We are now distributing solicitation documents to all potential offerors via the Internet in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation to provide our potential partners with the best methods available for accessing VA business opportunities. Solicitation records and documents may be accessed via the Government-wide Point of Entry (FedBizOpps) or the VA Business Opportunities System
You may also access VA Public Announcements of Procurement Actions which provide information on proposed contracting actions
and contract awards
We welcome your comments regarding these services and thank you for your interest in the VA acquisition program.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates a nationwide system of hospitals, clinics, Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN), data processing centers, and National Cemeteries which require a broad spectrum of goods and services. We purchase these goods and services on a national, regional, and local level. So no matter how large or small your business is, VA is a potential customer. Each facility is listed at the end of this document. Purchases a majority of its requirements for direct delivery through its local Acquisition and Materiel Management office. You are encouraged to contact each facility for inclusion in its procurement process.
What do they buy?
Although there are certain priority sources identified by Federal regulations, each facility purchases a considerable amount of its requirements from both local and nationwide sources. Examples of items purchased are:
Pharmaceuticals and medical and surgical supplies
Perishable subsistence
Equipment, supplies, and materials for facility operation
Maintenance and repair of medical and scientific equipment
Building construction, maintenance, and repair
Prosthetic and orthopedic aids
Medical gases
How do they buy?
Acquisitions are accomplished by sealed bidding, negotiation, or simplified acquisition procedures. Each of these methods is designed to promote full and open competition to the maximum extent possible, which in turn allows all responsible bidders/offerors an opportunity to compete. The most suitable, efficient, and economical procedure will be used, taking into consideration the circumstances of each acquisition. Depending on the commodity (supplies, nonpersonal services, construction, etc.), most acquisitions at a medical center are of a definite-delivery/indefinite-quantity type. Much of the purchasing is accomplished through the use of mandatory sources such as Federal Supply Schedules and supply depots. A significant portion, however, will be acquired from sources obtained through the publication of solicitations in the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps), solicitation mailing lists, commercial advertising, or any other accepted means that will provide the procuring activity with a sufficient number of responsible bidders/offerors to ensure full and open competition.
Full and Open Competition
VA medical centers strive to promote and provide full and open competition in the acquisition process. In so doing, specifications are designed to meet each medical center's minimum needs and also to be compatible with standard trade and prudent business practices. Potential bidders/offerors are encouraged to advise the procuring activity if they feel any language and /or requirement of a specification inadvertently restricts or limits competition or if, in their judgment, specifications do not comply with standard trade practices or impose an impractical or unreasonable procedural burden.
General Purchasing Information
Bonding and Sureties: Performance bonds and payment bonds for other than construction contracts will generally not be required. Performance bonds, may be required when it is determined that they are necessary to project the Government's interest in service acquisitions. Bid guarantees, performance bonds, and payment bonds are required for any construction contract exceeding $25,000 in accordance with the Miller Act (40 U.S.C. 270a-270f). Normally, the bid guarantee is 20 percent of the bid price; the performance bond is 100 percent of the contract price; and the payment bond is 50 percent of the contract price. A list of Federally approved sureties is available through the Department of Treasury, Surety Bond Branch, Financial Management Service, Washington, DC 20227, telephone number (202) 874-6850. Individual sureties will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Most of our large purchases are made by the National Acquisition Center as described later in this document. However, offices listed below may be contacted for information:
The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information Resources Management (045), Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420, for:
Automatic data processing systems and equipment
Communications systems and equipment
The Office of Construction and Facilities Management (00CFM), Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420, for:
Medical center construction
Architect/Engineer services
The Director, National Cemetery System (40), Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420, for:
Grave markers
The Director, Office of Marketing, Veterans Canteen Service (VCS), Department of Veterans Affairs, #1 Jefferson Barracks Road, Building 1, St. Louis, MO 63125, for:
Retail store supplies
Restaurant supplies
The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Materiel Management (90), Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420, for:
Doing Business with the National Acquisition Center
Established in, 1951, the National Acquisition Center (NAC) in Hines, Illinois, is the largest combined contracting activity within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The NAC is responsible for supporting the health care delivery systems of the Department of Veterans Affairs and other Government agencies by establishing and administering Federal Supply Schedule and National contracts for such items as medical, dental, and surgical supplies and equipment; pharmaceuticals and chemicals; prosthetic and orthopedic aids; high tech medical systems; clinical analyzers, cost-per-test; Prime Vendor Distribution programs; and health care related services. With over 1,650 active contract in place and annual sales over $8 billion, the Federal customers are provide choices, quality products and services, state-of-the art technology, best pricing, and enhanced terms and conditions. To learn more about NAC's specific programs, you may go to www.va.gov/vastorenac
If you would like to visit the NAC, it is located in Building 37 on the Edward Hines. Jr., VA Hospital Campus, Hines (Broadview) , Illinois. The complex is located approximately 11 miles west of the Chicago Loop. The most direct route is via the Eisenhower Expressway (Route 290) to 1st Avenue. Go south on 1st Avenue approximately 1 mile, past the Loyola Medical Center Campus. NAC is located just south of Loyola Medical Center Campus, one the west side of the street, and one block north of 22nd Street. Directions From O'Hare Airport . Directions from Midway Airport. Appointments are recommended, and may be made by telephoning (708) 786-5157 or 5159.
If you have further questions, contact:
Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer (049A1)
Department of Veterans Affairs National Acquisition Center
P.O. Box 76
1St Avenue, One Block North of 22nd Street
Hines, IL 60141
Tele: (708) 786-5157/5159
FAX: (708) 786-5148
Email: nac@va.gov
Doing Business with the Denver Acquisition & Logistics Center
The Denver Acquisition and Logistics Center (DALC) is a national distribution center located in Denver, Colorado. The DALC procures, stocks, and distributes items directly to VA medical centers nationwide and to veterans throughout the world. Another major activity is a hearing aid repair service, conducted both in-house and with commercial contractors. Established in 1952, the DALC is the only facility of its kind within VA.
Items/services procured by the DALC
Custom-made, in-the-ear hearing aids (procurement only)
On-body, over-the-ear, and eyeglass hearing aids
Hearing aid accessories, e.g.. cords, tubing, ear hooks
Prosthetic socks in standard and specially made sizes, plies, and materials primarily to meet the needs of amputee veterans
Items for the orthopedically impaired. e.g., corsets, binders, abdominal supports
Aids for the legally blind, e.g., canes, braille and low vision watches and clocks, TV audio radios, braille writers
Hearing aid repair parts
Equipment, supplies, and materials for local facility operation
The services of commercial contracts for hearing aid repair
How does DALC buy?
Federal and VA Acquisition Regulations and methods (sealed bidding, negotiation, simplified acquisition) are equally applicable to the DALC. The majority of items and services are ordered by the DALC from contracts established by the National Acquisition Center (see page 4). The DALC also uses the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps), solicitation mailing lists, commercial advertising, or other acceptable means to ensure full and open competition.
General Purchasing Information
The same contract clauses and forms, warranty requirements, shipping and delivery procedures, bid evaluations, and prompt payment conditions in use throughout VA are applicable at the DALC.
Public Advertisement of Procurements
As required of all Federal agencies, the DALC advertises proposed contracts expected to exceed $25.000 in the FedBizOpps.
Please visit the Denver Acquisition and Logistics Center's homepage for more information.
The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) was established in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to assist and support the interests of small business.
A mission of this office is to provide outreach and liaison support to businesses (large and small) and other members of the private sector. Additionally, OSDBU is responsible for monitoring VA implementation and execution of the following socioeconomic procurement programs:
Small Business Program
Our small business program implements the requirements to aid, counsel, assist, and protect the interest of small business concerns to ensure that a fair proportion of total purchases, contracts, and subcontracts for property and services for VA are placed with small businesses. For acquisition purposes, small businesses must be independently owned and operated, not dominant in the field of operation in which they are bidding on Government contracts, and otherwise qualify as small businesses under the criteria and size standards developed by the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Women-Owned Business Program
In response to the need to aid and stimulate women's business enterprises, this advocacy program directs acquisition officials to take appropriate action to facilitate, preserve, and strengthen women's business enterprises and to ensure full participation by women in the free enterprise system. Appropriate action includes the award of prime contracts and subcontracts and counseling of women-owned businesses. "Women-owned small businesses" means small business concerns that are at least 51 percent owned by women who are United States citizens and who also control and operate the business.
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Program
The issuance of Public Law 108-183, the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003, provided Federal Government contracting officers with the authority to set-aside contracts to SDVOSB and to make sole source awards in certain instances. VA has implemented a very aggressive strategy. There is a goal of 3% of prime contract awards, across the Federal Government, for SDVOSB, and for FY 2006, VA has exceeded its goal.
Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) Program
SBA has the legal responsibility to give "special consideration" to veterans of the Armed Services in all SBA programs. Consistent with that mandate and the mission of VA, we strongly encourage the participation of VOSBs in the VA acquisition program. VA is the only Federal Government agency which has assigned a goal for contract awards to the VOSB community. OSDBU is the advocate that monitors the Veteran-Owned and Operated Small Business Concerns program.
VA is not authorized to set aside contracts for veterans; however, veteran-owned small businesses are identified, targeted, and included in our existing acquisition programs.
8(a) Program
OSDBU promotes increased utilization of small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals certified under the SBA Section 8(a) Program.
Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act establishes a program that authorizes the SBA to enter into contracts with other agencies and to negotiate subcontracts with small disadvantaged business concerns eligible for program participation.
The purpose of the 8(a) Program is to:
Foster business ownership by individuals who are socially and economically disadvantaged.
Promote the competitive viability of these firms by providing contract, technical, and management assistance.
Expand acquisition opportunities for these firms.
To be eligible for the 8(a) Program, a concern must:
Qualify as a small business.
Is at least 51 percent owned by a U.S. citizen who is determined by SBA to be socially and economically disadvantaged.
Each SBA 8(a) concern is subject to a fixed program participation term.
Subcontracting Program
The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requires that any contractor receiving a contract in excess of $1,000,000 for construction and $500,000.00 for all others, which offer subcontracting opportunities must contain a subcontracting plan (small businesses excluded). Each subcontracting plan must contain percentage goals for the maximum practicable utilization of small business concerns and small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals as subcontractors.
To carry out this program, OSDBU:
Recommends informational goals for solicitations.
Reviews subcontracting plans and offers recommendations.
Monitors compliance with subcontracting plans.
Participates in prebid conferences and conducts small business workshops to provide small and small disadvantaged firms the opportunity to present their capabilities to prime contractors.
Publishes a directory of VA prime contractors as a marketing tool to assist small and small disadvantaged businesses.
Other Programs
VA participates in the HUB Zone Program and the Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program (emerging small business set-asides in designated industry groups and targeted industry category support)
Additional information on these programs may be obtained by contacting:
Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (00SB)
Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420
Tele: (202) 565-8124
This office is available only for the purpose of providing information, counseling, and guidance. OSDBU neither awards contracts nor maintains solicitation mailing lists. OSDBU promotes the position of small businesses within the Department, maintains liaison with trade and professional organizations, and serves as the major source of information about VA for small businesses. This office monitors the performance of the Department on these programs.
Please visit OSDBU's homepage for more information.
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