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.

Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Performs all duties of a journeyman Pipefitter and is assigned to the Pipe Shop within the Utility Systems Section of Facilities Management Service (FMS).
• The work involves installing, modifying, repairing, and maintaining new and existing utility systems and equipment. Utilities include low, medium, and high-pressure piping systems, natural gas, propane, fuel oil, medical gas systems, steam, condensate, vacuum, sanitary, drainage and compressed air.
• Equipment includes items such as steam humidifiers, steam generators, water heaters, boilers, electric steam generators, deaerator/expansion tanks, circulating pumps, and radiant fin-tube and panels, along with associated piping/controls equipment.
• Other items to maintain/install include water closets, sinks, tubs, showers, and backflow preventers and the associated equipment such as flush valves, and mixing valves. Drains, toilets, and sink maintenance includes plunging and snaking to clear the lines as needed. Incumbent installs or repairs new or existing copper, galvanized, black iron, cast iron, stainless, rubber, CPVC, and PVC pipes for utilities and medical gases.
• Methods of installation include sweating, brazing, gluing, and mechanical means.
• Installs equipment by planning and determining where to place the equipment at the proper location. Join, seal, and test the systems for proper pressures to ensure leak-free joints and operation.
• The supervisor checks the overall work to see that it meets accepted building codes and trade standards.
• Subject to recall for emergency repairs during non-administrative hours. Incumbent performs preventive maintenance on various systems throughout the Medical Center, including electronic mixing valves, thermostatic mixing valves, steam humidifiers, hose bibbs, exercising valves, backflow prevention, and any other system that may fall into their work set.
• Monitor the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) and Building Management Systems (BMS) daily.
• Purchase materials and services through Computer-based programs.
• Use Microsoft Office programs on a daily basis for communication.
• For record-keeping, spreadsheets are utilized to record data.
• Parts order and service requests shall be entered and approved through a computer system.
• Installs, modifies, and maintains all systems associated with the sprinkler system such as piping, risers, valves, gauges, hose connections, heads, backflow prevention, and knowledge of the fire alarm panel.
• Works from building plans, blueprints, and sketches to install, modify, and repair systems like those described above by setting up system routes, placing and cutting route openings, placing hangers for proper pitch and elevation, and determining and installing such things as risers, flexible branches, expansion joints, pumps, gauges, pressure regulators, valves, traps, and unions in the combination needed to support the pressures and proper operation of the systems.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 07:00am-3:30pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Pipefitter- Direct Hire Authority/PD92076A

PHYSICAL EFFORT and WORKING CONDITIONS:
Employee will make repairs and installations from ladders, scaffolding and platforms, and where the systems and equipment worked on are in hard-to-reach places. Employee will be standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing and working in tiring and uncomfortable positions. Employee will frequently handle, lift, carry and set up parts and equipment that weigh up to 50 pounds. Occasionally items may weigh more than 50 pounds.

Work is done inside and outside, and is usually dirty, dusty, greasy, and smelly. There is frequent exposure to the possibility of uncomfortable heat conditions. The employee is exposed to the possibility of strains, cuts, scrapes, bruises, burns, and infections. The employee is occasionally exposed to the possibility of broken bones.

Employee may be required to work in areas that have asbestos containing materials and will, therefore, be required to use personal protective equipment (PPE) including respirators and other equipment to prevent possible asbestos exposure. You will be responsible for completing respirator training, fit testing and training in the proper use and maintenance of general PPE.

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.
• 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.

Preferred Experience: The incumbent performs all duties of a journeyman Pipefitter and is assigned to the Pipe Shop within the Utility Systems Section of Facilities Management Service (FMS). The work involves installing, modifying, repairing, and maintaining new and existing utility systems and equipment. Utilities include low, medium, and high-pressure piping systems, natural gas, propane, fuel oil, medical gas systems, steam, condensate, vacuum, sanitary, drainage and compressed air. Equipment includes items such as steam humidifiers, steam generators, water heaters, boilers, electric steam generators, deaerator/expansion tanks, circulating pumps, and radiant fin-tube and panels, along with associated piping/controls equipment. Other items to maintain/install include water closets, sinks, tubs, showers, and backflow preventers and the associated equipment such as flush valves, and mixing valves. Drains, toilets, and sink maintenance includes plunging and snaking to clear the lines as needed. Incumbent installs or repairs new or existing copper, galvanized, black iron, cast iron, stainless, rubber, CPVC, and PVC pipes for utilities and medical gases. Methods of installation include sweating, brazing, gluing, and mechanical means. The incumbent also installs equipment like that described above by planning and determining where to place the equipment at the proper location. They shall join, seal, and test the systems for proper pressures to ensure leak-free joints and operation. The supervisor checks the overall work to see that it meets accepted building codes and trade standards. The incumbent is subject to recall for emergency repairs during non-administrative hours. Incumbent performs preventive maintenance on various systems throughout the Medical Center, including electronic mixing valves, thermostatic mixing valves, steam humidifiers, hose bibbs, exercising valves, backflow prevention, and any other system that may fall into their work set. The incumbent will monitor the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) and Building Management Systems (BMS) daily. They shall purchase materials and services through Computer-based programs. They shall use Microsoft Office programs on a daily basis for communication. For record-keeping, spreadsheets are utilized to record data. Parts order and service requests shall be entered and approved through a computer system. Sprinkler fitting 5%. The incumbent installs, modifies, and maintains all systems associated with the sprinkler system such as piping, risers, valves, gauges, hose connections, heads, backflow prevention, and knowledge of the fire alarm panel. The incumbent works from building plans, blueprints, and sketches to install, modify, and repair systems like those described above by setting up system routes, placing and cutting route openings, placing hangers for proper pitch and elevation, and determining and installing such things as risers, flexible branches, expansion joints, pumps, gauges, pressure regulators, valves, traps, and unions in the combination needed to support the pressures and proper operation of the systems. Performs other duties as assigned.

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:

• Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading)
• Technical Practices
• Without more than normal supervision

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 (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• Other (2)
• Other (3)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

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