How do I bid on Department of Veterans Affairs contracts?
VA contracts are posted on SAM.gov like all federal opportunities, with a critical twist: the VA's "Vets First" mandate gives service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB) and veteran-owned small businesses (VOSB) priority access to VA set-asides, awarding 25-30% of VA total contract value to these firms.
The Department of Veterans Affairs spends approximately $35-40 billion annually on contracts covering everything from medical services and pharmaceuticals to facilities management, IT, and construction. The VA is unique among federal agencies in the strength of its veteran-owned business priority — the "Vets First" contracting mandate under Public Law 109-461.
Under Vets First, VA contracting officers must consider set-asides for veteran-owned small businesses (VOSB) and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB) BEFORE considering set-asides for any other socioeconomic category, and before running full-and-open competitions. In practice, roughly 25-30% of all VA contract value goes to VOSB/SDVOSB firms — the highest veteran-owned share of any federal agency.
To bid on VA contracts, first register on SAM.gov (all federal contracting starts there). If you are a veteran-owned business, get SDVOSB or VOSB certified via certify.sba.gov — this certification is now consolidated at the SBA as of January 2023 (previously the VA ran its own separate verification). Certification is free but requires proof of service (DD-214), veteran ownership documentation, and business financial statements.
VA opportunities are posted on SAM.gov like all federal opportunities. Filter by "Department: Department of Veterans Affairs" or specific administrations (VHA — Veterans Health Administration; VBA — Veterans Benefits Administration; NCA — National Cemetery Administration). VHA is by far the biggest buyer, running 172 medical centers and 1,000+ outpatient clinics. Common VHA needs include medical staffing (nurses, physicians, therapists), pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, facilities maintenance and construction, and IT.
Specific VA acquisition vehicles worth knowing: VA T4NG (Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology Next Generation) for IT services; VA-issued IDIQs like GTMSII and MSPV-2 for medical staffing and supplies. Many VA task orders are set aside for SDVOSB firms specifically.
Practical strategy: register on the VA Vendor Information Pages (VIP) which was the legacy verification system — even after the SBA consolidation, some VA staff still reference it. Attend the VA National Veterans Small Business Engagement (NVSBE) events — biggest matchmaking event for veteran-owned businesses. Consider teaming with an established VOSB/SDVOSB prime on your first VA pursuits to build past performance in the VA environment before priming yourself.