The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has special authority for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business and Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB and VOSB) set-aside and sole source contracts.
Public Law (P.L.) 109-461 entitled “Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006” provides VA with unique authority for contracting with SDVOSB and VOSB. A new procurement hierarchy within VA for open market procurements was created which places highest priority with SDVOSB then VOSB. These small business groups are followed by 8(a), HUBZone, Women-Owned Small Business, then all other small businesses. This procurement authority, and its subsequent implementation, is a logical extension of VA’s mission to care for our nation’s Veterans. VA refers to this program as the Veterans First Contracting Program. See VA Acquisition Regulation Part 808, Required Sources of Supplies and Services, for the priorities in acquisition.
Laws and Regulations
- 38 CFR § 74 – VA Veteran-Owned Small Business Verification Guidelines
- 38 CFR § 74 RIN 2900-AO49 – Interim final rule regarding the two-year Verification eligibility term for SDVOSB/VOSBs (See page 1, Center Column)
- 38 U.S.C. §§ 8127/8128 Veteran Benefits
- P.L. 111-275, Sec. 104 Small Business Verification Act
- 48 C.F.R. Parts 802, 804, 808, 809, 810, 813, 815, 817, 819, 828 & 852 Veterans First Contracting
Center for Verification and Evaluation Standard Operating Procedure (Last reviewed on September 29, 2015)
- PROC-VERIFICATION-001 – Verification Process