Interdepartmental Departmental Examination Open To All Qualified Employees of New York State

Purchasing Agent Trainee

For Advancement in State Departments, Facilities, and Agencies

1. Within Promotion Units
2. Within Entire Departments
3. To Other Departments

This TRANSITION EXAMINATION is one of several concepts included in a Memorandum of Intent agreed to by New York State and CSEA, and is designed to provide opportunities for employees within state service.

The eligible list resulting from this transition examination will be used to fill one-year traineeships leading to Assistant Purchasing Agent, G-14.

An appointee's performance in the trainee position and in prescribed training and development programs will be observed and evaluated. The prescribed training and development program will include extensive on-the-job training and carefully designed and monitored work experience. An appointee not meeting required standards can be terminated at any time after the initial eight weeks and before completion of the traineeship. An appointee will be placed on leave from their permanent title and will revert to that title if they do not successfully complete the traineeship.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before May 22, 2010, you must be a qualified employee of New York State and have had one year of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service in a clerical/secretarial position allocated to G-5 or higher in which 50% or more of your duties were directly related to purchasing activities. Your duties must have involved: initiating and processing purchase orders (or purchases involving a department credit card); obtaining price quotes from suppliers; gathering specifications from suppliers or agency personnel; preparing specifications; evaluating bids; and reviewing requisitions for purchase. All candidates must submit an Attestation Form (ATT-00187/36201/36202)() which documents that 50% of your duties are directly related to purchasing activities as described under the Minimum Qualifications. If filing a NYS-APP form(), you must attach the completed Attestation Form to the application. If filing on the Internet send the completed Attestation Form, including the exam number and title to: NYS Department of Civil Service, Alfred E. Smith Office Building, Albany, New York 12239. Attention: S2LAK.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before June 22, 2009, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.

NOTE: If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT processed.

Qualifying Experience for Appointment from the Eligible List

After one year of the service described in the Minimum Qualifications, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.

Order of Certification

The order of certification of this eligible list will be:

1. Promotion Unit "A" eligibles
2. Promotion Unit "All" eligibles
3. Department "A" eligibles
4. Department "All" eligibles
5. Interdepartmental "A" eligibles
6. Interdepartmental "All" eligibles

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Subject of Examination

There will be a written test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:

1. Principles and practices of New York State Purchasing - These questions test for candidates' knowledge of the principles guiding governmental purchasing operations and the ability to put them into practice. These questions may deal with but are not necessarily limited to such matters as the analysis of bids, the use of specifications, the award of contracts, the analysis of market factors that can affect the cost of a purchase, and the application of a set of rules to determine how to proceed with a purchase. Some arithmetic computation may be necessary. Specific knowledge of NYS purchasing laws, rules and regulations will be required to answer these questions.
2. Principles and practices of purchasing - These questions test for candidates' knowledge of the principles guiding governmental purchasing operations and the ability to put them into practice. These questions may deal with but are not necessarily limited to such matters as the analysis of bids, the use of specifications, the award of contracts, the analysis of market factors that can affect the cost of a purchase, and the application of a set of rules to determine how to proceed with a purchase. Some arithmetic computation may be necessary. No specific knowledge of NYS purchasing laws, rules and regulations will be required to answer these questions. Candidates will also be provided with a RFP Resource Booklet. This resource booklet will contain specific information that is presented in the format of a model of a Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFP should be considered as an allowable method of procurement that may be used to secure service and technology procurements and to a lesser extent, commodities. This model will contain many of the requirements generally included in most RFPs. However, the model will not include all of these requirements. This model will serve as the rules, regulations and procedures that candidates should apply when answering the questions within the subject area of Principles and Practices of Purchasing that are associated with this resource booklet. Prior knowledge of RFPs is not required.
3. Preparing written material - These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.
4. Understanding and interpreting written material - These questions test how well you comprehend written material. You will be provided with brief reading selections and will be asked questions about the selections. All the information required to answer the questions will be presented in the selections; you will not be required to have any special knowledge relating to the subject areas of the selections.

If you pass, your seniority credit(s), if any, will be included in the computation of your final score. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime veterans' credits to your final passing score.

Credit for Seniority

Seniority is credited at the rate of one credit for each five-year period (or fraction thereof), excluding the first year of service.

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Duties

As a Purchasing Agent Trainee, you would be instructed in the laws, rules and regulations, and procedures involved in the purchasing of a variety of supplies, materials, equipment, and services required by state agencies and institutions. The purchasing activities are governed by state contracts, open market buying procedures governed by the NYS Procurement Council, Office of the State Comptroller, and applicable regulations and guidelines related to minority and women-owned businesses. Upon successful completion of the traineeship, you would be advanced to Assistant Purchasing Agent without further examination.

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How To Apply

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity in employment, compensation and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Religious Accommodation

Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

In addition, it is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to enjoy equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their applications. Further information is available from the Special Arrangements Unit of the Department of Civil Service at 518-457-2487 [press 2, then press 2] in the Albany area, toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 2], or via TDD (telecommunications device for the deaf) at 518-457-8480.

Admission to Examination

Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, call 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1].

Multiple Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

With the exception of written tests announced by New York City, if you have applied to take a written test announced by a local jurisdiction (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must call 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1], no later than two weeks before the test date, to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center.

Eligibility for Examination

To be eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in the specified department or agency on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class, or in the non-competitive class or labor class if specifically noted on this announcement (or be on an appropriate preferred list), and have the specified time in the specified title or salary grade. You may not compete in a test for a title if you are permanently employed in that title (unless you are still on probation) or in a higher direct line of promotion.

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

Do not bring cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices to the test site. The use of such devices at the test site in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas could result in your disqualification.

S2/TB2 LAK-sac
Issued: 3/5/10

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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