Contract Our Veterans Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Fine, Randy [R-FL-6]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a governmentwide program to expand federal contracting for veteran-owned small businesses and set a bold participation goal. It would require agencies to aim for a 5 percent share of prime and subcontract dollars going to veteran-owned firms and add new procurement paths to reach that target.
Show full summary
- Veteran-owned small businesses gain new ways to win work, including sole-source awards above the Simplified Acquisition Threshold and contracts limited to veteran-owned firms when two or more are reasonably expected to bid. Firms must be listed in the Small Business Administration veteran database to qualify.
- Federal contracting officers get explicit authority to use noncompetitive procedures for responsible veteran-owned vendors when the price is fair and offers best value. Agencies must count these awards toward the 5 percent governmentwide goal.
- The Small Business Administration would fold veteran-owned goals into its offices and programs, require detailed reporting on sole-source, restricted, and open awards, and expand data collection to track veteran participation across procurement methods.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More federal contracts for veteran small businesses
If enacted, the bill would create a new federal contracting authority for small businesses owned and controlled by veterans. Contracting officers would be allowed to award sole-source contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold to a responsible veteran-owned firm when the total price (including options) does not exceed the amount set in section 36(c)(2) of the Small Business Act and the award is fair, reasonable, and offers best value. Agencies could also restrict competition to veteran-owned small businesses when the officer reasonably expects two or more listed veteran firms to bid and the award would be fair, reasonable, and best value. Firms and their veteran owners would need to be listed in the SBA veteran database described in section 36(f)(1) to be eligible.
SBA programs added for veteran firms
If enacted, the bill would amend SBA rules and program references so the new veteran contracting authority is included across SBA programs. The 8(a) program, Best in Class listings, Business Opportunity Specialists, Commercial Market Representatives, and Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization would explicitly reference the veteran authority. The bill would also change subcontracting rules so veteran-owned subcontractors and contracts awarded under the new authority are treated like other covered small business categories for limitations on subcontracting.
Governmentwide 5% goal for veteran firms
If enacted, the bill would set a governmentwide procurement participation goal that veteran-owned small businesses receive not less than 5 percent of the total value of all prime contract and subcontract awards each fiscal year. The goal would apply across all federal agencies and is expressed as 5 percent of total prime and subcontract award value for the fiscal year. This is a governmentwide target and would not guarantee any individual firm an award.
More reporting on veteran contract awards
If enacted, the bill would require agencies and the SBA to report detailed data on awards to veteran-owned small businesses. Reports would break out totals, sole-source awards, veteran-only competitions, unrestricted awards, post-award changes in veteran status, and awards made using other small business methods. Mentor-Protégé reports must include veteran firms and the SBA Scorecard must show the percent and dollar amount of awards made to veteran-owned firms through sole-source and veteran-restricted competitions.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Fine, Randy [R-FL-6]
FL • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]
WI • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]
FL • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Hunt
TX • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7]
GA • R
Sponsored 2/17/2026
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
VA • R
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Barr
KY • R
Sponsored 4/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov