Title 38 — Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73not60

§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 Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can give a bidding advantage to companies that employ veterans full time when picking who gets contracts for goods or services. How big that advantage is depends on the percentage of the company’s full‑time workers who are veterans. If a company knowingly lies about its workers’ veteran status, the Secretary can debar the company from Department contracts for at least 5 years. The Secretary must start the debarment process within 30 days of finding the lie and finish it within 90 days. The debarment also applies to the company’s principals (owners or top leaders) 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 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60