(a) GSA has delegated authority to the VA to procure medical equipment, supplies, services and pharmaceuticals under the VA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program. The VA FSS program includes medical supplies in Federal Supply Classification (FSC) Groups 65 and 66 and services in FSC 621 for Professional and Allied Healthcare Staffing Services and Medical Laboratory Testing and Analysis Services.

(a) The Veterans First Contracting Program, implemented in subpart 819.70 pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 8127-8128, applies to BPAs, and orders under FAR subpart 8.4 and has precedence over other small business programs.

(b) Contracting officers, when establishing a BPA or placing an order against the FSS, shall ensure that priorities for veteran-owned small businesses are implemented within the VA hierarchy of small business program preferences in subpart 819.70. Specifically, the contracting officer will consider preferences for verified SDVOSBs first, then preferences for verified VOSBs. These priorities will be followed by preferences for other small businesses in accordance with 819.7005.

(c) If unable to satisfy requirements for supplies and services from the mandatory sources in 808.002 and 808.004-70, contracting officers may consider commercial sources in the open market (see FAR 8.004(b)) if an open market acquisition is most appropriate (see FAR 8.004) and a VA Rule of Two (see 802.101) determination is made (see subpart 819.70).

(d) When the servicing agency will award contracts under an interagency agreement on behalf of the VA, the contracting officer shall ensure the interagency acquisition complies with FAR subpart 17.5 and subpart 817.5 and includes terms requiring compliance with the VA Rule of Two (see 817.501).

To satisfy VA legislative requirements, contracting officers shall use the supplemental ordering procedures of this section when establishing a BPA or placing an order for supplies or services under this subpart as follows:

(a) When market research supports set-asides. Pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 8127, contracting activities shall set-aside BPAs and orders for VIP-listed SDVOSBs or VOSBs when, based on research, the contracting officer has a reasonable expectation that two or more small business concerns owned and controlled by Veterans or owned and controlled by Veterans with service-connected disabilities will submit offers and that award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers best value to the United States. When the VA Rule of Two (see 802.101) is met:

(1) The set-aside requirements as provided in 819.7006 and 819.7007 are mandatory.

(2) The requirements in FAR 8.405-1, 8.405-2, and 8.405-3 apply, except only quotes received from verified (i.e., VIP-listed) and eligible SDVOSBs or VOSBs will be considered.

(3) The eligibility requirements of 819.7003, 819.7006, and 819.7007 apply, including the requirement for offerors to be VIP-listed at the time they submit offers/quotes as well as at the time awards are made.

(4) The contracting officer shall notify potential offerors of the unique VA verification requirements by including in the solicitation the applicable set-aside clause prescribed at 819.7011.

(b) When market research does not support set-asides. Pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 8128 and to the extent that market research does not support an SDVOSB or VOSB set-aside in either FSS or the open market, the contracting activity shall give priority in the award of orders placed under this part to VIP-listed SDVOSBs/VOSBs through the use of evaluation preferences giving priority to SDVOSBs first, then to a lesser extent VOSBs, and finally to any firm that proposes to use SDVOSBs/VOSBs as subcontractors. Contracting officers must use the clause prescribed in 808.405-570(b).

(c) SDVOSB/VOSB eligibility requirements. The SDVOSB and VOSB eligibility requirements in 819.7003 apply, including current SDVOSB and VOSB VIP-listed status at the time of submission of offer/quote and at time of award. The offeror must also represent that it meets the small business size standard for the assigned North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code as well as other small business requirements (including completing the certification found in 852.219-75 or 852.219-76.

(a) When setting aside an order pursuant to 808.405-70(a), the applicable clause prescribed in 819.7011 for SDVOSB/VOSB set-asides shall be used.

(b) When an SDVOSB/VOSB set-aside is not feasible, the ordering activity shall use the clause at 852.208-70, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned and Veteran-Owned Small Business Evaluation Factors - Orders or BPAs, for task orders, delivery orders, or BPAs using evaluation factors other than price alone.

(c) The ordering activity shall insert the clause at 852.208-71, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned and Veteran-Owned Small Business Evaluation Factor Commitments - Orders or BPAs, in request for quotes and resulting orders that include clause 852.208-70, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned and Veteran-Owned Small Business Evaluation Factors - Orders or BPAs.

In accordance with 801.601, when authorized, ordering officers may place orders for supplies and services against agreements or task or delivery orders established by a contracting officer against Federal Supply Schedules within the ordering limits identified in the contract or agreement or the specific ordering guide when funding is available. Ordering officers shall only place orders against the order or agreement if it is awarded to a single awardee. The contracting officer that awarded the Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPA) or order will provide the contractor a list of authorized ordering officers. Any modifications to the agreement or order must be performed by a contracting officer.