Purchasing Agent

Summary: This position is located in the Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) at W.G. (Bill) Hefner Salisbury VA Medical Center in Salisbury, NC. The Purchasing Agent is responsible for performing direct medical‑supply purchasing for the administrative and clinical services of the VA to initiate the obligation for all related requirements necessary to provide prosthetic and sensory aids services—including durable medical equipment and supplies—directly to Veterans.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirement: Applicants must meet one of the following qualification pathways for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

• GS‑05 Specialized Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS‑04). Typical duties include reviewing purchase requests and specifications, preparing solicitations, reviewing vendor quotations for compliance, comparing prices for reasonableness, applying standard terms and acquisition clauses, communicating with customers, technical staff, and vendors, and assisting with purchase order administration and changes. (Clear details of experience required on résumé.)
• GS‑05 Education: Four (4) years of successfully completed post‑high‑school education in any field from an accredited business, secretarial, technical school, junior college, college, or university. One year of full‑time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks. (Unofficial transcript required.)
• GS‑05 Combination: A combination of specialized experience and post‑high‑school education as described above. Only education beyond the first 60 semester hours (beyond the second year) counts toward the specialized‑experience requirement. (Unofficial transcript required.)
• GS‑06 Specialized Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS‑05). Typical duties include reviewing purchase requests, specifications, and work statements; preparing solicitations for small purchases; evaluating vendor quotations; analyzing price reasonableness; selecting appropriate terms and acquisition clauses; communicating and negotiating with customers, technical staff, and vendors; and administering purchase orders and changes. (Clear details of experience required on résumé.)

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Processing purchases under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold using competitive purchasing methods and GSA contracts.
• Purchasing patient‑specific medical equipment and supplies—including durable medical equipment, rehabilitation and mobility equipment, oxygen, surgical implants, and related services.
• Working with medical/requesting departments to gather information needed to complete purchases.
• Identifying appropriate government and commercial vendors and determining the required level of competition.
• Creating and issuing Requests for Quotations (RFQs) and soliciting competitive bids.
• Finding and developing relationships with new vendors and potential sources.
• Reviewing and evaluating vendor quotes and proposals.
• Documenting purchasing decisions, preparing purchase awards, and maintaining required records.
• Tracking purchasing activity, compiling statistics, and preparing reports.
• Ensuring all purchases comply with FAR, VAAR, VHA policies, and applicable VA directives and handbooks.
• Performing other similar duties as assigned.

This is not a virtual position—you must live within or be willing to relocate within a commutable distance of the duty location.

Work Schedule

Monday to Friday, 08:00 a.m. to 04:30 p.m.