Bill Summary
The "Contract Our Veterans Act of 2026" aims to enhance the participation of small business concerns that are owned and controlled by veterans in federal procurement contracts. Key provisions of the legislation include:
1. **Establishment of Goals**: The Act mandates that the federal government set a goal for participation by veteran-owned small businesses, with a target of at least 5% of the total value of all prime contracts and subcontracts awarded each fiscal year.
2. **Contracting Flexibility**: It allows contracting officers to award contracts without competitive bidding to veteran-owned small businesses under certain conditions, such as ensuring the business is responsible and the contract price is fair and reasonable. Additionally, competitive bidding can be restricted to veteran-owned businesses when there is a reasonable expectation of multiple bids.
3. **Eligibility and Reporting**: The Act requires that only businesses listed in a specific government database can be awarded contracts under this provision, and it mandates detailed reporting on the participation of veteran-owned businesses in federal contracts.
4. **Support for Participation**: The Act includes amendments to various sections of the Small Business Act to facilitate the support and recognition of veteran-owned small businesses, including enhancements to programs that assist these businesses in navigating federal contracting.
Overall, this legislation is designed to improve opportunities for veteran entrepreneurs and strengthen their role in federal procurement processes.
Possible Impacts
The "Contract Our Veterans Act of 2026" aims to enhance the participation of small businesses owned and controlled by veterans in federal procurement contracts. Here are three examples of how this legislation could affect people:
1. **Increased Business Opportunities for Veteran Entrepreneurs**: The legislation establishes specific goals for the percentage of federal contracts that must be awarded to veteran-owned small businesses. This means that veteran entrepreneurs may have improved access to federal procurement opportunities, allowing them to grow their businesses, create jobs, and contribute to their local economies. For example, a veteran-owned construction company may benefit from increased contract awards, enabling them to hire more veterans and civilians.
2. **Enhanced Support and Resources for Veteran-Owned Businesses**: The legislation mandates that government agencies report on their procurement activities related to veteran-owned businesses, which can lead to increased awareness and support for these enterprises. Additionally, the establishment of Business Opportunity Specialists and the inclusion of veteran-owned businesses in mentor-protege programs may provide these businesses with valuable resources, training, and networking opportunities. As a result, veterans looking to start or expand their businesses could receive better guidance and support.
3. **Greater Accountability in Federal Spending**: By requiring governmentwide goals for contracting with veteran-owned small businesses and detailed reporting on these contracts, the legislation promotes transparency and accountability in federal procurement. This can lead to better tracking of how federal dollars are spent and ensure that a fair share goes to veteran-owned businesses. Veterans and advocacy groups may use this information to hold the government accountable for meeting its commitments, thus leading to more equitable participation in federal contracting opportunities.
Overall, the legislation aims to empower veterans in the business sector while promoting economic growth and accountability in government spending.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3964 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3964
To amend the Small Business Act to establish a goal for participation
by small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans in
procurement contracts, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 3, 2026
Mr. Sheehy (for himself and Mr. Schiff) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business
and Entrepreneurship
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Small Business Act to establish a goal for participation
by small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans in
procurement contracts, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Contract Our Veterans Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. AGENCY CONTRACTING GOALS FOR SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS OWNED AND
CONTROLLED BY VETERANS.
The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended by
inserting after section 36A the following:
``SEC. 36B. SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY VETERANS.
``(a) Contracting Officer Defined.--In this section, the term
`contracting officer' has the meaning given the term in section 2101 of
title 41, United States Code.
``(b) Sole Source Contracts for Contracts Above Simplified
Acquisition Threshold.--A contracting officer may award a contract to a
small business concern owned and controlled by veterans using
procedures other than competitive procedures if--
``(1) the concern is determined to be a responsible source
with respect to performance of the contract;
``(2) the anticipated award price of the contract
(including options) will not exceed the amounts specified in
section 36(c)(2); and
``(3) the contracting officer determines the contract award
can be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers best
value to the United States.
``(c) Restricted Competition.--A contracting officer shall award
contracts on the basis of competition restricted to small business
concerns owned and controlled by veterans if the contracting officer
has a reasonable expectation that--
``(1) 2 or more small business concerns owned and
controlled by veterans will submit offers; and
``(2) the award can be made at a fair and reasonable price
that offers best value to the United States.
``(d) Eligibility of Small Business Concerns.--A small business
concern may be awarded a contract under this section only if the small
business concern and the veteran owner of the small business concern
are listed in the database described in section 36(f)(1).''.
SEC. 3. GOVERNMENTWIDE GOALS AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR SMALL
BUSINESS CONCERNS OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY VETERANS.
(a) Governmentwide Goals.--Section 15(g) of the Small Business Act
(15 U.S.C. 644(g)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and small business concerns owned and
controlled by women'' and inserting ``, small business concerns
owned and controlled by women, and small business concerns
owned and controlled by veterans'' each place it appears;
(2) in paragraph (1)(A), by adding at the end the
following:
``(vi) The Governmentwide goal for
participation by small business concerns owned
and controlled by veterans shall be established
at not less than 5 percent of the total value
of all prime contract and subcontract awards
for each fiscal year.''; and
(3) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``and by small
business concerns owned and controlled by women'' and inserting
``by small business concerns owned and controlled by women, and
by small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans''.
(b) Reporting on Goals.--Section 15(h)(2) of the Small Business Act
(15 U.S.C. 644(h)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (E)--
(A) in clauses (i)(VI), (ii)(VII), (iii)(VIII), and
(iv)(VIII), by inserting ``small business concerns
owned and controlled by veterans'' after ``small
business concerns owned and controlled by women,'';
(B) in clause (vii)(VI), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(C) in clause (viii)(X), by inserting ``small
business concerns owned and controlled by veterans''
after ``small business concerns owned and controlled by
socially and economically disadvantaged individuals,'';
and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(ix) small business concerns owned and
controlled by veterans--
``(I) in the aggregate;
``(II) through sole source
contracts;
``(III) through competitions
restricted to small business concerns;
``(IV) through competitions
restricted to small business concerns
owned and controlled by veterans;
``(V) through unrestricted
competition;
``(VI) that were purchased by
another entity after the initial
contract was awarded and as a result of
the purchase, would no longer be deemed
to be small business concerns owned and
controlled by veterans for purposes of
the initial contract; and
``(VII) that were awarded using a
procurement method that restricted
competition to small business concerns
owned and controlled by service-
disabled veterans, qualified HUBZone
small business concerns, small business
concerns owned and controlled by
socially and economically disadvantaged
individuals, small business concerns
owned and controlled by women, or a
subset of any such concerns; and''; and
(2) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and small business
concerns owned and controlled by women'' and inserting ``small
business concerns owned and controlled by women, and small
business concerns owned and controlled by veterans''.
SEC. 4. PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL PROCUREMENT BY SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS
OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY VETERANS.
(a) Business Opportunity Specialists.--Section 4(g)(1) of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 633(g)(1)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``and 36'' and inserting ``36, and 36B'';
(2) in subparagraph (A)(v), by striking ``36, and'' and
inserting ``36, 36B, and''; and
(3) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``36, or'' and
inserting ``36, 36B, or''.
(b) Commercial Market Representative.--Section 4(h)(1) of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 633(h)(1)) is amended, in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``and 36'' and inserting ``36, and 36B''.
(c) Consideration of Offers.--Section 8(a)(17)(A) of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)(17)(A)) is amended by striking ``or
section 36'' and inserting ``section 36, or section 36B''.
(d) Best in Class Addendum.--Section 15(h)(4)(A)(ii) of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(h)(4)(A)(ii)) is amended--
(1) in subclause (III), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subclause (IV), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(V) small business concerns owned
and controlled by veterans.''.
(e) Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.--
Section 15(k) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 644(k)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``or
44'' and inserting ``36B, or 44'';
(2) by striking ``and 44'' and inserting ``36B, and 44''
each place it appears; and
(3) by striking ``or 36'' and inserting ``36, or 36B'' each
place it appears.
(f) Scorecard Program.--Section 15(y) of the Small Business Act (15
U.S.C. 644(y)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and small business concerns owned and
controlled by women'' and inserting ``, small business concerns
owned and controlled by women, and small business concerns
owned and controlled by veterans'' each place it appears; and
(2) in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the following
new subparagraph:
``(E) The number (expressed as a percentage) and
total dollar amount of awards made to small business
concerns owned and controlled by veterans through sole
source contracts and competitions restricted to small
business concerns owned and controlled by veterans
under section 36B.''.
(g) Mentor-Protege Reporting.--Section 45(c)(1)(B) of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657r(c)(1)(B)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating clauses (iii) through (v) as clauses
(iv) through (vi), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after clause (ii) the following new
clause:
``(iii) small business concerns owned and
controlled by veterans;''.
(h) Limitations on Subcontracting.--Section 46 of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657s) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``or 36'' and inserting
``36, or 36B''; and
(2) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``or''
at the end;
(ii) in subparagraph (E), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; or''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) with respect to a contract awarded under
section 36B, is a small business concern owned and
controlled by veterans.''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``or''
at the end;
(ii) in subparagraph (F), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; or''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(G) if a subcontractor for a small business
concern owned and controlled by veterans, is such a
concern.''.
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