Department of Veterans Affairs Government Contracts — Contractor Guide

VA's Vets First Contracting Program mandates that contracting officers first determine whether a requirement can be met by SDVOSB firms, then VOSB firms, before opening to all small businesses or full and open competition. This gives verified SDVOSBs and VOSBs strong advantages in VA procurement. Verification through the VA Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) is required — SAM.gov certification alone is not sufficient for VA set-asides.

VA's Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) is a major contract vehicle for pharmaceuticals (Schedule 65), medical equipment (Schedule 65), and services. Getting on the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) or VA-specific schedules gives you access to VA purchase orders without competing on individual procurements. VA buyers can place orders directly from schedule holders.

VA's healthcare system is divided into 18 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs), each with one or more Network Contracting Offices (NCOs). NCOs handle procurement for VA medical centers in their geographic region. Understanding which NCO covers your target VA facilities is essential for targeting your business development efforts.

VA's Technology Acquisition Center (TAC) manages major IT contracts including the T4NG IDIQ for IT services. VA IT priorities include EHR (Electronic Health Record) modernization, cybersecurity, data analytics, and telehealth expansion. T4NG has a 30% small business participation goal. VA also uses GSA vehicles including SEWP, Alliant 2, and 8(a) STARS.