VETS Contract Gets DOD Backing The Defense Department’s top acquisition official is urging the armed services and other DOD agencies to consider using the Veterans Technology Services governmentwide acquisition contract, known as VETS. In an April 12 memo Kenneth Krieg, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, reminded buyers of the 3 percent contracting goal for companies owned by service-disabled vets. “While we have made progress toward meeting the goal, we have a long way to go,” he wrote. “We must pursue this goal with vigor.” GSA selected 43 service-disabled veteran-owned IT firms for the $5 billion VETS contract. “To the extent that any of the SDVOSB teams listed by GSA meets the requirements of a DoD buying activity, I encourage you to accord these teams the maximum practicable opportunity to participate,” Krieg wrote in a memo April 12. GSA has announced the first task order awarded under the VETS contract went to Carolina Management and Technology Inc. of Fayetteville, NC. The company will provide database support services for GSA’s Greater Southwest Region. The order is worth nearly $500,000 for 42 months, including three twelve month options.