Office of Procurement, Acquisition and Logistics (OPAL)

Purchasing Programs

National Contract Service

The VA National Contract Service has responsibility for National Contracts and Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs), which are established against VA and GSA Federal Supply Schedule contracts.  VA’s National Contract and National BPA programs are used by VA medical centers, related facilities, specific State Veterans Homes, and other Federal facilities.

Medical/Surgical Prime Vendor

VA implemented a national medical/surgical prime vendor program.  The program is mandatory for all VA medical centers and consists of four (4) prime vendor contracts.

Subsistence Prime Vendor

The subsistence prime vendor program serves to provide VA and other Government agencies with just-in-time distribution for food items and food-related supplies and equipment.

High Tech Medical Equipment

The VA High Tech Medical Equipment (HTME) Branch, in partnership with the Department of Defense, awards joint, competitively priced contracts for high-tech medical equipment systems.  HTME solicits customer orders (funded) at least three (3) times annually to compete and leverage these requirements to achieve additional cost savings for its customers.

Pharmaceutical Prime Vendor

The pharmaceutical prime vendor program utilizes just-in-time acquisition/inventory processes, including sophisticated software and prompt payment capabilities.  This program is mandatory for all VA medical centers and includes other Government agencies’ requirements.

Contingency & Special Contracting Support

A cadre of acquisition professionals are available to assist any Federal customer, under establishment of an intra- or interagency agreement, to provide contracting/purchasing support for specific or unique customer health-care related (e.g. pharmaceuticals, medical/surgical supplies, medical equipment) requirements.  This group will work with the customer to develop innovative contract solutions that “meet or exceed” the customer’s needs.  This group also specializes in contingency contract support during the pre-planning, actual, and aftermath phases of any natural or man-made disaster.

Disaster Recovery Purchasing

Under the Disaster Recovery Purchasing, state and local government entities may purchase a variety of products and services from contracts awarded under VA and GSA Federal Supply Schedules to facilitate recovery from a major disaster, terrorism, or nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack.  Access the FEMA Federal Disaster Declarations database.

Department of Defense Pharmaceutical Prime Vendor Program

Pharmaceutical Prime Vendor - Global (PPV-G) contracts were awarded on January 25, 2005 to AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp (“ABC”) for TRICARE Regions North and South, and to Cardinal Health, Inc. for TRICARE West.  The contracts service various DoD and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs), “Other” Government Organizations, and Designed Providers located throughout the world.  The contracts are for a potential ten-year period, which consists of one 30-month base period, and three 30-month option periods.

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