Purchasing Agent

This position is organizationally located in the Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service within the Medical Center. The incumbent will work under the supervision of the Chief Prosthetics Agent.

Major Duties: Receiving and analyzing Prosthetic Consults, and prescriptions for items, services and home medical equipment. Reviewing requests for completeness, proper documentation and making arrangements to procure these items. Establishing workflow protocols to ensure the timely execution of work. Coordinating work for special circumstances. Advising other services on the policies and procedures to establish requisitions for services, equipment and commodities. Reviewing requests from various sources and making substitutions if necessary (within scope). Providing general guidance to potential vendors on requirements and information needed to be entered into the VHA's local vendor file. Examining clinical health records and claims folders to determine eligibility and entitlement for items and services. Advising Veterans and clinicians in relation to eligibility for entitlements for items and services. Reviewing clinical requests, determining sources and availability of replacement parts and alternatives for power mobility, artificial limbs and other pieces of medical equipment. Reviewing unique requests to ensure the requesting entity has addressed any special prescribing procedure or guidance. Reconciling all invoices for certification of payment by reviewing Veteran records against invoices to ensure that accurate cost is being charged for service/item rendered and verifies the correct total cost. Following up in relation to parts and labor orders, returns shipping back to manufactures and accounting for warranty work. Maintaining accurate records of transactions and to complete all adjustments to computerized system. Maintain accurate funding, billing, reconciling of accounts and sub-account balances to include the Prompt Payment Act as it affects vendors and the payment process between vendors and the VA Medical Center. Procuring specialized medical equipment, supplies and services for Veterans. Reviewing of various configurations and determine the most cost effective to meet the veterans need. Procuring specialized medical equipment with critical and unique characteristics and associated guidance from a variety of sources. Purchasing various equipment, supplies, and services through the use of the government purchase card for micro purchase. Responsible and knowledgeable in various purchasing strategies, such as how to solicit, who to solicit, what clauses to include, which offers to accept or how much lead time. Negotiating prices with sole source vendors, persuading reluctant vendors and collecting data for requirements not previously required. Authorizing and preparing complex purchase orders for a wide variety of devices, medical supplies and durable medical equipment. Preparing complex purchase orders for a wide variety of devices, medical supplies and durable medical equipment. Executing price adjustments; resolve any discrepancies, modifications, amendments to purchase orders and cancelations of purchase orders. Coordinating medical device orders that may require more than one vendor and more than one end user. Coordinating work with local vendors. Following up communication and amendments to purchase orders are required to adjust for parts and labor, shipping parts back to manufactures and accounting for warranty work. Representing the VA in discussions with vendors/contractors to obtain agreement on micro purchases and vendor/contractor compliance. Monitoring vendor performance through personal contact, review progress reports, and discuss reasons for delays, failures, or price changes. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent/PD25005A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification 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. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.