WASHINGTON – Edging closer to its target for contracting with service-disabled, veteran-owned businesses, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has bested other federal agencies, according to a report on last year’s federal contracting program.
Of 18 federal agencies that procured at least $1 billion through contracts, VA led in its percentage — 2.15 percent — awarded to small businesses run by veterans disabled during military service. VA awarded more than $200 million to these veteran-owned businesses in fiscal year 2005.
“VA is committed to helping veterans, not just with health care and other benefits, but in experiencing the opportunities of entrepreneurship,” said the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
VA’s leadership role in supporting service-disabled, veteran-owned businesses was cited in the recent Small Business Goaling Report by the Small Business Administration. According to the report, VA’s $9.8 billion in total acquisitions last year made it the fourth largest purchaser of goods and services within the federal government, behind the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy and NASA.
Across the federal government, the report said contracts with service-disabled veterans increased to $1.9 billion last year, up by 58 percent since 2004.
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