Purchasing Agent

Veterans Health Administration • Buffalo, NY

4d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is in the Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) at the VA Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo VA Medical Center in Buffalo, New York. The Purchasing Agent performs routine and complex purchasing and inventory-management duties supporting PSAS and other medical services. The role initiates obligations for medical equipment and supplies needed to provide prosthetic and sensory-aid services directly to Veterans. The position is not virtual; the employee must live within or be willing to relocate within commuting distance of the duty location.

The agent purchases specialized prosthetics, durable medical equipment, rehabilitation equipment, and medical supplies based on clinical prescriptions and Veterans’ needs. The work includes preparing acquisition plans and procurement packages, conducting market research, obtaining and evaluating vendor quotations, selecting best-value purchases, and ensuring compliance with applicable federal and VA purchasing requirements. Purchases may include complex or customized items such as power wheelchairs, artificial limbs, home modifications, environmental control units, and surgical implants, including urgent purchases of life-sustaining equipment.

The agent also monitors vendor performance, delivery schedules, quality, and contract compliance; addresses procurement and billing issues; coordinates with Veterans, families, clinical providers, manufacturers, and vendors; and manages purchase card and prosthetics obligations. Additional duties include processing routine purchases, reviewing consults and prescriptions, verifying eligibility and medical justification, tracking orders and inventory, documenting transactions, supporting specialized equipment programs, maintaining item catalogs, preparing reports, and ensuring appropriate HCPC coding and equipment accountability.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Recruitment and relocation incentives are not authorized, and the Critical Skills Incentive is not approved. The position requires one year of qualifying specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-05; there is no educational substitution at this grade level. The employee must serve a one-year probationary period.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-05, involving purchasing or procurement activities related to medical equipment, prosthetic or orthotic devices, durable medical equipment, medical supplies, or related medical products and services.
• Qualifying experience may include purchasing medical products, equipment, supplies, or related services; reviewing purchase requests and specifications; obtaining, evaluating, and comparing vendor quotations; preparing and processing purchase orders under established procedures and regulations; and maintaining related purchasing, inventory, and financial records.
• The resume must provide complete information for each job entry, including employment dates, duties, and/or total hours worked per week.
• Complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Subject to background and security investigation and required online onboarding.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period.
• Must live within or be willing to relocate within commuting distance of the duty location.
• Physical ability to perform inventory work that may involve sitting, standing, walking, bending, lifting, carrying, retrieving, and managing inventory; retrieving equipment from storage; climbing to stock equipment; and carrying or lifting items weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Prolonged periods working at a computer terminal are required.
• There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Responsibilities

• Purchase specialized prosthetics, durable medical equipment, rehabilitation equipment, and medical supplies based on clinical prescriptions and Veterans’ medical needs.
• Identify and qualify vendors in accordance with VHA Prosthetics guidelines.
• Prepare acquisition plans and procurement packages; obtain vendor quotes and bids; upload supporting documentation into eCMS/FORCE; and ensure compliance with FAR, VAAR, VHA directives, and SAM requirements.
• Procure complex and customized medical equipment, including power wheelchairs, artificial limbs, home modifications, environmental control units, and surgical implants, and coordinate urgent purchases of life-sustaining equipment and supplies.
• Conduct market research, evaluate competitive quotations, review equipment specifications, determine fair and reasonable pricing, and select best-value purchases that meet clinical requirements and Veterans’ needs.
• Monitor contractor performance, delivery schedules, quality standards, and contract compliance; resolve vendor disputes, billing discrepancies, inadequate specifications, and other procurement issues.
• Collaborate with Veterans, families, clinical providers, manufacturers, and vendors to clarify medical needs, validate equipment specifications, coordinate deliveries and repairs, and determine purchasing strategies.
• Manage purchase card and prosthetics obligations, reconcile expenditures and invoices, resolve billing discrepancies, and maintain financial accountability using applicable 2237 and 1358 processes.
• Process routine purchases; review prosthetic consults and prescriptions; examine medical records; and verify Veteran eligibility, entitlement, and medical justification for requested equipment and services.
• Monitor purchase orders and pending consults; maintain inventory records; track equipment issuance, expiration dates, and recalls; and document transactions in Veterans’ medical records and prosthetics systems.
• Support specialized prosthetics, orthotics, footwear, wheelchair, and major medical equipment programs; train staff; maintain item catalogs; prepare procurement reports; and ensure appropriate HCPC coding and equipment accountability.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to the employee and family; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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