Title 38 — Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73

§8129 Preference for offerors employing veterans

Title 38 › Part PART VI— - ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY › Chapter CHAPTER 81— - ACQUISITION AND OPERATION OF HOSPITAL AND DOMICILIARY FACILITIES; PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLY; ENHANCED-USE LEASES OF REAL PROPERTY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLY › § 8129

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary may give a contract preference to companies that employ veterans full time. How much preference a bidder gets depends on the share of its full-time workers who are veterans. If a company knowingly lied about employees’ veteran status, the Secretary can bar it from Department contracts for at least 5 years. The Secretary must start the debarment within 30 days and finish it within 90 days. The debarment applies to all principals for at least 5 years.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §8129

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)In awarding a contract for the procurement of goods or services, the Secretary may give a preference to offerors that employ veterans on a full-time basis.

(2)The Secretary shall determine such preference based on the percentage of the full-time employees of the offeror who are veterans.

(b)(1)Any offeror that is determined by the Secretary to have willfully and intentionally misrepresented the veteran status of the employees of the offeror for purposes of subsection (a) may be debarred from contracting with the Department for a period of not less than five years.

(2)If the Secretary carries out a debarment under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—

(A)commence debarment action against the offeror by not later than 30 days after determining that the offeror willfully and intentionally misrepresented the veteran status of the employees of the offeror as described in paragraph (1); and

(B)complete debarment actions against such offeror by not later than 90 days after such determination.

(3)The debarment of an offeror under paragraph (1) includes the debarment of all principals in the offeror for a period of not less than five years.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 8129

Title 38 — Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73