Guidelines established for firms to establish SDVOSB & VOSB status

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
38 CFR Part 74
RIN 2900-AM78

VA Veteran-Owned Small Business Verification Guidelines

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Interim final rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This interim final rule implements portions of the Veterans
Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006. This law
requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to verify ownership
and control of veteran-owned small businesses, including service-
disabled veteran-owned small businesses. According to this interim
final rule, a contracting officer in the Department of Veterans Affairs
may restrict competition for a requirement to a service-disabled
veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) or to a veteran-owned small
business (VOSB) if that business is listed as ``verified'' in the
VetBiz.gov Vendor Information Pages (VIP) database. The interim final
rule defines the eligibility requirements for businesses to obtain
``verified'' status, explains examination procedures, and establishes
records retention and review processes.

DATES: Effective Date: May 19, 2008. Comments must be received on or
before July 18, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted through http://
www.Regulations.gov; by mail or hand-delivery to the Director,
Regulations Management (00REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810
Vermont Ave., NW., Room 1068, Washington, DC 20420; or by fax to (202)
273-9026. Comments should indicate that they are submitted in response to ``RIN 2900-AM78-VA Veteran-Owned Small Business Verification
Guidelines.'' Copies of comments received will be available for public
inspection in the Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Room
1063B, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays). Please call (202) 461-4902 for an appointment. (This is not a toll-free number.) In addition, during the comment period,
comments may be viewed online in through the Federal Docket Management System at http://www.Regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gail Wegner, Center for Veterans Enterprise (00VE), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., NW., Washington, DC, 20420, phone (866) 584-2344.