House BillHR 7795Armed Forces and National Security
VA SUBCON Act
INTRO MAR 4· LAST ACTION MAR 4
READING
3MIN
COSPONSORS
0
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8
Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-written
This bill matters because it directly addresses the government's commitment to supporting veteran entrepreneurs. Many veterans transition from military service to starting their own businesses, and federal agencies like the VA have goals to award a certain percentage of contracts to these businesses. If this bill becomes law, it could make it easier for veteran-owned small businesses to get noticed and secure subcontracting jobs, which translates into real economic opportunities and helps these businesses thrive.
Without this bill, larger companies might have a harder time finding certified veteran-owned subcontractors, and the VA's efforts to meet its small business contracting goals might be less efficient. This bill offers a specific, centralized mechanism to connect veteran-owned businesses with contracting opportunities, potentially increasing their participation in federal procurement. However, its temporary nature means its long-term impact would depend on future legislative action.
KEY PROVISIONS
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PROVISION 01
Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish and maintain a database of certified veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.
This is the central action of the bill, creating a specific tool to connect veteran-owned businesses with subcontracting opportunities.
PROVISION 02
The database must distinguish between small businesses owned by veterans without disabilities and those owned by service-disabled veterans.
This ensures specific targeting and tracking for businesses owned by veterans with service-connected disabilities, who often face additional challenges.
PROVISION 03
Excludes certain businesses, such as those in mentor-protégé programs or joint ventures, and those without at least two 'Satisfactory' past performance ratings on prime contracts.
These exclusions aim to focus the database on independent, established, and high-performing veteran-owned businesses.
PROVISION 04
The database will be made available to other-than-small businesses bidding on VA contracts to help them find veteran-owned subcontractors.
This provision directly facilitates the goal of increasing subcontracting opportunities by providing a usable resource to prime contractors.
PROVISION 05
The provisions of this section, including the database requirement, will expire on December 31, 2028.
This sunset clause indicates the database is a temporary measure, requiring future legislative action if its existence is to be extended.
This bill matters because it directly addresses the government's commitment to supporting veteran entrepreneurs. Many veterans transition from military service to starting their own businesses, and federal agencies like the VA have goals to award a certain percentage of contracts to these businesses. If this bill becomes law, it could make it easier for veteran-owned small businesses to get noticed and secure subcontracting jobs, which translates into real economic opportunities and helps these businesses thrive.
Without this bill, larger companies might have a harder time finding certified veteran-owned subcontractors, and the VA's efforts to meet its small business contracting goals might be less efficient. This bill offers a specific, centralized mechanism to connect veteran-owned businesses with contracting opportunities, potentially increasing their participation in federal procurement. However, its temporary nature means its long-term impact would depend on future legislative action.
KEY PROVISIONS
AI-extracted
high
Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish and maintain a database of certified veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.
This is the central action of the bill, creating a specific tool to connect veteran-owned businesses with subcontracting opportunities.
med
The database must distinguish between small businesses owned by veterans without disabilities and those owned by service-disabled veterans.
This ensures specific targeting and tracking for businesses owned by veterans with service-connected disabilities, who often face additional challenges.
med
Excludes certain businesses, such as those in mentor-protégé programs or joint ventures, and those without at least two 'Satisfactory' past performance ratings on prime contracts.
These exclusions aim to focus the database on independent, established, and high-performing veteran-owned businesses.
high
The database will be made available to other-than-small businesses bidding on VA contracts to help them find veteran-owned subcontractors.
This provision directly facilitates the goal of increasing subcontracting opportunities by providing a usable resource to prime contractors.
high
The provisions of this section, including the database requirement, will expire on December 31, 2028.
This sunset clause indicates the database is a temporary measure, requiring future legislative action if its existence is to be extended.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the establishment of the database
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a report on the database to Congress
December 31, 2028
Sunset of the database requirement
GLOSSARY
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Veteran-owned small business (VOSB)
A small business certified by the Small Business Administration as being at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more veterans.
Service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB)
A small business certified by the Small Business Administration as being at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more veterans with service-connected disabilities.
Subcontracting goals
Targets set by federal agencies, like the VA, to ensure a certain percentage of their contract work is awarded to various types of small businesses, including veteran-owned businesses.
Prime contractor
A business that holds a direct contract with a government agency to perform a project or service.
Subcontractor
A business hired by a prime contractor to perform a specific part of the work on a larger project or service.
Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS)
A government system used by federal agencies to document and evaluate the past performance of contractors on federal contracts, providing ratings like 'Satisfactory' or 'Unsatisfactory'.
Mentor-protege program
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTS
MAR 4
Introduced in House
INTROREFERRAL
MAR 4
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
INTROREFERRAL
SPONSORS
1 SPONSOR · 0 COSPONSORS
Kimberlyn King-Hinds
R· Northern Mariana Islands· 1 YR IN OFFICE· 21 BILLS LED
A program designed to encourage large, experienced businesses (mentors) to help smaller businesses (proteges) develop their capabilities and compete more effectively for government contracts.
Sunset clause
A provision in a law that states the law, or parts of it, will automatically expire or cease to have effect on a specific future date unless it is extended by further legislative action.
