Purchasing Agent

This position serves as a key member of the Logistics Service within the VA Health Care System, responsible for acquiring supplies, services, and construction through purchase, rental, or lease. The Purchasing Agent will utilize knowledge of policies and procedures for delivery orders and small purchases, as well as commercial supply sources and common business practices related to sales, prices, discounts, units of measurement, deliveries, stocks, and shipments.

• Conducts purchasing under the micro purchase threshold
• Reviews and edits purchase requests
• Resolves issues to ensure requests and bills are processed accurately and in a timely manner
• Identifies needs or problems and determines corrective action
• Utilizes federal and agency acquisition regulations to identify possible sources and other pertinent information related to purchases
• Tracks obligations/commitments and monitors expenditures to support recurring budget forecasts and identify potential fraud, waste and abuse based on procurement history and purchase trends
• Procures supplies and services to meet the purchase, rental, or lease needs of the organization
• Develops unique selection criteria for each purchase
• Prepares and issues contract modifications for changes in delivery schedule and sends formal correspondence to a variety of customers
• Conducts open market research and sole source small purchases for highly specialized medical items with critical product requirements
• Serves as the first line of contact for medical staff and customers in regard to procured items
• Develops reports and spreadsheets, obtains, organizes, files and retrieves reports for briefing and presentation purposes

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• May be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel

• 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 within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement
• Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization

Requires some physical effort such as standing, sitting, walking, or bending. There are no special physical demands.