President Obama signed the Improper Payments Elimination Recovery Act of 2010 (IPERA) with the goal of reducing the federal government’s improper payments.  Electronic invoicing is the leading technological solution to prevent improper payments by eliminating error-prone manual processing.

To comply with IPERA, VA is finalizing actions to mandate electronic invoice submission to the VA Financial Services Center (VAFSC).  A Federal Register proposed rule mandating electronic invoice submission is pending publication.  The VAFSC has expanded its electronic invoicing services through OB10 provided solutions.  OB10 electronic invoicing services, including mapping/transaction fees, are free to VAFSC vendors.

OB10 offers simple and secure solution to eliminate the cost and time of processing paper invoices.  The benefits of e-invoicing the VA using the OB10 service include:

• Delivery of invoices directly into the FSC payments system and routed nationally for approval
• Elimination of mail processing time, postage, and invoice receipt inquiries
• Elimination of data errors and lost or misplaced invoices
• Verification of invoice receipt and rejection through automated status reports
• No installation of hardware or software required

The VAFSC is also seeking to expand electronic payments through Automated Clearing House (ACH).  The ACH enrollment form is available online at http://www.fms.treas.gov/pdf/indes.html and searching for ‘3381’.  ACH offers significant advantages, including:

• Reduced delivery time for payment funds, eliminating unpredictable postal system delays
• Automated payment generation through VAFSC accounting systems, reducing the likelihood of errors associated with paper based check systems

If you are not currently a member of the OB10 network, subscribing is simple.  There is no expensive hardware or software to install.  Also, once you are established on the network you may send electronic invoices to all customers who are utilizing OB10, allowing you to respond to future electronic invoicing requests immediately (Additional costs for other Buyers are not included).  The enclosed information outlines the options and no cost related to subscribing specifically to invoice the Department of Veteran Affairs.  A ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ (FAQ) document is enclosed.

OB10 will handle all of the necessary technical and commercial steps needed to establish your account.  If you prefer, feel free to contact OB10 at va.registration@ob10.com or 1-877-752-0900 then select option 2.  To contact the Department of Veteran Affairs Financial Service Center (VAFSC) about this request visit http://www.fsc.va.gov/fsc/einvoice.asp or call the FSC e-Invoice Contact Information at (866) 372-1141.