Purchasing Agent

Veterans Health Administration • Richmond, VA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The incumbent serves as the Purchasing Agent for the Prosthetics & Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System throughout the VISN-6 catchment area. This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the performance level of GS-6. At the GS-5 grade level, the employee performs assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire 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.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this 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 dentification 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.
• 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.
• The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.
• An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.
• If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.
• Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.
• GS-05 Specialized Experience: You must have 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.
• GS-06 Specialized Experience: You must have 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.
• Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).
• Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.
• You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
• A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.
• Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.
• Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
• Work is primarily sedentary when conducing purchasing functions for PSAS, however while conducting inventory management functions, the incumbent may work comfortably in a warehouse environment, sitting, standing, walking, bending, lifting, carrying, retrieving and managing inventory.
• Prolonged periods of working at a computer terminal is required.
• Ability to retrieve equipment from a storage room is required.
• Climbing associated with stocking of equipment and other items in storage areas is necessary.
• Incumbent may carry/lift items weighing up to twenty-five (25) pounds.
• Normal safety precautions are adequate.
• The work involves moderate discomfort when visiting sites away from the office.
• At times the employee may be required to wear protective clothing when visiting the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Fabrication Laboratory.
• Often, walking between the main medical center and other parts of Prosthetics to conduct professional duties.

Nice To Haves

• Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: 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; and communicating with internal and external customers via various methods.
• Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Qualifying specialized experience includes 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; and reconciling charges and preparing and submitting reports.

Responsibilities

• Performs procurements within the simplified acquisition threshold through competitive open-market procedures or by placement of an order or blanket purchase agreement under a GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contract.
• Makes purchases of equipment, commodities and services using standard methods.
• Determines any additional information needed to support or complete purchase requests.
• Coordinates with requesting offices to obtain additional information determined necessary to support or complete purchase requests.
• Performs technical level purchasing support adhering to the FAR, VAAR, VHA, and Prosthetics Directives and Handbooks, VISN policy and station memorandums to acquire patient specific medical equipment, supplies and services.
• Determines if requests or portions thereof can be met from Government sources.
• Determines appropriate commercial sources.
• Determines extent of competition required.
• Determines methods of solicitation.
• Prepares synopses for Commerce Business Daily.
• Develops Requests for Quotation.
• Identifies situations warranting vendor on-site orientations or conferences for prospective vendors prior to submissions of quotations.
• Solicits competitive offers.
• Actively seeks new sources and potential vendors.
• Evaluates responses to bids and requests for proposal.
• Documents all recommendations and actions.
• Compiles statistics and prepares reports on purchasing activities.
• Prepares purchase award documentation.
• Performs other similar 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.
• Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.
• This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.
• Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED