1. Doing Business with the
Department of Veterans Affairs
Presented by: Elaine DeGroot, Deputy Network Contract Manager
Network Contracting Office 23

2. VA’s Mission
“To care for him who shall have borne the
battle, and for his widow and orphan, by
serving and honoring the men and women
who are American’s Veterans.”
Abraham Lincoln

3. VA Organizational Structure
• Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
• Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
• National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
• Staff Offices

4. VHA “VISNs” - Veterans Integrated Service Networks

5. FY 2012 & 2013 Prime Contracting Goals
Category Secretary’s Goals
Small Business 34.0%
Small Disadvantaged Bus. (including 5%
Section 8(a))
Women-Owned SB 5%
Veteran-Owned SB 12%
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned
Small Business 10.0%
HUBZone Small Business 3%

6. FY 2012 & 2013 Subcontracting Goals
Category Secretary’s Goals
Small Business 17.5%
Small Disadvantaged Bus. (including 5%
Section 8(a))
Women-Owned SB 5%
Veteran-Owned SB 5%
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned
Small Business 3%
HUBZone Small Business 3%

7. What VA Buys
• Information Technology
• Medical, Dental and Veterinary Equipment & Supplies,
Pharmaceuticals (FSG 65)
• Instruments & Laboratory Equip (FSG 66)
• Perishable and Non-Perishable Subsistence

8. What VA Buys (cont.)
• Nursing Home Services
• Prescription Eyeglasses
• Readjustment Counseling Services
• Home Oxygen & Medical Gases
• Security Services

9. What VA Buys (cont.)
• Grounds Maintenance
• Transportation Services
• Interment Flags
• Medical Transcription Services
• Grave Markers & Headstones
• Integrated Pest Management Svcs.

10. What VA Buys (cont.)
• Trash, Garbage & Infectious Waste Disposal
• Architect & Engineer Services
• Construction Services
• Office Supplies & Equipment
• Office Equipment Maintenance
• Consulting & Advisory Services

11. How VA Buys
• Prime Vendor Programs
- Med/Surg
- Pharmaceutical
- Subsistence
• National Contracts

12. How VA Acquires IT
• NASA SEWP* (www.sewp.nasa.gov)
• VETS-GWAC** (www.gsa.gov/vetsgwac)
• GITSS** (www.buyit.gov)
• FSS (www.fss.gsa.gov)
• Open Market (FAR Parts 12, 13, 14 & 15)
*Mandatory Use
**Preferred Acquisition Method

13. Veteran Entrepreneurship
1. P.L. 106-50, Veterans Entrepreneurship & Small
Business Development Act of 1999
2. P.L. 108-183, Veterans Benefits Act of 2003
3. Executive Order 13360, the Service-Disabled
Veterans Executive Order (October 20, 2004)
4. P.L. 109-461, Veterans Benefits, Healthcare &
Information Technology Act of 2006), December
22, 2006; Effective June 20,2007

14. VA Hierarchy of Small Business Programs*
(Open Market Acquisitions**)
1. Service-disabled veteran-owned firms***
2. Veteran-owned firms***
3. HUBZone firms and 8(a) participants (tied)
4. All others (including general small business)
*P.L. 109-461
***Registered in VIP & Verified by VA
**Not applicable to FAR Part 8
Acquisitions

15. P.L. 109-461 Set-Aside Authorities
SDVOSB:
Competitive – Unlimited by dollar value
Sole-Source – Limited to $5 million
VOSB:
Competitive – Unlimited by dollar value
Sole Source – Limited to $5 million

16. VA’s P.L. 109-461 Verification Program
• Responsible Organization
– VA’s Center for Veterans Enterprise
– Contact: VACVE@va.gov
– Toll-free support: (866) 584-2344
• Locate Program Application Information:
– www.VetBiz.gov – click on Vendor Information
Pages database

17. VA’s P.L. 109-461 Verification Program
Fully electronic and secure application process
Who may apply: Owners who are veterans,
service-disabled veterans, or eligible surviving
spouses
Eligible Term: One year with no change in
ownership

18. Verification Logos
Steal this at your own risk!!

19. Mentor Protégé Program
• Design to enhance the viability of SDVOSBs &
VOSBs
• Not a funded program
• Protégé must be verified in VIP
• Non-Monetary incentives for VA prime contractors
• Thirty-six month agreements with a 36 month
option

20. Prime & Subcontracting Opportunities
• Open market acquisitions & contract awards
published in the Federal Business Opportunities
System (www.fbo.gov)
• VA Forecast of Contracting Opportunities & VA
subcontracting opportunities(www.va.gov/osdbu)
• Small Business Administration’s Sub-Net
(http://web.sba.gov/subnet/)

21. Improve Your Chances
•Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned & Veteran-Owned
Rep/Verification*
• Register in VIP Database*
•8(a) Certification
•HUBZone Certification
•Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Contract
•Accept Purchase Cards
•Competitive Pricing
*P.L. 109-461

22. VISN 23 - VA Upper Midwest
Healthcare Network
VA Health Care System Locations:
Minneapolis, MN
St. Cloud, MN
Black Hills HCS (Fort Meade, Hot Springs)
Nebraska-Western Iowa
(Omaha, Grand Island, Lincoln)
Central Iowa HCS
(Des Moines, Knoxville)
Iowa City, IA
Fargo, ND
Sioux Falls, SD
VISN Points of Contact:
Capital Asset Manager: Peter Yakowicz 612-467-2656
Network Contract Manager: Daryl Berg 612-344-2153
Chief Logistics Officer Barb Aldeman 319-338-0581 x6415
Facility Points of Contact:
Facility Chief Engineer Contracting Officer Logistics Officer .
Minneapolis Steve Challeen 612.467.2017 Mike Owen 612-344-2144 Terry Hanigan-2148 Bill Bulygo 612.725.2000x4350
St. Cloud Dave Ruder 320.255.6364 Jeri Jenkins 320-654-7608 Bill Bulygo 612.725.2000x4350
Fargo Dennis Langevin701-239-3760 Stu Eidenschink 605-745-7229 Thomas Kuhn 701.239.3700x2782
Sioux Falls Travis Maas 605.336.3230x6041 Crystal Dobbins 605-333-6819 Shaun Battey 605.336.3230x7030
Black Hills Bill Baker 605.745.2054 Jody Provorse 605-745-7229 J.R. Huddleston 605.745.2000x2364
NWI Bob Yager 402.346.8800x4456 Julie Stout 402-995-4506 Greg Atchley 402-995-4500
Central Iowa Paul Rasmussen 515.699.5841 Mike Casper 519-699-5880 John Meyers 608 280-7225
Iowa City Ed Ruppenkamp 319-338-0581x7134 Russell Grabill 319-688-3839 Barb Aldeman 319-338-0581x6415

23. Questions + Answers