Noteboom The Law Firm

Veteran-Owned Businesses Ranked Eight for VA Contracts

According to an article in The Air Force Times, it was revealed at a recent hearing in front of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee that veteran-owned businesses were 8th in line for contracts, which concluded that veterans preferences weren’t being awarded accordingly.

 

Although the VA representative stated “veteran-owned businesses have priority in open market purchases,’” neither VA contracting personnel nor business owners were able to decipher the priority list the VA is currently using to award their contracts.

 

However, according to Bob Hesser, a disabled veteran and small business owner, when the VA is looking for something they search for it with the following priority:

 

• ·        internal inventory;
• ·        inventory of other agencies;
• ·        purchasing from Federal Prison Industries;
• ·        purchasing from “blind or severely disabled people,” that aren’t necessarily veterans;
• ·        purchasing from wholesale suppliers;
• ·        purchasing from “mandatory federal supply schedules;”
• ·        purchasing from “optional federal supply schedules;” and
• ·        purchasing from “commercial sources and open market”(includes veterans needs).

 

Once a veteran-owned company is awarded a contract, the veterans still has to certify their ownership and controlled operations but it has resulted in about 60% appealing their certification decisions, which is costing time and money, and has resulted in some businesses having to close their doors.

 

If you are a veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.