<strong>Summary<br><br></strong>Employee will serve as a Purchasing Agent within Prosthetics & Sensory Aid Service located at the Veterans Healthcare System - Salisbury - NC.<br><br><strong>Qualifications<br><br></strong>EXPERIENCE: Requires at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-4) in the Federal Service - that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge - skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as Purchasing Agent. Qualifying specialized experience includes performing administrative duties in a healthcare setting; reviewing and working with patients' medical records; completing training or assisting in routine and complex specialized purchases for clinics including medical equipment - prosthetic and orthotic appliances; utilizing computer software programs; and communicating with internal and external customers via various methods. OR EDUCATION (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Successfully completed four (4) years of education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. OR COMBINATION (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond two (2) years) and specialized experience as described above that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of this Purchasing Agent position. Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary when conducting purchasing functions - 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. At times the employee may be required to wear protective clothing when visiting the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Fabrication Laboratory. Often - walking between the main medical center and other parts of Prosthetics to conduct professional duties. 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/.<br><br>Duties<br><br><ul><li>***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</li><li>The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-6. At the GS-5 grade level - you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence</li><li>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</li><li>The purpose of this position is to perform 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</li><li>Duties include - but may not be limited to: Performs technical level purchasing support adhering to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) - Veteran Affairs Acquisition Regulations (VAAR) - Veteran Health Administration (VHA) - and Prosthetics directives and handbooks - Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) policy and station memorandums to acquire Veteran specific medical equipment - supplies and services based on a medical provider's clinical assessment and evaluation of the Veteran's medical condition</li><li>Submits Acquisition Plans and Procurement Packages for stock and veteran specific needs to the Network Contracting Office and uploads quotes - bids - invoices - consults - and other important documents to Electronic Contract Management System (eCMS)</li><li>Verifies Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and Bradstreet information and ensures each vendor is in System for Award Management (SAM) and in good standing with the government to do business with</li><li>Verifies accountability of all prosthetics expenditures in both the purchase menu and the prosthetics program and associate all obligations to the individual veteran</li><li>Ensures the services provides are documented not only as the type of service - but the duration</li><li>Complex purchasing: requires irregular research - analysis - collaboration and many other steps to ensure both best value and the most appropriate devices are purchased for the Veterans</li><li>Routine purchasing: includes routine purchase orders on established contracts or through established vendor resources using regular significant research - analysis or collaboration</li><li>Performs other duties as assigned</li><li>Work Schedule: Full-Time - Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved</li></ul>