This part deals with prioritizing sources of supplies and services for use by the Government based on unique VA statutory programs, as well as requirements when using the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedules program including the GSA delegated VA Federal Supply Schedule program.

As used in this part—

Veterans Affairs (VA) Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) or “VA FSS” means FSS contracts awarded by the VA National Acquisition Center, under authority delegated by the General Services Administration (GSA) per FAR 8.402(a). VA FSS contracts include medical, dental, pharmacy and veterinary equipment and supplies in Federal Supply Classification (FSC) Group 65, instruments and laboratory equipment in FSC Group 66 and health care services in FSC Group 621.

(a) Priorities. Contracting activities shall satisfy requirements for supplies and services from or through the mandatory sources listed in paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section in descending order of priority:

(1) Supplies. (i) VA inventories including the VA supply stock program (41 CFR 101-26.704) and VA excess.

(ii) Excess from other agencies (see FAR subpart 8.1).

(iii) Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (see 808.603). Prior to considering award of a contract to Federal Prison Industries, Inc., contracting officers shall apply the VA Rule of Two (see 802.101) to determine whether a requirement should be awarded to veteran-owned small businesses under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 8127-28, by using the preferences and priorities in subpart 819.70. If an award is not made to a VIP-listed and verified service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB)/veteran-owned small business (VOSB) as provided in subpart 819.70, FPI remains a mandatory source in accordance with FAR 8.002.

(iv) Supplies that are on the Procurement List maintained by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, through the AbilityOne Program (FAR subpart 8.7). Supplies that are on the Procurement List but which do not meet the definition of a covered product in paragraph (a)(1)(iv)(A) of this section are only required to be procured from a mandatory source in accordance with FAR 8.002 if an award is not made to a VIP-listed and verified SDVOSB/VOSB after following the procedures set forth in subpart 819.70.

(A) Definition. As used in this paragraph (a)(1)(iv), covered product means a product that—

(1) Is included on the Procurement List as authorized under 41 U.S.C. 8503(a) (see FAR 8.703) and was included on the Procurement List on or before December 22, 2006; or

(2) Meets the following criteria—

(i) Is a replacement for a product under this paragraph (a)(1)(iv);

(ii) Is essentially the same and meeting the same requirement as the product being replaced; and

(iii) The contracting officer determines the product meets the quality standards and delivery schedule requirements of VA.

(B) Policy. Except as provided in paragraphs (a)(1)(iv)(C) and (D) of this section, contracting officers shall procure covered products that are on the Procurement List through the AbilityOne Program as set forth in FAR subpart 8.7. Contracting officers shall not procure products that are on the Procurement List, but which do not meet the definition of a covered product using the procedures set forth in FAR subpart 8.7, unless award cannot be made to a VIP-listed and verified SDVOSB/VOSB pursuant to the procedures set forth in subpart 819.70.

(C) Exception for certain contracts awarded in accordance with the Veterans First Contracting Program in subpart 819.70. If a contract for a covered product awarded under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 8127(d)(1) to a VIP-listed SDVOSB or VOSB was in effect as of August 7, 2020, the requirement shall continue as an SDVOSB/VOSB set-aside in accordance with 819.7006 and 819.7007.

(D) Termination or expiration of excepted contracts. When a contract previously awarded as set forth in paragraph (a)(1)(iv)(C) of this section is terminated or expires, contracting officers shall procure such covered product through the AbilityOne Program as a priority mandatory Government source (see paragraph (a)(1)(iv)(B) of this section), provided the head of the contracting activity or designee determines there is no reasonable expectation that—

(1) Two or more SDVOSBs/VOSBs will submit offers; and

(2) Award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the United States.

(v) Wholesale supply sources, such as stock programs of the General Services Administration (GSA) (see 41 CFR 101-26.3), the Defense Logistics Agency (see 41 CFR 101-26.6), the Department of Veterans Affairs (see 41 CFR 101-26.704), and military inventory control points.

(2) Services. Services that are on the Procurement List maintained by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, through the AbilityOne Program (FAR subpart 8.7). For services that are on the Procurement List, but which do not meet the definition of a covered service in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section are only required to be procured from a mandatory source in accordance with FAR 8.002 if an award is not made to a VIP-listed and verified SDVOSB/VOSB after following the procedures set forth in subpart 819.70.

(i) Definition. As used in this paragraph (a)(2)—

Covered service means a service that—

(1) Is included on the Procurement List as authorized under 41 U.S.C. 8503(a) (see FAR 8.703) and was included on the Procurement List on or before December 22, 2006; or

(2) Meets the following criteria—

(i) Is a replacement for a service under this paragraph (a)(2);

(ii) Is essentially the same and meeting the same requirement as the service being replaced; and

(iii) The contracting officer determines the service meets the quality standards and delivery schedule requirements of VA.

(ii) Policy. Except as provided in paragraphs (a)(2)(iii) and (iv) of this section, contracting officers shall procure covered services that are on the Procurement List through the AbilityOne Program as set forth in FAR subpart 8.7. Contracting officers shall not procure services that are on the Procurement List, but which do not meet the definition of a covered service using the procedures set forth in FAR subpart 8.7, unless award cannot be made to a VIP-listed and verified SDVOSB/VOSB pursuant to the procedures set forth in subpart 819.70.

(iii) Exception for certain contracts awarded in accordance with the Veterans First Contracting Program in subpart 819.70. If a contract for a covered service awarded under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 8127(d)(1) to a VIP-listed SDVOSB or VOSB was in effect as of August 7, 2020, the requirement shall continue as an SDVOSB/VOSB set-aside in accordance with 819.7006 and 819.7007.

(iv) Termination or expiration of certain excepted contracts. When a contract previously awarded as set forth in paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section is terminated or expires, contracting officers shall procure such covered service through the AbilityOne Program as a priority mandatory Government source (see paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section), provided the head of the contracting activity or designee determines there is no reasonable expectation that—

(A) Two or more SDVOSBs/VOSBs will submit offers; and

(B) Award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the United States.

(b) Unusual and compelling urgency. The contracting officer may use a source other than those listed in paragraph (a) of this section when the need for supplies or services is of an unusual and compelling urgency (see FAR 6.302-2, 8.405-6, and 13.106-1 and part 806 for justification requirements).

(a) Veterans contracting priority. In order to fulfill the requirements of 38 U.S.C. 8127-8128 (see subpart 819.70), contracting officers shall award contracts (see FAR 2.101 for the definition of contracts), as well as Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs), and orders against VA and GSA Federal Supply Schedules (FSS), providing priority in the awarding of such contracts to VIP-listed SDVOSBs first, then VOSBs.

(b) Strategic sourcing priorities and application of the VA Rule of Two. To provide medical supplies in Federal Supply Classification (FSC) groups 65 and 66 efficiently and effectively the VA, through previous reform initiatives, has implemented key strategic sourcing contract vehicles (e.g., prime-vendor, national contracts, VA FSS). If these strategic sourcing contracts were subject to the VA Rule of Two (see 802.101), they may be determined mandatory by the head of the contracting activity. Contracting officers shall consider these priority contract vehicles before using other existing contract vehicles.