Purchasing Agent

This position is a member of Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) within the Prosthetic Service Line under the VISN and assigned to the Medical Center. Performs direct medical supply Purchasing and Inventory Management support to the administrative and clinical services of the VA to initiate the obligation for all related requirements necessary to provide prosthetic and sensory aids services, to include durable medical equipment and supplies directly to Veterans.

At the full performance level, this position performs a variety of duties, including but not limited to the following: Receives and analyzes Prosthetic Consults, and prescriptions for items, services and home medical equipment. Reviews requests for completeness, proper documentation and makes arrangements to procure these items. Establishes workflow protocols to ensure the timely execution of work. Advises other services on the policies and procedures to establish requisitions for services, equipment and commodities. Reviews requests from various sources and makes substitutions if necessary (within scope). Provides general guidance to potential vendors on requirements and information needed to be entered into the VHA's local vendor file. Examines clinical health records and claims folders to determine eligibility and entitlement for items and services. Advises Veterans and clinicians in relation to eligibility for entitlements for items and services. Procures specialized medical equipment, supplies and services for Veterans. Examples include but are not limited to augmented speech devices specialized for veterans individual need such as eye tracking, custom wheelchairs built with measurements and specs unique to the veteran, vehicle modifications, specialized ramping with prep work and labor. Procures specialized medical equipment with critical and unique characteristics and associated guidance from a variety of sources. Purchases various equipment, supplies, and services with the government purchase card for micro purchase. Utilizes various purchasing strategies, such as how to solicit, who to solicit, what clauses to include, which offers to accept or how much lead time. Negotiates prices with sole source vendors, persuade reluctant vendors and collect data for requirements not previously required. Authorizes and prepares complex purchase orders for a wide variety of devices, medical supplies and durable medical equipment. Prepares complex purchase orders for a wide variety of devices, medical supplies and durable medical equipment. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level 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 8:00am - 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent/PD0826VS Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 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.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.