GAO: VA’s vet-owned small biz contracting rose to 25.8% in ‘17

VA contracting officers report ‘pressure’ with Rule of 2

     The Veterans Affairs Dept.’s contracting with veteran-owned small businesses experienced a huge increase following a 2016 Supreme Court decision, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.

      At the same time, VA contracting officers report continued difficulties in implementing the preferences for veteran-owned small businesses that were upheld by the court, the GAO said.

      The VA’s contracts with small businesses owned by veterans and service-disabled veterans (VOSBs and SDVOSBs) surged to 25.8% in fiscal 2017, up from 16.9% in fiscal 2015, the GAO said.

      VA construction contracts with those firms soared to 77.4%, up from 64.9%, during the two-year period.

      But along with the growth there have been problems...more....