Have you ever wondered how to do business with VA? No matter how large or small your business is, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs can be your potential client.
If you are planning to become a federal provider, you need to know that the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) is a potential client for you regardless of your business’s size. Even if your firm is really small and you are not a veteran, you can still sell your product or service to this entity, one of the federal government’s largest supply agencies.
Logically, veterans who own businesses often get preferential treatment when it comes to the federal government and this specific department, but you, as a small business owner, can also aspire to sell your product or service to this organization that awards billions of dollars in contracting opportunities to procurement-ready small businesses each year.
Doing business with VA
VA operates different institutions that routinely purchase goods and services from the private sector. For example:
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Veterans integrated service networks
- Data processing centers
- National cemeteries
What does VA buy?
According to “Doing business with VA”, a detailed guide created by this federal department for small businesses, VA acquires a wide range of products and services from local, regional, and national sources. Some of these goods and services are the following:
- Pharmaceuticals supplies
- Medical and surgical supplies
- Facility equipment, supplies, and materials
- Medical equipment maintenance and repair
- Scientific equipment maintenance and repair
- Building construction, maintenance, and repair
- Prosthetic and orthopedic aids
- Non-IT enterprise-wide solutions
- Enterprise-wide IT solutions
- Architect/engineer services
If you identify your product or service on this list, then you may have the opportunity of doing business with the U.S. government by offering it to this specific federal department.
How to sell your product or service to VA
Through the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Utilization (OSDBU), small firms interested in doing business with VA can access to useful resources on how to sell their products or services to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
Among other benefits, these resources will allow you to understand the following federal contracting aspects:
- How VA procurement opportunities are managed and sourced
- How to effectively participate in the federal procurement marketplace
- How to navigate the VA procurement process
- How to become familiar with VA procurement decision-makers
- How to identify the right contracting and teaming opportunities
- How to successfully perform on contract awards
Where to find contract opportunities with VA
Once you are ready to look for contract opportunities, you can access them by searching VA Forecast of Contracting Opportunities (VA FCO). You can also find current contracting opportunities by searching beta.SAM.gov, the federal government’s contracting web portal.
It is also important for you to know that SBA provides access to government-wide subcontracting opportunities through SUB-Net and Directory of Federal Government Prime Contractors with Subcontracting Plans.
Federal contracting facts to consider
According to the most recent data, combining the VAꞌs largest buyers (VA Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction, VA Office of Information and Technology, and VHA Procurement and Logistics Office), the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs procured over $12 billion in products and services in FY 2018.
Since FY 2022 is just around the corner, starting on October 1, 2021, you need to take action now to be prepared for federal contracting. Keep in mind that every year, the U.S government procures about $ 550 billion in products and services from the private sector and, by law, aims to grant 23% of those contracts to qualified American small businesses.
Don’t procrastinate, take the first step, and feel free to contact us for additional information regarding business opportunities with VA and expert guidance on federal contracting in general:
- (888) 595-6221
- info@rafaelmarrero.com
Dr. Rafael Marrero
A nationally recognized expert in federal contracting, small business entrepreneurship, vendor, and project/program management. A graduate of the prestigious Stanford and Cornell Universities, Dr. Rafael Marrero is a former Fortune 500 procurement executive, two-time Inc. 500 honoree, network news commentator, and Amazon best-selling author.
