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Acquisition Policy Flash! 23-06

What's Changed?

Notice of the Small Business Administration (SBA) Veteran Small Business Certification Program for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs)

Purpose: To notify the VA acquisition workforce of the transfer of the certification authority for SDVOSBs and VOSBs from the VA’s Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) to the SBA.

Effective Date: January 1, 2023.

Background: In accordance with the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, SBA amended its regulations to eliminate self-certification and to create a government-wide certification program for Veteran-owned small businesses. The Veteran Small Business Certification Program (VetCert) is effective January 1, 2023.

SBA created a VetCert page on their website with a “Certification transfer from the VA and one-year extension” section with related information. Additionally, VetCert Frequently Asked Questions provide SBA’s certification transfer policies and current information.

Although SBA is assuming responsibility for certifying participants, the VAAR will continue to govern the VA-unique Veterans First Contracting Program. The SBA Federal-wide program only has authority for SDVOSB set-asides and sole source awards, whereas VA has authority through 38 U.S.C. 8127 to award set-aside and sole source contracts to SDVOSBs and VOSBs in accordance with the contracting order of priority (i.e., to SDVOSBs first, then to VOSBs).

After SBA posts a link to the certification database, VA will issue a class deviation to VAAR part 819 and affected parts, to update all references to VA’s CVE and Vendor Information Pages database to the SBA certification database.

Applicability: All set-asides and sole source contracts awarded pursuant to the VA Veterans First Contracting Program.

Action Required: Beginning January 1, 2023, contracting officers shall use the SBA certification database in lieu of the VA Vendor Information Pages database to verify SDVOSBs/VOSBs as eligible to participate pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 8127 and VAAR subpart 819.70.

Additional Information: Direct any questions to the Procurement Policy and Warrant Management Service (003A2A) at va.procurement.policy@va.gov.

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