From the desk of James H. Williams, Chairman

President Bush signed Executive Order 13360 on October 20, 2004, to demonstrate the Nation’s appreciation for the services rendered by Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business owners, whose disabilities were incurred while serving in the Armed Forces (I served with the 173^rd Airborne Brigade, Separate from March 14, 1964 to January 4, 1966).  All Americans are indebted to these men and women for their service to our country.  One tangible method for expressing our gratitude to these individuals for their sacrifices is to provide Federal contracting opportunities to Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business owners, enabling these businesses to expand their ability to grow their enterprises utilizing Federal contracting opportunities. 

However, in recent years, the Federal Government has not consistently reached its small business contracting goals. Although it has made some progress -- particularly with respect to Recovery Act contracts -- more work can and should be done. President Obama is committed to ensuring that small businesses, including firms owned by women, minorities, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and service-disabled veterans, have fair access to Federal Government contracting. President Obama signed an executive order April 26, 2010, that specifically require Heads of Agencies to significantly increase the number of prime contracts and subcontracts awarded to Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) and directs Federal agencies to develop strategies for implementing the policies set forth in the Order.  

Public Law 109-461 and VA's mandate and mission, encouraging the participation of SDVOSB's in VA acquisition programs and awarding these firms contracts are the highest priority to VA Small and Veteran Owned Programs.

Recently, in the June 16, 2016 Supreme Court ruling (in the case of Kingdom Technologies, Inc. v. United States), Justice Thomas in his opinion of court, and in an effort to encourage small businesses, mandated that federal agencies restrict competition for some federal contracts.  The Small Business Act thus requires many federal agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, to set aside contracts to be awarded to small businesses...including those "small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans".