WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the General Services Administration (GSA) have signed a formal agreement expanding GSA’s efforts for businesses that are owned by veterans, especially service-disabled veterans.
“America’s veterans are a national treasure, a pool of trained, motivated, reliable entrepreneurs,” said the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “They’re looking for a helping hand, not a hand-out.”
The agreement signed between the two federal agencies commits GSA to place additional emphasis upon programs for veteran-owned businesses and businesses owned by service-disabled veterans.
In 1999, Congress passed legislation urging all federal agencies to strive toward awarding 3 percent of their contracts – by value – to service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses.
Among other features, the agreement commits VA and GSA to co-sponsor eight regional conferences for veteran businesses in the coming year, with participation by the Small Business Administration and other federal agencies. The first will be held Nov. 7-8 in Kansas City, Mo.
VA’s efforts on behalf of veteran-owned businesses are overseen by the Department’s Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE). Further information about VA’s programs for veteran-owned businesses is available on CVE’s Internet Web site at http://www.vetbiz.gov. GSA's activities on behalf of service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses are located at www.gsa.gov.
