Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Major duties and responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Performs comprehensive maintenance and repair, including preventive maintenance, installation and modification on a wide variety of piping and plumbing systems and equipment, which include: medical air, gas, and vacuum systems, potable hot water in excess of 120 degrees and potable cold water, process water, drain, waste, and vent, sanitary and storm sewer, and related tanks, fittings, valves, traps, mixing and pressure regulating apparatus, etc., for these systems. Performs layout, assembly, and repair of complex plumbing systems and equipment, including tapping lines, placing hangers, braces, and supports for proper pitch, slope, and elevation, and connecting and testing risers, reducers, standard plumbing fixtures and fittings, and other utilization equipment, etc., in proper combination.
• Test and sample the potable water system for temperature, PH, and treatment levels. Maintain, communicate, and document the results of the potable water system.
• Installs, modifies, and repairs new and existing utilities, supply, and disposal systems and equipment such as sewage, water, oil, and gas distribution systems, water closets, tubs, fire sprinkler systems, and showers. Repairs, installs, and modifies potable water systems to include working with the components for these systems, domestic hot water generating equipment, digital mixing valves, circulating pumps and other anti-scald devices. Repairs, installs, modifies vacuum, medical air, oxygen, nitrogen, nitrous oxide systems along with related tanks, fittings, valves, mixing and pressure regulating apparatus, etc., for these systems.
• Works from building plans, blueprints, and sketches to plan and lay out the routing, placement, slant, slope, fall, and proper operation of systems and equipment. The incumbent installs, modifies, and repairs systems like those described above by locating and tapping main lines, setting up system routes, placing and cutting route openings, placing hangers for proper level and slope, and determining and installing valves, traps, and unions needed for proper operation of systems. The plumbers also install equipment like that described above by completing the routing and placement of systems leading to the equipment, and seating, hooking up, and testing the equipment.
• Brings tools, equipment and materials appropriate to work assignments to and from work areas and shop and storage areas; keeps shop and work areas and equipment clean, secure and orderly; observes safe practices and safely and properly removes and disposes of waste, debris and excess materials. Performs other related duties as assigned and may be required to become familiar with some of the basic functions, procedures, methods and skills of some other related work and assist in these functions in the absence of other personnel, to the extent of the employee's competence and ability.

Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Position Description Title/PD#: Plumbing Worker/PD018110
Physical Requirements: The position demands continuous walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, pulling, and pushing. The work requires the occasional use of heavy powered cleaning equipment (e.g., wall washers, industrial type buffers) weighing over 50 pounds. The duties necessitate considerable dexterity, hand, foot, and eye coordination, and concentration as well as visual acuity to see dirt, dust and debris.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Services Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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

EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards.

SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements:

• Plumbing and Pipefitting
• Self-Management
• Technical Competence

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.

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. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Documents Required:

• Resume

Documents Accepted:

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Other (1)
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application. Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

Next steps