Purchasing Agent

Quick Facts

• Role: Purchasing Agent (Logistics Service)

• Schedule: Full-Time, Monday–Friday, 7:30am–4:00pm

• Telework: Ad-hoc telework may be authorized

Description

The Purchasing Agent supports the Logistics Service within a VA Health Care System by acquiring supplies, services, and construction through delivery orders and/or small purchase procedures (purchase, rental, or lease). The role applies acquisition regulations, manages purchases for complex and highly specialized items, and coordinates processing with stakeholders. It also includes administrative and first-line customer support for procured items.

Responsibilities

• Conduct purchasing under the micro purchase threshold and review/edit purchase requests

• Resolve purchasing and billing issues to ensure accurate, timely processing

• Use federal and agency acquisition regulations to identify sources and relevant procurement information

• Track obligations/commitments and monitor expenditures to support budget forecasting and identify potential fraud, waste, or abuse

• Procure supplies and services for purchase, rental, or lease needs; develop selection criteria

• Prepare and issue contract modifications and formal correspondence for auditing, receiving reports, and payments

• Perform open market research and execute sole source small purchases for highly specialized medical items with critical requirements

• Serve as first-line contact to medical staff and customers regarding procured items

• Develop reports/spreadsheets, organize and retrieve documents, and perform receptionist/timekeeping/recordkeeping duties as needed

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship

• Complete required hiring steps, including the online assessment

• Selective Service registration (for eligible males)

• Subject to background/security investigation

• Complete online onboarding and provide acceptable identification for employment (REAL ID compliant requirements effective May 7, 2025)

• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program

• Serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period (as required)

• 1 year specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-05 duties (purchasing/procurement support, medical staff coordination for procurement needs, resolving shipment/payment discrepancies, purchase card purchasing, and creating reports using automated computerized supply/inventory management systems and Microsoft Office such as Word and Excel)

• No educational substitution at this grade level

• Time-in-grade requirements for current federal GS employees (if applicable)

Benefits

A comprehensive federal employee benefits package is available; eligibility depends on the type of position held.