Clarification from the agency

This vacancy announcement is an "external" job announcement. Current permanent VA employees are encouraged to apply under the "internal" announcement (CAZM-11824200-23-DM) to receive consideration based on their current employment status.

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***This is an open continuous announcement***

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. Applications will remain on file until until May 01, 2023. This vacancy will remain open until filled. Certificate will be issued every 2 weeks. Additional applications will be referred as needed.

****Period of Eligibility: For open continuous announcements, the period of eligibility of your application will be 90 days (must update application after 90 days has past)****


Major Duties:

The incumbent facilitates necessary linkages with other VA services such as Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service (PMRS) and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) to help expedite Veteran access to needed prosthetic and sensory aid devices and services. The incumbent is responsible to identify which prescribed products are required to be approved by VACO via the "Special and/or Experimental Appliance" approval process, using VA Form 10-2641. This includes determining if a specialized evaluation appointment or home visit is required to ensure medical justification is adequate. The incumbent serves as PSAS device/equipment/service/benefits subject matter purchasing consultant The incumbent advises VA clinicians about availability, selection, and acquisition of a wide range of prosthetic and sensory aids devices and services and furnishes information concerning new developments in the prosthetics and sensory aids field and sources of supply for such items.

• Reviews consults for completeness and proper documentation.
• Follows up with purchased appliances and ensures Veteran safety training.
• Answers approval questions on equipment requests by providers.
• Performs technical level purchasing support.
• Provides patient care and support services to an adult population.
• Examines clinical health records and claims folders to determine eligibility.
• Purchases specialized equipment or services that have an unstable price or product characteristic.
• Obligates under established contracts, agreements or mandatory sources.
• Responsible for processing emergent orders.
• Prepares item descriptions for new items entering supply channels.
• Other duties as assigned.

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 - Friday 7:30 a.m. -4:00 p.m. ; 8:00 a.m. -4:30 p.m.
Virtual: This is a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent (Prosthetics)/PD09207A and PD09206A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/01/2023.

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-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5 and for a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. 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.


GS-6 Experience: Have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-05 grade level in Federal service. Examples of specialized experience for this position would typically include, but are not limited to: (1) Receives phone call, correspondence and visits from Veterans, family, VSO, and clinical staff about eligibility, equipment, services, and benefit. Responds by communicating well, both verbally and in writing with correct spelling and grammar. Files documents appropriately. (2) Communicates with technical specialists on various purchasing processes ensuring effective communication, both orally and in writing, with individuals from variety of backgrounds and with varying levels of understanding.

GS-7 Experience: Have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-06 grade level in Federal service. Examples of specialized experience for this position would typically include, but are not limited to: (1) Receives phone call, correspondence and visits from Veterans, family, VSO, and clinical staff about eligibility, equipment, services, and benefit. Responds by communicating well, both verbally and in writing with correct spelling and grammar. Files documents appropriately. (2) Communicates with technical specialists on various purchasing processes ensuring effective communication, both orally and in writing, with individuals from variety of backgrounds and with varying levels of understanding.(3) Uses judgment to interpret guidelines, adapt procedures, decide approaches, and resolve problems while adhering to guidelines, policies and procedures.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below: You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Contracting/Procurement
• Planning and Evaluating
• Communications
• Computer Skills
• Medical Information

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 conducting purchase 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. Incumbent may carry/lift items weighing up to 25 lbs. 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 Prosthetic and Sensory Aid Fabrication laboratory. Often, walking between the main medical center and other parts of the Prosthetics service 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/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

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.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.