Title 38, Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-110

§8129 Preference for Offerors Employing Veterans

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

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

When awarding contracts for goods or services, the Secretary can favor companies that employ veterans as full-time workers. The amount of that preference depends on the percentage of the company’s full-time staff who are veterans. If the Secretary finds a company purposely lied about employees’ veteran status to get the preference, the company can be barred from Department contracts for at least 5 years. The Secretary must start the debarment action within 30 days of the finding and finish it within 90 days. The ban also applies to all principals of the company for at least 5 years.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §8129

Veterans' Benefits, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Preference.—

(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)Enforcement Penalties for Misrepresentation.—

(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

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110