The position is a member of Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) within the Prosthetic Service Line under the VISN. Positions are assigned to the Medical Center. All positions have an active outpatient treatment program and inventory responsibly. Additionally, the scope of the positions duties falls to all Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) throughout the Network and specialized clinical referrals (all outside VA transfers from other facilities to VAMC from outside VISN).

Duties

This position is covered by AFGE bargaining unit. Per the AFGE Master Agreement, the Area of Consideration will be: 1st Area of Consideration - Current Facility and CBOC employees; 2nd Area of Consideration - VA Nationwide applicants. Duties include: Examines clinical health records and claims folders to determine eligibility and entitlement for items and services. Reviews requests for completeness, comparing disability or diagnosis to equipment and/or services. Identifies, verifies, and ensures eligibility of all services and durable medical equipment (DME) requested on Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS). Monitors, receives, tracks, interprets, and analyzes Prosthetic Consults, and prescriptions. Identifies priorities on pending requests to comply with VA Central Office mandated five (5) calendar day deadline. Required to act on emergent situations with knowledge of up-to-date practices, procedures, and products. Obligates purchase order for equipment and/or supplies. Verifies Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and Bradstreet information and ensures each vendor is in the System for Award Management (SAM) and in good standing to do business with the government. Performs technical level purchasing support adhering to the FAR, VAAR, VHA, and Prosthetics Directives and Handbooks. Collaboration with clinical providers, manufacturers and validation of quote to medical prescription. Provides assistance; and training to new Purchasing Agents in ordering of appropriate prosthetic appliances, purchase card reconciliation, stock and inventory control. COMPETENCY ID: 406 Prepares item descriptions for new items entering supply channels, performing work involved in the publication of stock lists for both the Prosthetics Program and the Purchase Card Menu. Uploads quotes, bids, invoices, consults, and other important documents to the Electronic Contract Management System (eCMS). Uses office automation equipment such as, computer, word processor, facsimile/scanner machines, calculator, copiers, and telephones to effectively communicate. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent - Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service/PD06195A and PD06196A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/16/2023. 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. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. 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 as described below: To qualify at the GS-6 grade, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level or higher. Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized 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: Order patient specific items from consults. Maintain inventory stock on items. Communicate with a variety of customers including Veterans and co-workers. Operates VISTA and CPRS. OR, To qualify at the GS-7 grade, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 level or higher. Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Specialized Experience: Inspects reconciliation of orders. Communicate with a variety of customers including Veterans and co-workers. Order patient specific items from consults. Operates VISTA and CPRS. Maintain inventory stock on items. Process orders using credit cards. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Acquisition StrategyAnalytical ReasoningComputer SkillsOral CommunicationTechnical Credibility 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: Work is primarily sedentary when conducing purchasing functions for PSAS, 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. Position 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/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address Alexandria VA Medical Center 2495 Shreveport Highway Pineville, LA 71360 US
• Name: Anastasia Dixon
• Phone: (254) 755-0470
• Email: [email protected]