Purchasing Agent

Summary

This position is located in the Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) at VA Western New York Healthcare System - Buffalo VA Medical Center in Buffalo, NY. The Purchasing Agent is responsible for performing both complex and routine purchasing duties for the PSAS and other medical services.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** The Purchasing Agent 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. Major duties and responsibilities include but not limited to: Purchasing specialized prosthetics, durable medical equipment, rehabilitation equipment, and medical supplies based on clinical prescriptions and Veterans' medical needs, while identifying and qualifying vendors in accordance with VHA Prosthetics guidelines Preparing acquisition plans and procurement packages, obtaining vendor quotes and bids, uploading supporting documentation into eCMS/FORCE, and ensuring compliance with FAR, VAAR, VHA directives, and SAM requirements Procuring complex and customized medical equipment, including power wheelchairs, artificial limbs, home modifications, environmental control units, and surgical implants, while coordinating urgent purchases of life-sustaining equipment and supplies Conducting market research, evaluating competitive quotations, reviewing equipment specifications, determining fair and reasonable pricing, and selecting the best value to meet clinical requirements and Veterans' needs Monitoring contractor performance, delivery schedules, quality standards, and contract compliance, while resolving vendor disputes, billing discrepancies, inadequate specifications, and other procurement issues Collaborating with Veterans, families, clinical providers, manufacturers, and vendors to clarify medical needs, validate equipment specifications, coordinate deliveries and repairs, and determine appropriate purchasing strategies Managing purchase card and prosthetics obligations, reconciling expenditures and invoices, resolving billing discrepancies, and maintaining financial accountability using applicable 2237 and 1358 processes Processing routine purchases, reviewing prosthetic consults and prescriptions, examining medical records, and verifying Veteran eligibility, entitlement, and medical justification for requested equipment and services Monitoring purchase orders and pending consults, maintaining inventory records, tracking equipment issuance, expiration dates and recalls, and documenting transactions in Veterans' medical records and prosthetics systems Supporting specialized prosthetics, orthotics, footwear, wheelchair, and major medical equipment programs, while training staff, maintaining item catalogs, preparing procurement reports, and ensuring appropriate HCPC coding and equipment accountability Work Schedule: Monday to Friday; 08:00 a.m. to 04:30 p.m. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Qualifications

Minimum Requirement: The following are minimum requirements for appointment as a Purchasing Agent in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), which all applicants must meet. Specialized Experience (GS-06): You must have one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (i.e., GS-05). Qualifying experience must involve purchasing or procurement activities related to medical equipment, prosthetic or orthotic devices, durable medical equipment (DME), medical supplies, or other related medical products and services. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include, but are not limited to: purchasing medical products, equipment, supplies, or related services; reviewing purchase requests and equipment or product specifications; obtaining, evaluating, and comparing vendor quotations; preparing and processing purchase orders in accordance with established purchasing procedures and applicable regulations; and maintaining purchasing, inventory, and financial records related to medical procurement activities. (CLEAR DETAILS OF EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Your resume must show complete information for each job entry, such as beginning and ending dates of employment, duties performed, and/or total hours worked per week.) 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/. Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary when conducting purchasing functions for PSAS. 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. Prolonged periods of working at a computer terminal is required. Ability to retrieve equipment from a storage room is required. Climbing associated with stocking of equipment and other items in storage areas is necessary. 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.

Education

IMPORTANT: There is no educational substitution at this grade level.