Purchasing Agent
US Department of Veterans Affairs, Harlingen, TX, United States
Purchasing Agent
In Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service, procures custom prosthetics, wheelchairs, speech devices, vehicle modifications, and specialized medical equipment for veterans. Reviews consults for eligibility, selects cost-effective sources, negotiates with vendors, issues purchase orders via government card, coordinates logistics/drop-shipping, manages returns/warranties, reconciles invoices, and ensures VA regulatory/fiscal compliance to support timely veteran rehabilitation and independence. This job is open to current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement, current permanent VA employees, and CTAP only. Duties include quickly deducing from written prescriptions or oral requests what items or services are needed, selecting the most appropriate cost-effective source to deliver the items/service in the most reliable manner. Manages the collection of data to be used in numerous reports to ensure adequate resource funding and compliance. Researches the use of different solicitation methods, ordering or reporting procedures, and purchasing methods to distinguish between different purchasing strategies. Documents the services required per the contractual agreement and monitors, tracks, and trends contractor performance. Completes transaction on the patient's medical record to ensure documentation of exactly what was purchased and issued. Conduct face-to-face and telephone conversations with patients, family members, and private medical staff, contractors, vendors, and co-workers. Speaks calmly and compassionately to severely disabled patients from all walks of life. Skills in dealing with a large community base, vendors, hospital staff and the public is required to display a positive image of the the organization. Providing patient care and support services to an adult population and serves as the point of contact for external customer service inventory needs and support. Resolves conflicts in administering purchase orders, such as protests, claims, duplicate billing & terminations for convenience or default. Examines contracts, purchasing policies, equipment sources, shipping procedures and corresponding terminology to rapidly find the most reasonably priced item to meet requirement. Works independently to complete purchase orders and reconcile charges. Maintains accurate records of transactions and completes all adjustments to computerized system before final payment to vendor is certified. Maintains an inventory of all purchased and consignment equipment with expiration date, imitate exchange and/or replacement of expired stock. Completes written procurement and support notes in medical records to ensure order status is provided to the clinical requester to reduce delivery delays. Performs technical level purchasing support adhering to the Service Directives and Handbooks, policy and memorandums to acquire patient specific medical equipment, supplies and services. Initiates procurement of all outpatient medical requirements. Initiates recall action of identified recall products provided and communicates all findings to the appropriate offices. Verifies accountability of all prosthetics expenditures in both the purchase menu and the prosthetics program and associates all obligations to the individual patient. Ensures the services provided are documented as the type of service and duration. 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: M-F 8:00AM to 4:00PM Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent / PD0826VS and PD00825VS Requirements include being a U.S. Citizen, Selective Service Registration for males born after 12/31/1959, subject to background/security investigation, and participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program. As a condition of employment, 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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/23/2026. 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-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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. To qualify for this position at the GS-5 level: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-04) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as Purchasing Agent. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Possess the successfully completed four (4) years above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college, or university. OR COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Possess the equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education beyond two (2) years and specialized experience as described above that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of this Purchasing Agent position. To qualify for this position at the GS-6 level: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-05) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as Purchasing Agent. Specialized experience includes: receiving and analyzing medical equipment, experience in procurement, Review clinical requests, determine sources and determine the availability of replacement parts and alternatives for power mobility, artificial limbs and other pieces of medical equipment; Maintain accurate funding, billing, reconciling of accounts and sub-account balances; utilization of purchase card; Execute price adjustments; resolve any discrepancies, modifications, amendments to purchase orders and cancelations of purchase orders; will also coordinate work with local vendors. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Technical Competence, Manages Resources.
In Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service, procures custom prosthetics, wheelchairs, speech devices, vehicle modifications, and specialized medical equipment for veterans. Reviews consults for eligibility, selects cost-effective sources, negotiates with vendors, issues purchase orders via government card, coordinates logistics/drop-shipping, manages returns/warranties, reconciles invoices, and ensures VA regulatory/fiscal compliance to support timely veteran rehabilitation and independence. This job is open to current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement, current permanent VA employees, and CTAP only. Duties include quickly deducing from written prescriptions or oral requests what items or services are needed, selecting the most appropriate cost-effective source to deliver the items/service in the most reliable manner. Manages the collection of data to be used in numerous reports to ensure adequate resource funding and compliance. Researches the use of different solicitation methods, ordering or reporting procedures, and purchasing methods to distinguish between different purchasing strategies. Documents the services required per the contractual agreement and monitors, tracks, and trends contractor performance. Completes transaction on the patient's medical record to ensure documentation of exactly what was purchased and issued. Conduct face-to-face and telephone conversations with patients, family members, and private medical staff, contractors, vendors, and co-workers. Speaks calmly and compassionately to severely disabled patients from all walks of life. Skills in dealing with a large community base, vendors, hospital staff and the public is required to display a positive image of the the organization. Providing patient care and support services to an adult population and serves as the point of contact for external customer service inventory needs and support. Resolves conflicts in administering purchase orders, such as protests, claims, duplicate billing & terminations for convenience or default. Examines contracts, purchasing policies, equipment sources, shipping procedures and corresponding terminology to rapidly find the most reasonably priced item to meet requirement. Works independently to complete purchase orders and reconcile charges. Maintains accurate records of transactions and completes all adjustments to computerized system before final payment to vendor is certified. Maintains an inventory of all purchased and consignment equipment with expiration date, imitate exchange and/or replacement of expired stock. Completes written procurement and support notes in medical records to ensure order status is provided to the clinical requester to reduce delivery delays. Performs technical level purchasing support adhering to the Service Directives and Handbooks, policy and memorandums to acquire patient specific medical equipment, supplies and services. Initiates procurement of all outpatient medical requirements. Initiates recall action of identified recall products provided and communicates all findings to the appropriate offices. Verifies accountability of all prosthetics expenditures in both the purchase menu and the prosthetics program and associates all obligations to the individual patient. Ensures the services provided are documented as the type of service and duration. 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: M-F 8:00AM to 4:00PM Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent / PD0826VS and PD00825VS Requirements include being a U.S. Citizen, Selective Service Registration for males born after 12/31/1959, subject to background/security investigation, and participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program. As a condition of employment, 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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/23/2026. 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-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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. To qualify for this position at the GS-5 level: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-04) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as Purchasing Agent. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Possess the successfully completed four (4) years above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college, or university. OR COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Possess the equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education beyond two (2) years and specialized experience as described above that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of this Purchasing Agent position. To qualify for this position at the GS-6 level: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-05) in the Federal Service, that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as Purchasing Agent. Specialized experience includes: receiving and analyzing medical equipment, experience in procurement, Review clinical requests, determine sources and determine the availability of replacement parts and alternatives for power mobility, artificial limbs and other pieces of medical equipment; Maintain accurate funding, billing, reconciling of accounts and sub-account balances; utilization of purchase card; Execute price adjustments; resolve any discrepancies, modifications, amendments to purchase orders and cancelations of purchase orders; will also coordinate work with local vendors. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Technical Competence, Manages Resources.