VA Contracting and Procurement Act
Sponsored By: Representative Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1]
In Committee
Summary
Limits VA contract spending to $50 million. This bill would impose a uniform cap across many VA contracts, agreements, and program purchases while creating emergency carve-outs and tightening procurement and education agreement rules.
Show full summary
- Caps obligations and expenditures for VA contracts and agreements at $50 million, with exceptions for declared wars, War Powers Resolution cases, presidential national emergencies, major disasters affecting VA medical facilities, and public health emergencies.
- Applies the same $50 million limit to education-related agreements and would require the Secretary to notify relevant VA committees, then wait 30 legislative days before proceeding unless Congress acts to disapprove.
- Changes how the VA buys prosthetic appliances and surgical implants. It would require a VA catalog aligned with Defense Health Agency data and require surgical implants be procured via firm-fixed-price, single-purchase orders, with key implementation steps due within 1 year and 3 years.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Limit on Large VA Contracts
If enacted, the VA would not be able to obligate or spend more than $50,000,000 on any single contract, agreement, or personal services arrangement under several VA authorities unless funds for that agreement are specifically authorized by law. The $50,000,000 limit would apply to community care, facility health-care agreements, sharing agreements, education and benefits administration agreements, and certain small-business contracting authorities. The limit would not apply during a declared war, certain War Powers actions, a presidential national emergency, a qualifying Stafford Act major disaster affecting a VA facility, or a public health emergency under section 319. This change would likely force VA to split, delay, or seek authorization for large agreements, which could affect vendors and the timing of services to veterans.
Congress review of VA education deals
If enacted, any VA education-related agreement that would cost more than $50,000,000 would need either specific congressional funding or a notification-and-wait process before proceeding. The VA would notify House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees with purpose, scope, cost estimate, and performance period, then wait at least 30 legislative days. Congress could introduce a joint resolution of disapproval within 10 legislative days and consider it under expedited procedures. This would add a formal congressional check that could delay or stop large VA education contracts that affect GI Bill or education program administration.
New rules for VA prosthetics
If enacted, the VA would set up and keep a catalog of prosthetic appliances and surgical implants and align its data with Defense Health Agency rules. The VA would let manufacturers submit catalog changes electronically with less paperwork and must accept manufacturer proposals at least twice a year until a full system is in place. The VA would buy surgical implants with single firm-fixed-price purchase orders through the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service and use processes to stop duplicate billing and fix errors in real time. The firm-fixed-price implant buying rule would be required within one year, and the full catalog revision process within three years.
Buy U.S. items for emergency caches
If enacted, the VA would be required to buy health items for its All-Hazards Emergency Caches in line with domestic-preference laws so U.S. suppliers are prioritized. The VA could waive that rule in an emergency if following it would threaten veterans' health or safety, but it would have to notify House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees within 30 days explaining the emergency, the item, the cost, and why domestic preference was not possible. The VA would also certify each year by November 1 whether it complied with the domestic-preference rule for the prior fiscal year.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1]
MI • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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