News analysis:
US Supreme Court to hear VA case:
- Petitioner says VA has duty to research & apply Rule of Two
to veteran-owned small firms on every contract, including FSS
- VA says that approach would delay buys of medical supplies
and services and “seriously disrupt” providing care to veterans
A dramatic showdown is shaping up before the U.S. Supreme Court that will decide to what degree the Veterans Affairs Department is obligated to give priority to veteran-owned small businesses to fulfill tens of thousands of its mission requirements.
The case is one of very few cases ever considered by the Supreme Court on the issue of federal small business contracting. Supporters of Kingdomware say if they prevail there will be many more opportunities for veteran-owned small firms, while the VA says a Kingdomware win would result in significant delays and increased costs for providing care to eight million veterans. Oral arguments will be heard on Nov. 9.
Under a 2006 law, the VA must put veteran-owned small businesses first in line in its contracting. The VA’s implementing regulations further set a first preference for service-disabled veterans and a second preference for veterans who are not service-disabled.
Since the law took effect, the VA has more than quadrupled its contracting with service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) in recent years.......
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