Purchasing Agent
US Department of Veterans Affairs, Charleston, SC, United States
Purchasing Agent
This position provides medical supply purchasing and inventory management support to the VA's administrative and clinical services, initiating all related requirements necessary to provide prosthetic and sensory aid services, including durable medical equipment and supplies, directly to Veterans. Open to federal employees serving in the competitive service on a career or career-conditional appointment or in the excepted service under an Interchange Agreement; career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) and reinstatement eligibles; family of overseas employees; persons with disabilities/Schedule A; land and base management; military spouses; Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista alumni; special authorities; and veterans. Performs technical level purchasing support adhering to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Veteran Affairs Acquisition Regulations (VAAR), Veteran Health Administration (VHA), and Prosthetics directives and handbooks, Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) policy and station memorandums to acquire Veteran specific-medical equipment, supplies and services based on a medical provider's clinical assessment and evaluation of the Veteran's medical condition. Submits Acquisition Plans and Procurement Packages for stock and veteran specific needs to the Network Contracting Office and uploads quotes, bids, invoices, consults, and other important documents to Electronic Contract Management System (eCMS). Verifies Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and Bradstreet information, and ensures each vendor is in System for Award Management (SAM) and in good standing with the government to do business with. Verifies accountability of all prosthetics expenditures in both the purchase menu and the prosthetics program and associates all obligations to the individual veteran. Ensures services provided are documented not only by type, but also by duration. Complex purchasing: requires irregular research, analysis, collaboration, and many other steps to ensure both best value and the most appropriate devices are purchased for the Veterans. Routine purchasing: includes routine purchase orders under established contracts or through established vendor resources, with regular, significant research, analysis, or collaboration. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Work schedule is subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent/ PD11378A 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. 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: Work is primarily sedentary when conducing purchasing functions, 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. Incumbent may carry/lift items weighing up to twenty-five (25) pounds. Normal safety precautions are adequate. The work involves moderate discomfort when visiting sites away from the office. At times, the employee may be required to wear protective clothing. 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. 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/06/2026. 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 level. 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. To qualify for this position at the GS-06 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. Qualifying specialized experience includes 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. There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Customer Service Technical Competence Manages Resources Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. OVERSTATING YOUR QUALIFICATIONS AND/OR EXPERIENCE IN YOUR APPLICATION MATERIALS OR APPLICATION QUESTIONNAIRE MAY RESULT IN YOUR REMOVAL FROM CONSIDERATION. CHEATING ON THE ONLINE ASSESSMENT MAY ALSO RESULT IN YOUR REMOVAL FROM CONSIDERATION. EXPERIENCE REFERS TO PAID AND UNPAID EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING VOLUNTEER WORK DONE THROUGH NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAMS (E.G., PEACE CORPS, AMERICIOPS) 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. DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS YOU MAY HAVE AN OPTION TO OPT-IN TO MAKE YOUR RESUME AVAILABLE TO HIRING MANAGERS IN THE AGENCY WHO HAVE SIMILAR POSITIONS. OPTING IN DOES NOT IMPACT YOUR APPLICATION FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, NOR DOES IT GUARANTEE FURTHER
This position provides medical supply purchasing and inventory management support to the VA's administrative and clinical services, initiating all related requirements necessary to provide prosthetic and sensory aid services, including durable medical equipment and supplies, directly to Veterans. Open to federal employees serving in the competitive service on a career or career-conditional appointment or in the excepted service under an Interchange Agreement; career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) and reinstatement eligibles; family of overseas employees; persons with disabilities/Schedule A; land and base management; military spouses; Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista alumni; special authorities; and veterans. Performs technical level purchasing support adhering to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Veteran Affairs Acquisition Regulations (VAAR), Veteran Health Administration (VHA), and Prosthetics directives and handbooks, Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) policy and station memorandums to acquire Veteran specific-medical equipment, supplies and services based on a medical provider's clinical assessment and evaluation of the Veteran's medical condition. Submits Acquisition Plans and Procurement Packages for stock and veteran specific needs to the Network Contracting Office and uploads quotes, bids, invoices, consults, and other important documents to Electronic Contract Management System (eCMS). Verifies Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and Bradstreet information, and ensures each vendor is in System for Award Management (SAM) and in good standing with the government to do business with. Verifies accountability of all prosthetics expenditures in both the purchase menu and the prosthetics program and associates all obligations to the individual veteran. Ensures services provided are documented not only by type, but also by duration. Complex purchasing: requires irregular research, analysis, collaboration, and many other steps to ensure both best value and the most appropriate devices are purchased for the Veterans. Routine purchasing: includes routine purchase orders under established contracts or through established vendor resources, with regular, significant research, analysis, or collaboration. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Work schedule is subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent/ PD11378A 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. 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: Work is primarily sedentary when conducing purchasing functions, 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. Incumbent may carry/lift items weighing up to twenty-five (25) pounds. Normal safety precautions are adequate. The work involves moderate discomfort when visiting sites away from the office. At times, the employee may be required to wear protective clothing. 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. 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/06/2026. 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 level. 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. To qualify for this position at the GS-06 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. Qualifying specialized experience includes 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. There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Customer Service Technical Competence Manages Resources Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. 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. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. OVERSTATING YOUR QUALIFICATIONS AND/OR EXPERIENCE IN YOUR APPLICATION MATERIALS OR APPLICATION QUESTIONNAIRE MAY RESULT IN YOUR REMOVAL FROM CONSIDERATION. CHEATING ON THE ONLINE ASSESSMENT MAY ALSO RESULT IN YOUR REMOVAL FROM CONSIDERATION. EXPERIENCE REFERS TO PAID AND UNPAID EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING VOLUNTEER WORK DONE THROUGH NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAMS (E.G., PEACE CORPS, AMERICIOPS) 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. DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS YOU MAY HAVE AN OPTION TO OPT-IN TO MAKE YOUR RESUME AVAILABLE TO HIRING MANAGERS IN THE AGENCY WHO HAVE SIMILAR POSITIONS. OPTING IN DOES NOT IMPACT YOUR APPLICATION FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, NOR DOES IT GUARANTEE FURTHER