Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol, Utilities and Power Plant Operations, Business Operations Division. We are seeking an energetic Purchasing Agent who will perform a variety of tasks for the acquisition of supplies, materials, equipment and services.

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Responsibilities

The individual selected for this position will:

-Serve as a Purchasing Agent responsible for procuring supplies, services, equipment, and other resources through a variety of purchasing methods and procedures. Performs all phases of procurement from receipt of purchase request through final delivery. Verifies delivery and correctness of purchases. Reconciles credit card accounts monthly and resolves problems to balance accounts.

- Screen and review purchasing requests for completeness and accuracy, ensuring available funds. Analyzes a variety of information, such as specialized requirements, shipping requirements, deadlines/timeframes required by the requestor, AOC procurement policies and procedures, history files, market conditions, item characteristics, or catalogs, cost of renting vs. purchasing, vendor reputation, etc., to determine the purchasing methods and sources. Determines the appropriate purchase method (existing contract, open market, Federal Supply schedules, etc.) in accordance AOC policies and consistent with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). Determines the availability of mandatory sources.

- Develop Request for Quotation (RFQ) packages that include all necessary clauses, terms, and conditions. Adapts precedent contract clauses or develops special clauses relating to specifications, acceptance, shipping or special handling. Searches market to locate sources for specialized services, items not readily available, and made-to-order items. Uses applicable regulations to determine extent of competition required. Develops evaluation criteria for selecting the awardees.

- Evaluate quotes received in accordance with criteria; determines price reasonableness for items not recently or previously purchased; and selects the vendor, negotiating price with sole-source vendors. Resolves problems; prepares all required documentation, including justification for not recommending the lowest bidder; and recommends award to the Contracting Officer. Documents modifications to original agreements and maintains all required documentation.

- Prepare purchase orders including specifications, packing and shipping requirements, inspection, instruction, and all other special and standard clauses. Often clauses may be required that are not common to small purchases. These may include government-furnished property clauses, copyright clauses, Davis-Bacon, Service Contract Act, and other specialized clauses.

- Award and administer small purchases that require extensive monitoring and oversight and are not firm-fixed price, such as labor hour, time and materials, etc.

- Initiate modifications to original terms for substitutions of products/services, price changes, and delivery date changes. Initiates terminations for inability to perform or lack of need or funds.

- Monitor delivery, inspection, and acceptance of purchases. Keeps the customer informed of any problems. Confers with contractors regarding invoices and payments and ensures that contractors are paid either by credit card or funds transfer. Reconciles credit card accounts on a monthly basis and resolves discrepancies. Resolves post-award administration issues, i.e., claims, disputes, negotiation of modifications and terminations.

- Use Financial Management System (FMS) and Maximo operating systems to perform purchasing duties. Keeps current on FAR and AOC procurement guidelines.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
08

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs.
• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
• You must be able to pass a drug test.

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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.

Candidates for the GS-08 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-07 in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position includes:

1.) Utilizing purchasing regulations, methods, procedures and business practices to make purchases involving specialized and commercial requirements.

2.) Communicating effectively with a variety of individuals from different backgrounds in order to gather information, present recommendations and coordinate services.

3.) Completing critical purchasing tasks in a timely manner.

4.) Utilizing automated processes pertaining to purchasing and purchase orders.

Education

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 OPM vet guide

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.

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:

Knowledge in contracting / procurement purchasing methods and procedures to perform complex purchasing work.

Oral and Written communication as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Computer skills in web-based finance and procurement computer software and Microsoft Office Suite software programs.

Planning and Evaluation for operational needs.

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).

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

The Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) job application process is designed to ensure you only provide information necessary to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility for the position vacancy.

To apply for this position, you only need to submit: a) your resume and b) answers to the online vacancy assessment questionnaire. The online questionnaire contains eligibility and screening questions and other relevant information. No additional documentation or attachments are required at the time of application.

Your resume should list your education, training and work experience including job titles, employment dates, duties and accomplishments.

Nothing further is required until it is requested by AOC's Human Capital Management Division. If additional documentation is required for the position, you will be asked to provide it during the interview or selection process. At that time, you may be asked to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume.

For example, you may be asked to provide a copy of your diploma, college transcripts, or proof of Federal employment status. If the position requires licensure or certification, you will be asked to provide proof at the time of selection.

If Veterans' preference is claimed, you will be asked to submit proof (DD-214, and, if claiming a 10-point preference, a SF-15 and the proof required by that form).

Failure to provide the required documents will end further consideration and/or result in the withdrawal of any tentative job offers.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.