Purchasing Agent
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Orlando, FL, United States
Summary
Purchasing Agent is a member of the Orlando VA Healthcare System – Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) within the Prosthetic Service Line at the Medical Center and/or Community Base Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). Performs direct medical supply Purchasing & Inventory Management support to administrative & clinical services to initiate obligations for related requirements necessary to provide prosthetic and sensory aids services including durable medical equipment & supplies directly to Veterans.
Qualifications To qualify for this position – applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement – 03/30/2026.
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.
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.
Minimum Qualification Requirement – GS‑05 Level Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS‑04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include – but are not limited to: apply skills & knowledge to routine and non‑routine assignments, adhere to basic policy and instructions, research, collaborate with others to ensure best value and appropriate devices are purchased, process routine purchase orders on established contracts or vendor resources.
Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have education equivalent to four years above high‑school. OR – Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first 60 semester hours.
Minimum Qualification Requirement – GS‑06 Level Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS‑05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include – but are not limited to: using office automation equipment such as computer, word processor, facsimile/scanner machines, automatic data processing equipment, barcode scanners, label makers, calculator, copiers, and telephones to communicate with others; place purchase orders; produce forms and complete correspondence; perform purchases of specialized/customized equipment or services with unstable price or product characteristics; distinguish between different purchasing strategies; independently document services required per the contractual agreement and monitor/track/trend contractor performance; resolve conflicts in administering purchase orders; obligate purchase orders for equipment and/or supplies or the rental of services within 30 working days; verify adherence to training and other contractual agreements.
You will be rated on the following competencies: compliance, contracting/procurement, customer service, decisiveness, meeting deadlines, web technology, experience (including paid, unpaid, volunteer). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies.
Physical requirements: Works in a health‑care office with the possibility of contact with ill and diseased patients. Daily retrieval of prosthetic items from storage; occasional visits to patients’ homes or vendor sites; universal precautions; etc.
For more information on these qualification standards – please visit https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Duties
Independently research the use of different solicitation methods for both complex and simplified purchases.
Document services required per the contractual agreement and monitor & track contractor performance.
Conduct thorough market research by obtaining competitive bids/Request for Quotation (RFQ) to determine fair and reasonable pricing.
Initiate action on “stat” requests within 24 hours or five (5) working days for routine requests.
Obligate purchase orders for equipment and/or supplies or the rental of services within 30 working days.
Annotate action on the consult and notify the requestor and all necessary parties.
Monitor to ensure the completion of requests in less than 90 days.
Assist and train new Purchasing Agents in ordering appropriate prosthetic appliances, purchase card reconciliation, stock and inventory control, etc.
Maintain an inventory of all purchased and consignment equipment with expiration dates – replace expired stock.
Ensure services provided are documented by type and duration.
Promotion potential: 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.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent/PD07428‑T and PD07427‑T Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
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Qualifications To qualify for this position – applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement – 03/30/2026.
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.
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.
Minimum Qualification Requirement – GS‑05 Level Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS‑04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include – but are not limited to: apply skills & knowledge to routine and non‑routine assignments, adhere to basic policy and instructions, research, collaborate with others to ensure best value and appropriate devices are purchased, process routine purchase orders on established contracts or vendor resources.
Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have education equivalent to four years above high‑school. OR – Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first 60 semester hours.
Minimum Qualification Requirement – GS‑06 Level Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS‑05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include – but are not limited to: using office automation equipment such as computer, word processor, facsimile/scanner machines, automatic data processing equipment, barcode scanners, label makers, calculator, copiers, and telephones to communicate with others; place purchase orders; produce forms and complete correspondence; perform purchases of specialized/customized equipment or services with unstable price or product characteristics; distinguish between different purchasing strategies; independently document services required per the contractual agreement and monitor/track/trend contractor performance; resolve conflicts in administering purchase orders; obligate purchase orders for equipment and/or supplies or the rental of services within 30 working days; verify adherence to training and other contractual agreements.
You will be rated on the following competencies: compliance, contracting/procurement, customer service, decisiveness, meeting deadlines, web technology, experience (including paid, unpaid, volunteer). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies.
Physical requirements: Works in a health‑care office with the possibility of contact with ill and diseased patients. Daily retrieval of prosthetic items from storage; occasional visits to patients’ homes or vendor sites; universal precautions; etc.
For more information on these qualification standards – please visit https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Duties
Independently research the use of different solicitation methods for both complex and simplified purchases.
Document services required per the contractual agreement and monitor & track contractor performance.
Conduct thorough market research by obtaining competitive bids/Request for Quotation (RFQ) to determine fair and reasonable pricing.
Initiate action on “stat” requests within 24 hours or five (5) working days for routine requests.
Obligate purchase orders for equipment and/or supplies or the rental of services within 30 working days.
Annotate action on the consult and notify the requestor and all necessary parties.
Monitor to ensure the completion of requests in less than 90 days.
Assist and train new Purchasing Agents in ordering appropriate prosthetic appliances, purchase card reconciliation, stock and inventory control, etc.
Maintain an inventory of all purchased and consignment equipment with expiration dates – replace expired stock.
Ensure services provided are documented by type and duration.
Promotion potential: 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.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent/PD07428‑T and PD07427‑T Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
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