VA Seeks Input on Boring Data Privacy Contract Tweaks
Published Date: 1/16/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Veterans Affairs wants your thoughts on updating contract rules that protect information security and privacy. This affects companies working with the VA, who’ll need to follow clearer, safer guidelines. Comments are open until March 17, 2026, and the changes aim to keep data safe without adding extra hassle or costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Contractors Must Secure VA-Connected IT
If you contract with the VA for information technology services and the solicitation, contract, or order exceeds the micro-purchase threshold, VA requires Clause 852.239-70. That clause makes the contractor responsible for information technology security for all systems connected to a VA network or operated by the contractor for VA.
Design/Hosting Contractors Must Follow VA Rules
If you provide information system design, development, hosting, operation, or maintenance services for the VA, Clauses 852.239-72 and 852.239-73 are required in solicitations, contracts, orders, or agreements. Those clauses require contractor and subcontractor personnel to be subject to the same Federal laws, regulations, standards, and VA directives and handbooks as VA personnel for information and information system security.
Paperwork Burden and Comment Deadline
VA estimates the annual paperwork burden for this information collection at 4,815 hours, with an average of 19 minutes per respondent and an estimated 15,384 respondents. Comments must be submitted through Regulations.gov and received on or before March 17, 2026.
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