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Summary

We love our jobs. Do you? Join our team as a Purchasing Agent located in the esteemed Architect of the Capitol, Library Buildings and Grounds, Supplies and Materials Division. As a Purchasing Agent you will perform a variety of tasks related to the acquisition of supplies, materials, equipment and services for the Library Buildings and Grounds. 

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/04/2026 to 03/20/2026
Salary
$63,940 to - $83,119 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 08
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—As determined by agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - Permanent, Full Time
Work schedule
Full-time - This is an Excepted Service position and does not require or confer Civil Service Competitive Status
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
08
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Announcement number
LBG-2026-094
Control number
859793800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

The resume(s) submitted with the application can be no more than two pages in length. Applications will be accepted from all U.S. Citizens. Please be advised that federal retired annuitant candidates may only be considered as a temporary employee if the role can be filled in that capacity.

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Duties

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The tour of duty for this position is: Monday through Friday, 7:00am to 3:30pm

The Purchasing Agent is responsible for procuring supplies, services, equipment and other resources through a variety of purchasing methods and procedures.

As a Purchasing Agent you will: 

  • Screen and review purchasing requests for completeness and accuracy, ensuring available funds
  • Determine the appropriate purchase method (existing contact, open market, Federal Supply schedules, etc.) in accordance with AOC policies and consistent with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)
  • Develop Request for Quotation (RFQ) packages that include all necessary clauses, terms and conditions
  • Evaluate quotes received in accordance with criteria; determine price reasonableness for items not recently or previously purchased; and select the vendor, negotiating price with sole-source vendors
  • Prepare purchase orders including specifications, packing and shipping requirements, inspection, instruction and all other special and standard clauses
  • Monitor delivery, inspection and acceptance of purchases, keeping the customer informed of any problems
  • Confer with contractors regarding invoices and payments ensuring that contractors are paid either by credit card or funds transfer
  • Reconcile credit card accounts monthly and resolve discrepancies
  • Use Financial Management System (FMS) and Maximo operating systems to perform purchasing duties
  • Produce a variety and reports and creates specialized databases

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • You must be able to pass a drug test.
  • You must meet the definition of specialized experience.

“To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet
one of the categories below:

  • A citizen of the United States;
  • A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B);
  • A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible;
  • A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408); or
  • A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States.”

Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position.  You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement.  Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions.  It is available for your review on the OPM web site at OPM Qualification Standards


Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

To qualify at the GS-08 level, your resume must clearly demonstrate that you have one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to at least the GS-07 level in the federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as:

  • Procuring supplies, materials, and services using a Government Purchase Card or company purchase card;
  • Utilizing automated computerized supply/inventory management systems and Microsoft Office software programs to create reports;
  • Utilizing a financial management system to reconcile credit card accounts on a recurring basis to resolve discrepancies; and
  • Resolving routine purchasing disputes with stakeholders through oral and written communication using cooperative negotiation. 

Education

There is no educational requirement for this position. 

Additional information

Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement. If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable. For more information, please visit http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp#6.

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC’s suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide and cover the cost for the drug test.
 
The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol.
 
The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1185221678150.shtm

The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or disability.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
 
Moving expenses are not authorized.
 
Relocation expenses are not authorized.
 
Probationary Period A newly appointed selectee is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol.

All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

Review your resume and responses carefully. Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions. 

Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) for this position, possession of any specialized experience, and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement. The self-assessment questions relate to the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies:


KSA 1: Contracting/Procurement- Knowledge of various types of contracts, techniques, or requirements (for example, Federal Acquisitions Regulations) for contracting or procurement, and contract negotiation and administration


KSA 2: Oral/Written Communication: Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.


KSA 3: Managing and Organizing Information - Identifies a need; gathers, organizes, and maintains information; determines its importance and accuracy, and communicates it by a variety of methods

Your responses to the self-assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions.  Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter. Your resume must support your answers to the self-assessment questions. Falsifying your background, education and/or experience is cause for non-selection or disqualification from further consideration.

Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the “Required Documents” section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).


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