Sponsor
Kimberlyn King-Hinds
Representative · R-MP
Representative · R-MP
The bill increases visibility and targeted support for veteran-owned businesses and adds VA reporting requirements, but it narrows eligibility for some firms, may be hampered by limited VA resources, and is temporary unless reauthorized.
Veteran-owned small businesses gain greater access to VA contracting opportunities because the VA will maintain a searchable database that makes veteran vendors more visible to VA contracting officials and helps large contractors find veteran-owned subcontractors.
Veterans with service-connected disabilities are identified separately in VA tracking, enabling targeted contracting goals and better support for disabled veteran-owned businesses.
Taxpayers and veterans get more oversight and transparency because the VA must report usage metrics and recommendations to congressional Veterans’ Affairs committees.
Newer or smaller veteran-owned firms may be excluded from opportunities because firms in mentor‑protégé programs, joint ventures, or lacking two satisfactory CPARS prime contracts are ineligible for listing, narrowing the eligible pool.
Veterans and taxpayers could see reduced functionality or delays if the VA must implement the database with existing staff and systems, because limited resources may constrain rollout and maintenance.
Veteran businesses face uncertainty and potentially short-lived benefits because the program is set to sunset at the end of 2028 unless renewed.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires VA to create and maintain a database of SBA‑certified veteran‑owned small businesses (distinguishing service‑connected disability status) to aid contracting and subcontracting.
Official title: To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and maintain a database of certified veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses to assist the Department of Veterans Affairs in meeting its subcontracting goals, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 4, 2026 by Kimberlyn King-Hinds · Last progress March 4, 2026
Creates a VA-run database of SBA-certified veteran-owned small businesses (separately listing veterans with and without service‑connected disabilities) to help the Department meet small business contracting goals and to help prime contractors prepare small-business subcontracting plans. The law requires exclusions for firms in mentor‑protégé arrangements and for those without at least two prior prime contracts with satisfactory CPARS ratings, requires a report to Veterans’ Affairs committees with metrics and recommendations, must be implemented using existing VA resources, and sunsets on December 31, 2028.