Purchasing Agent

Summary

This position serves as a member of Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) within the Prosthetic Service Line under the VISN and will be located at the VA Medical Center in Vancouver, WA.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-6. At the GS-5 level, the employee performs assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-6. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds. Major duties include, but are not limited to. Performs technical and independent purchasing of Veteran-specific medical equipment, supplies, and services in accordance with the FAR, VAAR, VHA and Prosthetics policies, VISN guidance, and station memorandums. Uses medical provider assessments to identify and acquire patient-specific prosthetic and medical items. Develops Acquisition Plans and Procurement Packages and submits required documentation to the Network Contracting Office. Uploads and maintains quotes, bids, invoices, consults, and related records in eCMS/FORCE. Verifies vendor eligibility by confirming Unique Entity Identifier information and SAM registration; researches and vets alternate vendors when necessary. Coordinates vendorization, device retrieval, and reconciliation of acquisition days to support fiscal accountability for rental equipment. Executes purchases through Prosthetics purchasing systems, including Veteran-specific purchases, inventory support, 2237 requests, and 1358 obligations. Administers small purchase orders, including time-and-materials, labor-hour, and other non-firm-fixed-price orders. Uses and is proficient with all office automation equipment such as computers, word processors, facsimile/scanner machines, automatic data processing (ADP) equipment (keyboard and visual display), barcode scanners, label makers, calculator, copiers and telephones to effectively communicate with others, place purchase orders, produce forms and complete correspondence. Ensures appropriate Medicare Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes are used and verifies and documents Veteran eligibility. Performs related duties and other assignments as directed. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am until 4:30 pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Telework: This position may be authorized for Ad-Hoc telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position at the GS-5, you must meet one of the requirements listed below: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Requires at least one (1) full year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the GS-05 Purchasing Agent - Prosthetics position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level. Specialized experience includes receiving 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. (Resume(s) must clearly support the duties and experience required for this position. We will not make assumptions regarding experience.) OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Successful completion of 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. (Note: Transcripts must be submitted with application.) OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. (Note: Transcripts must be submitted with application.) To qualify for this position at the GS-6, you must meet the requirement listed below: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Requires at least one (1) full year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the GS-06 Purchasing Agent position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level. Specialized experience includes receiving 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. (Resume(s) must clearly support the duties and experience required for this position. We will not make assumptions regarding experience.) For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education at the GS-5. There is no educational substitution at the GS-6 grade level. 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/.