Purchasing Agent Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Meet applicable time-in-grade requirements for current or former federal employees applying for a GS-06 position: 52 weeks at GS-05, when applicable.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-05 in the normal line of progression. Examples include interpreting written prescriptions or oral requests to identify needed items or services; selecting reliable, cost-effective sources; documenting purchases in patient medical records; independently completing purchase orders and reconciling charges; initiating outpatient medical procurement; verifying prosthetics expenditure accountability and patient obligations; and providing technical purchasing support in accordance with applicable directives, handbooks, policies, and memorandums.
• Complete the required application, questionnaire, and online assessment.
• Meet Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Submit to a background/security investigation and complete the online onboarding process and required identification checks.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program as required for Health Care Personnel.
• Serve the required one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Demonstrate the competencies used for rating: attention to detail, flexibility, integrity/honesty, interpersonal skills, reading comprehension, self-management, stress tolerance, and teamwork.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with federal or VA purchasing procedures, including federal acquisition processes, micro-purchases, purchase-card workflows, and medical procurement, ideally in a VA or healthcare setting.
• Experience with VA procurement systems such as IFCAP or eCMS, or similar government purchasing platforms.
• Experience acquiring prosthetics, durable medical equipment, orthotics, sensory aids, or other clinically prescribed medical items.
• Experience coordinating with medical suppliers, obtaining competitive quotes, validating vendor eligibility, and resolving delays or discrepancies.
• Experience working with clinicians, therapists, or care teams to confirm specifications, interpret prescriptions, and source appropriate items for patients.
• Experience reconciling purchase-card transactions, tracking obligations, completing receiving reports, and maintaining financial records.
• Experience preparing procurement packets, organizing compliance documents, and maintaining electronic and physical purchasing files.

Responsibilities

• Receive and analyze prosthetic consults and prescriptions for items, services, and home medical equipment; review requests for completeness and appropriate documentation and arrange procurement.
• Establish workflow protocols to ensure timely processing and coordinate work for special circumstances.
• Advise other services on policies and procedures for requisitions of services, equipment, and commodities.
• Review requests from various sources and make appropriate substitutions within the position's scope.
• Provide potential vendors with general guidance on requirements and information for the VHA local vendor file.
• Review clinical health records and claims folders to determine eligibility and entitlement; advise Veterans and clinicians about eligibility for items and services.
• Review clinical requests and determine sources and availability of replacement parts and alternatives for power mobility equipment, artificial limbs, and other medical equipment.
• Review unique requests to ensure special prescribing procedures and guidance have been addressed.
• Reconcile invoices for payment certification by comparing Veteran records with invoices, verifying charges and total costs, and following up on parts, labor, returns, shipping, and warranty work.
• Maintain accurate transaction records; complete computerized-system adjustments; and maintain funding, billing, account, and sub-account balances, including matters related to the Prompt Payment Act.
• Procure specialized medical equipment, supplies, and services; compare configurations and sources to identify cost-effective options that meet Veterans' needs.
• Purchase equipment, supplies, and services using the government purchase card for micro-purchases.
• Apply purchasing strategies, including solicitation methods, vendor selection, contract clauses, offer evaluation, and lead-time planning; negotiate prices with sole-source vendors and gather data for new requirements.
• Authorize and prepare complex purchase orders for devices, medical supplies, and durable medical equipment; execute price adjustments and resolve discrepancies, modifications, amendments, and cancellations.
• Coordinate medical-device orders involving multiple vendors or end users, and coordinate work with local vendors.
• Represent the VA in discussions with vendors and contractors regarding micro-purchases and compliance.
• Monitor vendor performance through contact and progress-report review, and discuss delays, failures, or price changes.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Possible credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment and not guaranteed.