Purchasing Agent

Veterans Health Administration•Kernersville, NC

24d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is in the Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) at Kernersville Health Care Center in Kernersville, North Carolina. The Purchasing Agent performs direct medical-supply purchasing to support the VA’s administrative and clinical services and initiates obligations for requirements needed to provide prosthetic and sensory aids services, including durable medical equipment and supplies directly to Veterans. The position is part of a multi-grade career ladder. The duties described represent the full-performance GS-06 level; at GS-05, assignments are more limited in scope and performed with less independence. Promotion to the full-performance level may occur without further competition when regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met, but is not guaranteed. Promotion depends on satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and available funds. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is not a virtual position. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. A one-year probationary period or two-year trial period is required, as applicable.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Current or former Federal employees subject to the time-in-grade requirement must meet the applicable requirement by the announcement closing date: 52 weeks at GS-4 for GS-5 consideration or 52 weeks at GS-5 for GS-6 consideration.
For GS-5, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-4, or qualifying education, or a qualifying combination of experience and education. Specialized experience examples include reviewing purchase requests and specifications, preparing solicitations and purchase documents, reviewing quotations, comparing prices, applying standard acquisition terms and clauses, communicating with customers, technical staff, and vendors, and assisting with purchase-order administration and changes.
For GS-5 qualification through education, four years of successfully completed education above high school in an eligible accredited institution may substitute for experience. Education and experience may also be combined under the stated rules.
For GS-6, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5. Examples include reviewing purchase requests, specifications, and work statements; preparing solicitations and purchase documents for small purchases; evaluating quotations; analyzing price reasonableness; selecting acquisition terms and clauses; communicating and negotiating with customers, technical staff, and vendors; and administering purchase orders and reviewing requests for changes or price adjustments.
Applicants relying on education for qualification must submit an unofficial transcript with their application. Foreign education must be accompanied by a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.
Applicants must complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
Selected applicants are subject to a background/security investigation and must complete online onboarding and pre-employment identification requirements.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
A resume must provide complete job-entry details, including employment dates, duties, and/or hours worked per week.

Responsibilities

Process purchases under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold using competitive purchasing methods and GSA contracts.
Purchase patient-specific medical equipment and supplies, including durable medical equipment, rehabilitation and mobility equipment, oxygen, surgical implants, and related services.
Work with medical and requesting departments to gather information needed to complete purchases.
Identify appropriate government and commercial vendors and determine the required level of competition.
Create and issue Requests for Quotations (RFQs) and solicit competitive bids.
Find and develop relationships with new vendors and potential sources.
Review and evaluate vendor quotes and proposals.
Document purchasing decisions, prepare purchase awards, and maintain required records.
Track purchasing activity, compile statistics, and prepare reports.
Ensure purchases comply with FAR, VAAR, VHA policies, and applicable VA directives and handbooks.
Perform other similar duties as assigned.