Purchasing Agent

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Saginaw (MI); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in the United States is seeking a Purchasing Agent to acquire supplies, services, and construction through delivery orders and small purchases.

The role requires knowledge of delivery orders, small purchases, and vendor management across various portals including ECAT and Prime Vendor sites. The position emphasizes guidance to vendors, accuracy in purchase requests, and adherence to procurement procedures.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience: 1 year equivalent to at least GS-5 in procurement/purchasing in the federal system.
• Experience performing clerical or assistant duties in support of purchasing and procurement.
• Experience procuring supplies and services to meet purchase, rental, or lease needs and working with vendors.

Responsibilities

• Purchases equipment, supplies, and services via government purchase card for micro purchases.
• Reviews and edits purchase requests to ensure accurate item/service descriptions.
• Obtains product information, price data, and PO procedures.
• Uses ordering and reporting procedures based on value and urgency.
• Guides vendors on requirements and how to enter data in vendor files.

Skills

Purchasing

Procurement

MS Word

Excel

Vendor communication

Government purchase card

Tools

ECAT Portal

Medical Surgical Prime Vendor site

Job description

Summary

This position primarily performs Purchasing Agent work to acquire supplies - services - and construction by purchase - rental - or lease through delivery orders and/or small purchase procedures. The work requires knowledge of policies and procedures for delivery orders and small purchases. This work also requires knowledge of commercial supply sources and common business practices related to sales - prices - discounts - units of measurement - deliveries - stocks - and shipments.

Summary

This position primarily performs Purchasing Agent work to acquire supplies - services - and construction by purchase - rental - or lease through delivery orders and/or small purchase procedures. The work requires knowledge of policies and procedures for delivery orders and small purchases. This work also requires knowledge of commercial supply sources and common business practices related to sales - prices - discounts - units of measurement - deliveries - stocks - and shipments.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 10/05/2026. 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-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. 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: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: experience performing clerical or assistant duties in support of purchasing and procurement; procuring supplies and services to meet the purchase - rental - or lease needs of an organization; working with medical staff to determine procurement needs and priorities; resolving a variety of shipment - payment - or other discrepancies in support of procurement programs and operations; purchasing various equipment - supplies - and services through the use of a purchase card; and assembling and/or summarizing information from files and documents as required to create reports utilizing automated computerized supply/inventory management systems and Microsoft Office software programs such as MS Word and Excel. 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/.

VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio - Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment - change to lower grade - transfer - appointment - or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: Purchases various equipment - supplies - and services through the use of the government purchase card for micro purchases
• Reviews and edits purchase requests to ensure the item or service is adequately described based on the requester's need
• Obtains necessary product information - price information and procedures for written or verbal purchase orders
• Utilizes different ordering - reporting procedures - and purchasing methods depending on the type quantity - dollar value - and urgency of the requirement
• Provides general guidance to potential vendors on requirements and information needed to be entered into the VHA's local vendor file
• Utilize various web-based portals to order items from awarded contracts to include the Department of Defense's Electronic Catalog (ECAT) and the Medical Surgical Prime Vendor's site for ordering - tracking and monitoring procurement transactions
• Represents the VA in discussions with vendors/contractors to obtain agreement on micro purchases and vendor/contractor compliance
• Examines incoming requests for completeness including presence of purchase request number - accounting codes - item description estimated cost - and quantity
• Prepare and issue contract modifications for changes in delivery schedule and sends formal correspondence to a variety of customers such as inventory management specialists - other service line contacts - and contracting officers as appropriate for the purposes of auditing documents - processing receiving reports - and payments
• Advises approving officials and purchase card holders on purchase card program - procurement procedures and responsibilities while conducting random reviews in accordance with established Logistics and other departmental policy
• Serves as the first line of contact for medical staff and customers in regard to procured items
• Other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm
• Telework: This position may be authorized for telework
• Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent/PD99896S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized