Renewal now every two years; also, new ‘simplified’ procedures

The Veterans Affairs Department has extended the length of time needed between set-aside eligibility reverifications and instituted a new “simplified” reverification process along with other changes.

The new procedures are generating many calls to the VA. The kickoff of the new simplified reverification process has led to “higher than normal call volume” at the VA’s Center for Veterans Enterprise, according to a public notice posted on the VA’s VetBiz website.

The verifications and reverifications are required of veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned firms that participate in VA acquisition set-asides. The companies must show they are owned and operated by eligible veterans.

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki announced that the firms now may apply for reverification every two years, instead of every year, under an interim final rule.

“I have directed that VA simplify the verification process immediately and move from an annual to a biennial re-verification – every two years,” Shinseki said.

The interim final rule took effect on June 27. Public comments may be submitted until Aug. 27.

The goal of the change is to reduce the administrative burden and allow firms to plan ahead.

The VA’s enterprise center also debuted its new Verification Case Management System to streamline the eligibility and verification process, make it easier to track applications and improve and speed processing times, the VA said.

The simplified reverification process applies to companies that were verified with a full document examination under the provisions of Public Law 111-275. The process allows them to submit a new VA Form 0877 signature page and a certificate of changes or no changes to business structure, status, ownership or control since the last date of verification, the VA said. Additionally, many businesses will have to upload their original documents into the new system to enable future reverifications.

“...we are experiencing higher than normal call volume” at the Center for Veterans Enterprise...--VA website

However, the simplified verification process will no longer be part of the enterprise center’s Vendor Information Page verification options, the VA said in a separate announcement.

Businesses verified using the old process under Public Law 109-461, and removed from the vendor information page database, are not eligible for simplified reverification, the VA said. Those firms must submit a new application.

The VA also said it has established a new Class Deviation “Fast Track” program, open to any firm that was previously verified and is currently in reverification.

VA officials did not respond to calls requesting comment.

More information: http://www.vetbiz.gov/SimpReverFinal.pdf
and http://www.vetbiz.gov/ReverPressRelease.pdf