Purchasing Agent

Summary This position is a developmental position leading to the full performance GS‑06 grade level. This position will perform assignments similar in comparison to the full performance GS‑06 grade level Purchasing Agent position. However – the incumbent will receive closer supervision when performing consult management and with regard to purchasing assignments. Qualifications To qualify for this position – applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement – 06/15/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: 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. 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. Note: 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS‑05: Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge – skills – and abilities (KSA’s) to perform successfully the duties of the position – and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable – specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Applicants who have the 1 year of appropriate specialized experience – as indicated in the table – are not required by this standard to have general experience – education above the high school level – or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements. OR – Education: Successfully completed education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite is creditable at grades GS‑3 through GS‑5. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business – secretarial or technical school – junior college – college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours – 45 quarter hours – or the equivalent in a college or university – or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business – secretarial – or technical school.*As a general rule – education is not creditable above GS‑5 for most positions covered by this standard; however – graduate education may be credited in those few instances where the graduate education is directly related to the work of the position. OR – Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond. GS‑06: Specialized Experience: 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Manages Resources Technical Competence 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. Note: 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. Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary when conducting 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. For more information on these qualification standards – please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management’s website at Duties Major duties include but not limited to: Develops knowledge and understanding of medical disorders and the prosthetic devices utilized in the treatment of the same Familiarity with rehabilitation procedures and the support equipment necessary in that process Understand clinical – social – economic – vocational – psychological and environmental needs of the patients serviced by the facility and how these impact the patient’s prosthetic and rehabilitative goals is essential to this position Knowledge of a body of standardized purchasing regulations – policies – and procedures established commodities and markets and common business practices to make purchases involving commercial requirements and average complexity Routine purchases are simplified orders that do not require extensive research and are generally procured using FSS/VISN/Local and/or DALC contracts Knowledge of community care DME practices and procedures to coordinate complex DME purchases between Veteran’s being seen in the community on community care authorizations and VA purchasing to support those needs Educate outside providers on VA common practices and regulations to ensure proper orders from the community with high volume clinics over a period of time Knowledge of prosthetic regulations and policies – as stated in VHA Directives and Handbook 1173 – ” Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service.” As well as “Prosthetic and Rehabilitative Items and Services” 38 CFR 17.3200-3250 Knowledge of medical terminology – physical and sensory disabilities – basic anatomy and kinesiology is imperative Ability to interpret oral and written instructions from physicians and therapists is essential Knowledge of all PSAS VA Forms and the ability to determine when to use each form Has the authority to purchase on contract surgical implants up to a dollar threshold of $100 -000 for contracted surgical implants Independently interpret and review the implants used in a procedure and determine if they meet the requirement to be purchased using 8123 authority at the higher micro purchase threshold Demonstrates knowledge of VA Medical Center and PSAS mission – regulations and policies regarding eligibility for treatment – as they are necessary to adequately determine a patient’s eligibility/entitlement for equipment Knowledge of contracts – purchasing policies – equipment sources – trade policies – shipping procedures and the corresponding terminology Must have ability to search brochures and contracts to rapidly find the most reasonably priced item that can be purchased to satisfy the prescription Must have medical equipment knowledge to make independent purchasing decisions based on the needs of the patient and the providers clinical consult to provide the devices to best meet the Veteran’s needs when defined policies and procedures do not outline specifically how situations are to be handled to come to a decision on the proper purchase vessel Must possess knowledge specific to equipment specification – equipment terminology – and medical terminology Ability to analyze and interpret unique and critical patient equipment orders that have critical characteristics Knowledge of the Restorations Program to include its unique terminology and the timeframes for fabrication Must have the ability to investigate non-payment complaints from vendors and resolution of complaints and explain to vendors using tact and diplomacy on how and why a payment outcome decision was made Mathematical aptitude and use of a ten-key calculator is required to calculate quantity discounts – shipment costs and formulate shipping charges using the metric system Knowledge of computer software programs – which are required to – complete patient processing in Prosthetics Familiarity with several automated prosthetics programs to enter – track – correct – and retrieve recurring reports and to structure – implement – and retrieve specialized reports Capability to conduct extensive and exhaustive searches of the specialized reports to make sound decisions of stock quantities requirements – monitor activity – trend usage – track history – review replenishment – to determine disposal or reissue – and correct any noted discrepancies Sound understanding of the purchasing procedures in more than one program – product availability and changes – current market value and availability – sources for hard-to-locate or items with critical or unusual characteristics or complicated factors – Medicare identification and costs – contracts and agreements – national mandated contract sources – means to exclude or wavier to purchase unique or emergent requests and documentation of practices exceptions in the procedures Work Schedule: 8:00am – 4:30pm Monday – Friday Telework: Not Available Financial Disclosure Report: Not required #J-18808-Ljbffr