Purchasing Agent

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/02/2026. 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. 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: GS-06: Specialized Experience: I have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level in the Federal Service.

Examples of specialized experience for this position would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of a body of purchasing regulations, methods, procedures, and business practices to make purchasing involving specialized medical equipment, supplies, and services and works toward gaining in depth, broad knowledge in those areas; regularly and under supervision from the service Chief resolves conflicts in administering purchase orders, such as protests, claims, duplicate billing, and terminations for convenience applicably. handles deviation from established procedures, and resolves problems that arise in accordance with agency, or local standards, previous occupational, training, and experience, established practices or precedents, or other concepts or controls as they relate to each assignment.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer Service Quality Assurance Standards Writing Computer Skills 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.

01Physical 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/.

This position performs a variety of duties, including but not limited to the following: Purchasing Support (50%) Conducts purchasing for a VA Medical Center, and supported catchment area, under the micro purchase threshold and must have knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), VA Acquisition Regulations (VAAR) and other federal procurement laws. Purchases various equipment, supplies, and services through the use of the government purchase card for micro purchases.

Reviews and edits purchase requests to ensure the item or service is adequately described based on the requester's need. Ensures all information has been provided and the request is consistent with legal requirements. Obtains necessary product information, price information and procedures for written or verbal purchase orders. Utilizes different ordering, reporting procedures,and purchasing methods depending on the type quantity, dollar value, and urgency of the requirement.

Procurement Support (30%) Procures supplies and services to meet the purchase, rental, or lease needs of the organization. Examines incoming requests for completeness including presence of purchase request number, item description estimated cost, and quantity. A particular procurement action involves the use of many different kinds of equipment, services and trades. Conducts open market research for purchases of routine equipment, supplies, and services.

Administrative Support (20%) Serves as the first line of contact for medical staff and customers in regard to procured items. Provides clerical support and coordination to approving officials and administrators. Performs a variety of receptionist, timekeeping, record keeping and miscellaneous duties in medical facility. As the subject matter expert, the incumbent continuously reviews policies and regulations related to time and leave.

They obtain data from supervisors and submits employees requests for overtime and prepares staffing and overtime reports. Answers telephones and refers calls to appropriate staff. Uses departmental software to produce printouts for logistic and medical staff. Establishes office files and record systems. Utilizes a variety of automated systems to enter, update, revise, sort, and calculate data; monitor purchase requests; process receipts; and monitor active and delinquent invoices.

Develops reports and spreadsheets, obtains, organizes, files and retrieve reports for briefing and presentation purposes. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm (CST) Telework: This position may be authorized for Ad-hoc telework at supervisory discretion. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent/PD0826VS Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized