Purchasing Agent-Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service (PSAS)

Description:

This position is organizationally located in the Prosthetic Service within the Medical Center. The incumbent will work under the supervision of the Chief Prosthetics Agent. The incumbent has coordination and active involvement with various Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) throughout VISN 17.

Requirements:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/24/2025.

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-6 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.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

• Specialized Experience GS-05: You must have one year of experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: includes familiarity with processes, or methods related to status updates, strategies and urgency of the requirements. Experience executing and coordinating returns, warranty work and complicated repairs which may include modifications to purchase orders. Experience with reconciliation of purchase requests. Experience modifying and researching reconciliation discrepancies and responding to a variety of audits and requests for data. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 4 years above high school. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) . OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond an Associates degree. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)

• Specialized Experience GS-06: You must have one year of 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: includes knowledge of relevant purchasing regulations, procedures and business practices required to procure specialized medical equipment, and supplies. Knowledge of price analysis techniques is sufficient to evaluate prices or costs. Knowledge of various acquisition clauses pertaining to inspection, acceptance, packaging, or testing. Knowledge in various purchasing strategies, such as how to solicit, who to solicit, etc. Thorough knowledge of supply and procurement regulations, policies, procedures and instructions are required; thorough knowledge of purchasing and purchase card program regulations, methods and procedures is required. Knowledge of and skill in interpreting and applying purchase card management related policies, non-payment complaints from vendors. Skill in analyzing critical patient equipment orders. Knowledge of equipment repair requests for quote. Knowledge of relevant fiscal policies and procedures of budgeting control-point maintenance.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Contracting / Procurement
• Accounting Operations
• Customer Service
• Compliance

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) 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.

Note : 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.

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds .

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/ .