Purchasing Agent - Prosthetic Service

Summary These positions are located within the Prosthetics Service at the VA Maryland Health Care System in Baltimore, MD. Duties ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** The Purchasing Agent - Prosthetic Service receives and analyzes Prosthetic Consults, and prescriptions (VAF 10-2431) for items, services, and home medical equipment from physicians, therapists, medical center personnel, patients, or their representatives. Reviews requests for completeness, comparing disability or diagnosis to equipment and/or services normally provided for the condition for which they are requested, and ensures that the proper documentation has been provided to justify the issuance, and makes arrangements to procure these items. The major duties include but are not limited to: Establishes workflow protocols to ensure the timely execution of work, coordinating work for special circumstances; Reviews requests from various sources and makes substitutions if necessary (within scope); Provides general guidance to potential vendors on requirements and information needed to be entered into the Veterans Health Administration's local vendor file; Examines clinical health records and claims folders to determine eligibility and entitlement for items and services; Advises Veterans and clinicians in relation to eligibility for entitlements for items and services; Reviews clinical requests, determines sources, and determines the availability of replacement parts and alternatives for power mobility, artificial limbs, and other pieces of medical equipment; Reconciles all invoices for certification of payment; Follows up in relation to parts and labor orders, returns shipping back to manufactures and accounting for warranty work; Maintains accurate records of transactions and completes all adjustments to computerized system; Maintains accurate funding, billing, reconciling of accounts and sub-account balances; Procures specialized medical equipment, supplies, and services with critical and unique characteristics and associated guidance from a variety of sources; Purchases various equipment, supplies, and services using the government purchase card for micro purchase; Authorizes and prepares complex purchase orders for a wide variety of devices, medical supplies, and durable medical equipment; Resolves any discrepancies, modifications, amendments to purchase orders and cancelations of purchase orders; Coordinates medical device orders that may require more than one vendor and more than one end user; Represents the VA in discussions with vendors/contractors to obtain agreement on micro purchases and vendor/contractor compliance; Monitors vendor performance through personal contact, reviews progress reports, and discusses reasons for delays, failures, or price changes; and, Performs all other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Requirements Conditions of employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position at the GS-6 level, you must meet the following: Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Purchasing Agent - Prosthetic Service, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Qualifying specialized experience includes interpreting prescriptions and requests for medical equipment and services; maintaining regular contact with vendors, contractors, medical professionals and staff; utilizing a variety of databases and computer systems; purchasing equipment, supplies, and services using an organization purchase card; and reconciling charges and preparing and submitting reports. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates, AND hours worked per week. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: CONTROL OF FUNDS MANAGES AND ORGANIZES INFORMATION CUSTOMER SERVICE ANALYTICAL THINKING IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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. Physical Requirements: The work of the position is primarily sedentary and is carried out in an office setting. There exist prolonged periods of working at a computer terminal. Ability to retrieve equipment from a storage room is required. Climbing associated with stocking of equipment and other items in storage areas is necessary. 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. 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. Additional information Note: Per "Executive Order 14251: Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs", this position is no longer eligible for bargaining unit participation. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.