Supplier Perception Survey
As part of our continuing outreach with VA suppliers to understand their concerns about VA’s acquisition process, we sent a baseline survey to 8,000 members of our supplier community in October 2010 and followed it up with semi-annual surveys to get feedback from our suppliers. We will continue this effort until we have reached all of our industry partners. We are using this survey to better scope our efforts to transform our acquisition processes, procedures, policies, and education. The Federal Register notice of the VA intent to use this survey is located at Federal Register Vol. 74, No. 212, page 57220, of Wednesday, November 4, 2009.
Highest Rated Dimensions
| Question |
2nd Survey |
Initial Survey |
| Your commitment to VA for a long term business relationship |
4.04 |
4.0 |
| VA’s record in honoring contract payment terms |
3.62 |
3.55 |
| VA’s integrity |
3.55 |
3.47 |
| The overall quality of the working relationship between VA and your company |
3.5 |
3.42 |
| VA’s emphasis on quality and commitment to continuous improvement |
3.29 |
3.2 |
Lowest Rated Dimensions
| Question |
2nd Survey |
Initial Survey |
| VA’s concern for your profitability |
2.78 |
2.8 |
| VA’s ability to present “one face” in your dealings across multiple functions |
2.87 |
2.75 |
| VA’s effectiveness in sharing risk, reducing your need to build risk into your pricing |
2.88 |
2.81 |
| VA’s effectiveness in focusing on Total Cost of Ownership |
2.89 |
2.85 |
| VA’s processes allow you to provide best value |
2.93 |
2.85 |
Key Observations and Findings
- Suppliers have noted improvements in VA Acquisitions performance over the past year, but still see significant room for further improvement.
- VA contracting staff performance is highly variable. Performance ranges from logical and helpful to hostile and confrontational.
- VA contracting staff knowledge and approach is highly variable. Some staff know the regulations well and work to meet VA goals within the regulations, while others with limited or inconsistent knowledge slow progress.
- Long solicitation and modification timelines create major issues for suppliers. Products and prices often shift drastically during these long timelines. These product and price shifts then result in further modifications, continuing the cycle.
- Suppliers want more ways to make their voices heard. They want to report poor performance and to assist in the creation of RFIs and RFPs when appropriate.
