Purchasing Agent

Summary This position is located in Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Office of the Chief Security Officer (OCSO), Assistant Director, Administrative Services Division. The Purchasing Agent reports to the Business Operations Manager, performing a variety of tasks for the acquisition of supplies, materials, equipment and services for the assigned jurisdiction. Responsibilities The work requires an in-depth knowledge of a variety of specialized purchasing methods and procedures to perform procurement actions. Meets with suppliers to discuss terms, special requirements, schedules, etc., resulting from the nature of item or service being purchased. Responsible for procuring supplies, services, equipment through a variety of small purchasing methods and procedures. Receives, reviews, and analyzes assigned procurement requests including SOW and specifications for adequacy, conciseness and consistency with AOC purchasing guidelines. Processes purchase requests by screening and reviewing the request for completeness and accuracy, ensuring available funds, determining the appropriate purchase method in accordance AOC policies and consistent with FAR regulations. Develops unique selection criteria for each purchase. Interprets guidelines, adapts procedures , decides approaches, and resolves specific problems in soliciting sources and investigating markets for items or services with unique or complicated requirements or circumstances. Develops purchasing/solicitation strategy by analyzing a variety of information, such as specifications and AOC procurement policies and procedures, history files, market conditions, item characteristics, or catalogs, and analyzing various tradeoffs , such as cost of renting vs. purchasing, free services included, vendor reputation or previous performance , etc. Independently determines whether to meet requirements by ordering against an existing contract or through open market procedures, whether and how to solicit quotes, markets to locate a source, analyzes proposed prices or costs, and evaluates methods of allocating costs through various types of overhead and/or general and administrative expense. Awards and administers small purchases that require extensive monitoring and oversight resolving complex problems, such as protests, claims, terminations, or substantial modifications. Uses FMS & Maximo operating systems to perform purchasing and conduct keep current on FAR guidelines and US code. Performs other related duties as assigned. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be able to pass a drug test. You must meet the definition of specialized experience. Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs. u201cTo 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.u201d 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 Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, an applicant's one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for successful job performance. 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. Examples of qualifying experience include the following types of tasks performed on a regular and recurring basis: Utilizing purchasing regulations, methods, procedures and business practices to make purchases involving specialized and commercial items and services; Using government or company purchase card to process purchases, service or goods; Communicating (oral and written) with internal and external customers and vendors on purchasing/procurement questions, policies and procedures; creating reports utilizing automated computerized supply/inventory management systems and Microsoft Office software programs; and resolving a variety of shipment, payment, or other discrepancies in support of procurement programs and operations. 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 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

Created: 2026-02-02