Purchasing Agent

Purchasing Agent

Major duties and responsibilities include:

• Examines contracts, purchasing policies, equipment sources, shipping procedures and corresponding terminology to rapidly find the most reasonably priced item to meet requirement.
• Resolves conflicts in administering purchase orders, such as protests, claims, duplicate billing & terminations for convenience or default.
• Completes transaction on the patient's medical record to ensure documentation of exactly what was purchased and issued.
• Researches the use of different solicitation methods, ordering or reporting procedures, and purchasing methods to distinguish between different purchasing strategies.
• Performs technical level purchasing support adhering to the Service Directives and Handbooks, policy and memorandums to acquire patient specific medical equipment, supplies and services.
• Maintains an inventory of all purchased and consignment equipment with expiration date, imitate exchange and/or replacement of expired stock.
• Verifies accountability of all prosthetics expenditures in both the purchase menu and the prosthetics program and associates all obligations to the individual patient.
• Speaks calmly and compassionately to severely disabled patients from all walks of life

Preferred Experience:

• Knowledge of common medical conditions and the prosthetic/orthotic devices used in their treatment.
• Experience procuring durable medical equipment (DME), prosthetic appliances, orthotic devices, and related services.
• Familiarity with Community Care/ non-VA care prescriptions and processes.
• Knowledge of VHA Directive 1173 (or equivalent prosthetics policy).
• Experience working in a hospital, clinic, or other healthcare setting. Knowledge of standard and custom durable medical equipment, prosthetic, and orthotic appliances.
• Experience with budget tracking or fund control point management.
• Working knowledge of VA systems such as VistA, CPRS, PIP/GIP, or similar electronic health record and inventory systems.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with customers (patients, clinicians, or vendors) both in person and through electronic correspondence (email, phone, or electronic systems), with the ability to communicate clearly and professionally both orally and in writing.
• Experience performing federal government procurement actions using a government purchase card (micro-purchase or simplified acquisition procedures).
• Knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR).
• Prior experience working in a Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) or similar medical supply/prosthetics purchasing environment.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level (GS-6) without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor. The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs).

Telework: Not Authorized

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent/ PD99433A, PD08446T, and PD99434A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized