Purchasing Agent

Quick Facts

• Role: Purchasing Agent (VA Logistics Service)

• Work schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:30 am–4:00 pm

• Location requirement: Must live within or be willing to relocate within a commutable distance of the duty location

Description

This Purchasing Agent position supports the VA Health Care System by acquiring supplies, services, and construction through delivery orders and small purchase procedures. The role applies federal and agency acquisition regulations, sources commercial suppliers, and manages purchasing activities for complex and specialized items. Responsibilities span purchasing, procurement, and administrative support for medical staff and customers.

Responsibilities

• Perform micro-purchase purchasing under the micro purchase threshold

• Review and edit purchase requests; resolve issues to ensure accurate, timely processing of requests and bills

• Use acquisition regulations to identify potential sources and relevant purchase information

• Track obligations/commitments, monitor expenditures, and support budget forecasts while identifying potential fraud, waste, and abuse indicators

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

• Prepare and issue contract modifications and formal correspondence for auditing, receiving documentation, and payment processing

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

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

• Create and maintain reports and spreadsheets; support filing, retrieval, receptionist, timekeeping, and recordkeeping tasks for the medical facility

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship

• Completion of all required steps, including an online assessment

• Selective Service registration for males born after 12/31/1959

• Subject to background/security investigation

• Complete online onboarding and provide acceptable identification (REAL ID compliant required per May 7, 2025)

• Seasonal influenza vaccination participation required

• Must live within or be willing to relocate within a commutable distance of the duty location

• Required to serve a 1-year probationary period; continued employment depends on evaluation against public interest criteria

• No education substitution at the GS-6 level

Qualifications (GS-6)

At least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5, including purchasing/procurement support, acquiring supplies and services for organizational needs, partnering with medical staff on procurement needs and priorities, resolving discrepancies for shipments/payments, purchasing equipment/supplies/services using a purchase card, and assembling/summarizing information into reports using automated computerized supply/inventory management systems and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel).

Benefits

Comprehensive U.S. government benefits package for eligible federal employees; specific eligibility depends on the position type and schedule.