VA Proposes New Rules to Increase Opportunities for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)

Veterans Administration (VA), Federal Acquisition Regulations: Supporting Veteran-Owned and Service- Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, Proposed Rules, 73 Fed. Reg. 49141, August 20, 2008.

This proposed rule would implement portions of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 and Executive Order 13360, Providing Opportunities for Service-Disabled Veteran Businesses to Increase Their Federal Contracting and Subcontracting. The Public Law and Executive Order authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish special methods for contracting with service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) and veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs).

Under this proposed rule, a VA contracting officer could restrict competition in contracting for SDVOSBs or VOSBs under certain conditions. Likewise, sole source contracts with SDVOSBs or VOSBs would be permitted under certain conditions. The proposed rule would implement these special acquisition methods as a change to the VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR).

Dates: Comments on the proposed rule should be submitted on or before October 20, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of the final rule.

Note: Thanks to Jerry Walz at PubKLaw.com for the heads-up on this announcement. For those of you who are involved in public contracting, especially federal procurement, Jerry's PubKLaw-Digest is an excellent resource. For a modest annual cost, you receive a daily newsletter updating all aspects of procurement law, and recent decisions from the various boards of contract appeals, and federal district and circuit courts. Highly recommended!