Summary The Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic is in the Facilities/Engineering Section under the general supervision of the Maintenance Supervisor and direct supervision of the Maintenance Mechanic Supervisor for the Air Conditioning shop located at the James Mountain Inhofe VA Medical Center, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Responsibilities Major duties and responsibilities include: Fabricating duct work from sheet metal for modifications, installation or repair of air conditioning duct systems. Installing and maintaining HVAC equipment and/or components (such as: ultra-low freezers, centrifuges, refrigerated incubators, tubing, valves, fittings and casting). Utilizing technical ability to plan, prepare, design and install all types of HVAC/Refrigeration and exhaust systems. Utilizing technical ability to interpret sketches, diagrams, blueprints, electrical schematics, formulas and programming for a building automation operation system. Planning, designing, installing, repairing and troubleshooting HVAC/Refrigeration equipment and exhaust systems. Maintaining current inventory of parts, hardware, refrigerant, and other products and notifying supervisor when reordering is needed. Utilizing schematics, blueprints, sketches, technical manuals, oral and written instructions while conforming to safe efficient working practices. Completing work assignments that are made through written and oral instructions, work orders and preventive maintenance print-out schedules. Assembling or installing a variety of equipment (such as evaporators, condensers, receivers, expansion valves, dryers, etc.) per manufacturer's specifications. Making mechanical repairs to such items as pumps, compressors, chillers, receivers and evaporators performing such tasks as installing and fitting connecting rods, crankshafts, rings, bearings and bushings. Using precision tools and equipment, such as volt-ohm meters, amp meters, halide and electronic leak detectors, calibration equipment and other tools and test equipment used in the refrigeration trade. Calibrating and setting up transmitters, thermostats, and other pneumatic electric controls. Charging systems with proper refrigerants to obtain optimum operating temperatures. Using charging gauges and charging cylinders to maintain HVAC equipment. Properly reclaiming and disposing of all types of refrigerant. Applying principles and theories of air conditioning and refrigeration such as the refrigeration cycle, heat transfer laws, the use of refrigerant table. Making bench performance checks and calibrations to assure that each control segment will be operational as installed or with a minimum of readjustment due to peculiarities of a component or system. Using vacuum pumps, halide torches or electronic leak detectors to troubleshoot and repair equipment. Work Schedule: Various tours and Holidays Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not available Position Description Title/PD#: Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic/PD14438A Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment 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: Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading) Materials Technical Practices Troubleshooting Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment 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. Physical Requirements: Work requires good coordination and good physical and mental health. At times, the incumbent must remain working in cramped or awkward positions for varying periods. Occasionally, the incumbent must push or lift heavy pieces of equipment weighing up to 100 pounds and routinely must lift and push items weighing up to 50 pounds. Incumbents must have good vision and manual dexterity for accomplishing delicate work on miniaturized circuitry. Incumbents must not be color blind to allow for proper interpretation of important electronic color codes. The incumbent is required to climb ladders and do overhead work. The work requires much walking while carrying tools and test equipment. Working Conditions: The incumbent must observe normal and some special safety precautions. The incumbent is in contact daily with electrical safety hazards resulting from work with voltage and found in communications equipment, power supplies, and in other such equipment. The incumbent is also frequently exposed to special mechanical system safety hazards in working with motor driven systems. The working conditions are normally good in terms of lighting, space, and ventilation. Site work on equipment may be dirty, dusty, greasy, or contaminated, in cramped spaces and often from scaffolding. The work occasionally involves exposure to hazards such as radiation, sharp objects, hot objects, and infection. Work is performed inside and outside (heat, cold, under, and outside of buildings). Installation, inspections, and repairs are often made under dirty noisy conditions. There is frequent exposure to the danger of electrical shock, strains, cuts, bruises, burns and infections, and asbestos containment areas. Work may be performed outside in inclement weather or in areas that are very hot, cold, or unventilated: such as crawlspaces and mechanical rooms. Safety procedures must be followed, and appropriate protective safety gear must be worn, as required for the specific work area or task. Education There is no education substitution at this grade level. Additional Information The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.