Maximum Practicable Opportunity

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Maximum Practicable Opportunity

• An Introduction to Contracting Opportunities and
  Resources at the Department of Veterans Affairs
  (VA)

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Topics

• Understanding the VA
• Positioning Your Company to Compete
• Finding Opportunities
• Getting Help

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VA Mission

• . . .to care for him who shall have borne the
  battle, and for his widow, and his orphan. . .
  
• Abraham Lincoln
• Second Inaugural Address
• March 4, 1865

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VA Profile

• FY 2006 Budget 72 Billion
• 10.3 Billion for Supplies/Services
• 24.8 Million Veterans 39.1 Million Family
• 235,000 Employees 3rd Largest
• 130,000 Volunteers

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Organized for the Mission

• Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
• Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
• National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
• Staff Offices

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VHA Structure VISNsVeterans Integrated
Service Networks
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Dominance of VHA

• Major Construction
• Valued at 10 million or more
• Awarded by Office of Construction and Facilities
  Management

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Dominance of VHA

• Minor Construction
• Valued at less than 10 million
• Awarded by VISNs

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Your First Two Tasks

• 1. Identify who in VA buys what you have to sell
• 2. Focus your marketing efforts on that office

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Small Business Programs

• Remind contracting officers that dollars they
  spend have impact
• Help you stand out from the crowd
• Supplement your competitive edge on cost,
  schedule, performance

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Small Business Programs

• Are not a substitute for your marketing efforts
• Are not a guarantee of a contract

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VA Hierarchy of Programs

• Service-disabled veteran-owned firms
• Veteran-owned firms
• HUBZone firms and 8(a) participants (tied)
• All others (including general small business)
• Public Law 109-461, 502

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Definitions

• Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business
• One or more service-disabled veterans
• Own 51 or more of the firm
• Manage and control the daily operations of the
  firm
• Firm must be small under relevant industry
  (NAICS) code
• Firm must register and be verified in VetBiz
  Vendor Information Pages

• Veteran-Owned Small Business
• One or more veterans
• Own 51 or more of the firm
• Manage and control the daily operations of the
  firm
• Firm must be small under relevant industry
  (NAICS) code
• Firm must register and be verified in VetBiz
  Vendor Information Pages

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Set-Asides

• Competition restricted to particular type of firm
  (e.g. service-disabled veteran)
• Contracting officer must have reasonable
  expectation of
• Receiving two or more offers
• Making award at fair and reasonable price that
  offers best value to the United States

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Sole Source

• Noncompetitive award to single firm
• Contracting officer may do if
• Price not more than 5 million
• Firm determined responsible
• Award at fair and reasonable price

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HUBZone Program

• Community development in distressed areas
  (HUBZones)
• Participating small firms must
• Have principal office in HUBZone area
• Hire 35 of employees from HUBZones
• Apply and be certified by Small Business
  Administration (SBA)

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HUBZone Contracting

• Set-asides
• Sole source
• Price below 3.5 million for most contracts (5.5
  million for manufacturing)
• Price evaluation preference
• 10 advantage against large firms in
  full-and-open competition

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HUBZone Application

• Small Business Administration website
  www.sba.gov
• Look at maps of HUBZone areas to see if you
  qualify
• Read more information on HUBZone program
• Apply for certification electronically

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Vendor Information Pages

• Center for Veterans Enterprise website
  www.VetBiz.gov
• Link to Vendor Information Pages to register as
  service-disabled, other veteran small business
  (required)
• Read about other resources available

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Your Next Two Tasks

• 3. Read about service-disabled and other veteran
  contracting programs, and register in VetBiz if
  eligible
• 4. Read about HUBZone program and apply to SBA if
  eligible

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Finding Contract Opportunities

• Current Postings
• Federal Business Opportunities website
• www.fedbizopps.gov

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FedBizOpps.gov

• Review frequently
• Active postings change daily
• Search by agency, or even offices within an
  agency
• E.g., Department of Veterans Affairs, Orlando VA
  Medical Center (VAMC)
• Respond by deadline in notice (solicitation)
• Download solicitation and read thoroughly
• Follow instructions to the letter
• Submit your offer by the deadline

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Finding Contract Opportunities

• Likely Future Contracts
• Forecast of Contracting Opportunities website
  www.va.gov/osdbu
• Click on Doing Business with VA

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Forecast

• Contracts expected to be awarded during next year
• Contracts currently in existence
• Will expire eventually and may need new contract
• Small Business Point of Contact
• Help identify whom you should contact to market
  your company

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Your Next Two Tasks

• 5. Monitor FedBizOpps.gov for solicitations and
  respond by deadline
• 6. Review Forecast of Contracting Opportunities
  to get a head start on future contracts

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Getting Help Within VA

• Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business
  Utilization (OSDBU)
• Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE)

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OSDBU

• Advocates within VA to make contracts available
  to small business
• Operates Forecast of Contracting Opportunities
• Conducts monthly vendor counseling days

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Center for Veterans Enterprise

• Help veterans start new business or expand
  existing one
• Help veterans seeking contracts with any Federal
  agency
• Help veterans market themselves through VetBiz
  Vendor Information Pages

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Center for Veterans Enterprise

• Help veterans find other business resources
• Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)
• Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs)
• Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative
• Loan and surety bond information (Small Business
  Administration)

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Your Next Two Tasks

• 7. Contact OSDBU for help concerning contracts
  with VA
• 8. Contact CVE for wide range of business
  resources, and help concerning contracts with any
  Federal agency

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Questions?

• Office of Small Disadvantaged Business
  Utilization
• [phone]
• www.va.gov/osdbu
• Center for Veterans Enterprise
• [phone]
• www.VetBiz.gov