment and supplies. Purchasing is performed under applicable federal and VA acquisition rules and policies, based on providers’ clinical assessments. The position also supports PSAS clinics, committees, CBOCs, specialized clinical referrals, and transfers from facilities outside the VISN. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Work is performed in an office setting and involves some standing, sitting, walking, or bending, with no special physical demands.

Requirements

At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 in the Federal service, including experience related to purchasing-agent duties.
Specialized experience must include clerical or assistant duties supporting purchasing and procurement; procuring supplies and services to meet purchase, rental, or lease needs; working with medical staff to determine procurement needs and priorities; resolving shipment, payment, or other procurement discrepancies; purchasing equipment, supplies, and services using a purchase card; and assembling or summarizing information for reports using automated supply or inventory systems and Microsoft Office, such as Word and Excel.
Current Federal employees and certain former Federal employees applying for a GS-6 position must meet the time-in-grade requirement of 52 weeks at GS-5, when applicable.
U.S. citizenship is required.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
Completion of the required application steps, questionnaire, and online assessment is required.
Selected applicants must complete a background/security investigation and online onboarding; acceptable identification is required for pre-employment verification.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
A probationary period may be required.
There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Responsibilities

Provide direct medical-supply purchasing and inventory-management support to VA administrative and clinical services.
Initiate procurement of outpatient medical requirements, including individual Veteran purchases, stock purchases, medical-surgical implants, and equipment and supply rentals.
Purchase Veteran-specific medical equipment, supplies, and services based on clinical assessments and evaluations, following applicable FAR, VAAR, VHA, Prosthetics, VISN, and station requirements.
Procure rentals, durable medical equipment and supplies, rehabilitation equipment, mobility and daily-living aids, neuro-sensory products, home oxygen, inpatient surgical implants, and related supplies.
Gather procurement information and prepare acquisition plans and procurement packages for stock and Veteran-specific needs for the Network Contracting Office.
Upload quotes, bids, invoices, consults, and other procurement documents to the Electronic Contract Management System (eCMS/FORCE).
Verify vendor Unique Entity Identifier information and confirm vendors are registered and in good standing in the System for Award Management (SAM).
Provide Veteran care and support services to an adult population and serve as a point of contact for external customer-service inventory needs and support.
Review detailed specifications and statements of work for discrepancies or omissions.
Coordinate rental follow-up with requestors and PSAS to obtain additional rental days or discontinue services; coordinate device retrieval with vendors and reconcile acquisition days for fiscal accountability.
Support PSAS clinics, committees, Community Based Outpatient Clinics, specialized clinical referrals, and transfers from facilities outside the VISN.