Purchasing Agent

Veterans Health Administration • Bay Pines, FL

8d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is in the Prosthetics & Sensory Aid Service within the Prosthetic Service Line at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center. It 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-aid services, including durable medical equipment and supplies directly to Veterans.

The Purchasing Agent performs purchasing support under applicable federal acquisition regulations and VA, VHA, VISN, and station policies. The role involves preparing acquisition plans and procurement packages, maintaining procurement documentation, verifying vendor eligibility, tracking expenditures and obligations, and purchasing appropriate medical equipment, supplies, and services for Veterans.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is ad hoc; the position is not virtual. The position is primarily sedentary, with inventory-management work in a warehouse and storage areas. Duties may involve prolonged computer use, walking, standing, bending, lifting, carrying, retrieving and stocking inventory, climbing, and occasional visits to sites away from the office. Items lifted or carried may weigh up to 25 pounds. Protective clothing may sometimes be required when visiting the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Fabrication Laboratory.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• For current Federal employees who held a GS grade during the past 52 weeks: meet the GS-06 time-in-grade requirement of 52 weeks at GS-05, with supporting SF-50 documentation.
• Qualifying specialized experience includes maintaining regular contact with vendors, contractors, medical-center professionals, and staff.
• Qualifying specialized experience includes interpreting prescriptions and requests for medical equipment and services.
• Qualifying specialized experience includes using databases and computer systems to maintain accurate accounting of actions.
• Qualifying specialized experience includes purchasing equipment, supplies, and services using an agency or organization purchase card.
• Qualifying specialized experience includes reconciling charges and preparing and submitting reports.
• Complete the required application steps, questionnaire, and online assessment.
• Meet applicable background and security investigation requirements and complete the online onboarding process.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a condition of employment.
• Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Ability to perform the physical activities associated with the role, including retrieving equipment, stocking and climbing in storage areas, and lifting or carrying items up to 25 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Perform technical purchasing support in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations, VA Acquisition Regulations, VHA guidance, Prosthetics directives and handbooks, VISN policy, and station memorandums.
• Acquire Veteran-specific medical equipment, supplies, and services based on a medical provider’s clinical assessment and evaluation of the Veteran’s condition.
• Submit acquisition plans and procurement packages for stock and Veteran-specific needs to the Network Contracting Office.
• Upload quotes, bids, invoices, consults, and other procurement documents to the Electronic Contract Management System (eCMS).
• Verify Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and Dun & Bradstreet information and confirm vendors are registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) and in good standing with the government.
• Verify accountability of prosthetics expenditures in the purchase menu and prosthetics program, and associate obligations with the individual Veteran.
• Ensure services are documented by both type and duration.
• Conduct complex purchasing involving research, analysis, collaboration, and other steps to obtain best value and appropriate devices for Veterans.
• Conduct routine purchasing through purchase orders on established contracts or established vendor resources.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package for eligible employees.
• VA may credit eligible newly appointed Federal employees for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when calculating annual-leave accrual; approval is required and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed