NVSBC serves as the leading advocate for the 50,000+ Veteran owned small businesses serving as federal contractors. As detailed above this is a growing marketplace representing over $32 billion in awards in 2022. This market is also in rapid transition with an ever-changing set of priorities and demands being debated and legislated in Congress, as well as changing priorities and initiatives being implemented at the individual agency acquisition level. NVSBC is the only organization expressly focused on maintaining an awareness of and leadership position on the wide variety of issues that impact opportunities for growth for Veteran small businesses. To stay ahead of and remain every vigilant to these legislative issues, NVSBC leadership work together with highly regarded advisory firm Van Scoyoc Associates to develop and implement a focused engagement plan with both congress and federal agencies on behalf of our members and Veteran owned small businesses throughout the nation. Here is a summary of our current priorities:
Priority #1: CVE Verification Across All Federal Agencies Monitor the transition of the CVE verification program from VA to SBA as directed by the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to ensure full compliance and maintain high service levels
Priority #2: Parity of Veteran Small Business Set-Asides Advocate for an increase of the government-wide set-aside contracting award goal for SDVOSB firms from the current 3% level to 5% or above to match WOSB levels. Additionally ensure that Veteran owned small businesses benefit from any future set aside program increases
Priority #3: Addressing the Challenges of Category Management Engage with Congress and agencies that are advancing Category Management as a federal acquisition policy (GSA, OMB, DoD) to mitigate and reverse its’ devastating impact on small businesses (i.e. the resulting 40% reduction in federal small business primes).
Priority #4: Veterans First Monitor VA adherence to Vets First acquisition policies for SD/VOSB acquisition awards. Leverage VA best practices to advocate for a DoD Vets First Program
Priority #5: Addressing the Challenges of Unfunded Mandates Relieve the burden of unfunded mandates (i.e. CMMC, vaccinations, etc.) through requirement guideline exemptions and/or SBA support programs.
Priority #6: Access to New Contracting Opportunities Promote, advance and advocate for new and expanded Veteran small business opportunities at all federal agencies.
CONGRESSIONAL & FEDERAL AGENCIES ENGAGEMENTS
Working closely with Van Scoyoc Associates (VSA), the NVSBC leadership engaged Congressional Offices to advocate for new and expanded Veteran small business contracting opportunities. Our Congressional call plans include leaders of the committees with greatest impact on Veteran small business contracting including:
- Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committees
- Senate and House Small Business Committees
- Senate and House Armed Services Committees
- Senate and House Appropriations Committees
On these committees, we have engaged the key Members of influence (to include the Chairmen and Ranking Members) and Professional Staff Members. We have also meet with several key NVSBC Congressional Delegations (to include Virginia, Florida, Texas, Maryland, and California) to update them on NVSBC efforts and help shape the NVSBC legislative priorities. Van Scoyoc Associates has supported NVSBC through meetings, phone calls, drafting proposed legislation, Congressional testimony at hearings, and Committee Roundtable events. More specifically, VSA worked with NVSBC to conduct a detailed outreach on Capitol Hill regarding small business-related items in the FY22 NDAA.
During 2021, we also started Federal Agency engagements with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, General Services Administration and Federal OSDBU Council. Within these Federal Agencies, we contacted key leaders and the Offices of Small and Disadvantage Business Utilization, Small and Veterans Business Programs, Acquisition and Contracting, and Legislative Affairs.
RESULTS & PLANS
- During 2021, VSA and NVSBC conducted over 60 virtual meetings and/or in-person meetings with Congressional Offices and Federal Agencies
- During the past year, NVSBC engaged, educated, and informed Congressional offices and Federal agencies to build an enduring advocacy, develop a trusted partner relationship, and seek support when needed for specific policy and issue requests
- Developed comprehensive information briefing documents highlighting the NVSBC mission, purpose, leadership position, activities, and operations
- Crafted highly Veteran-focused legislative policy papers for each of the Legislative Priorities identified above; these papers are the shared with members of Congress and their staff
- Conducted bi-monthly briefing and planning meetings with NVSBC & VSA leaders to ensure unity of effort for our legislative outreach
- Originated the Mid-Month Legislative Update newsletter, which is distributed monthly to over 1500 NVSBC members, prospective members, sponsors, teaming partners
NVSBC is not a lobbying organization. We do however engage with Congress on issues of importance to the veteran small business community. We meet with Congress, members and staff, as well as testify on important issues when invited. We review and comment on proposed legislation as to whether proposed legislation will help or hurt veteran small businesses. When proposed legislation may help certain veteran small businesses at the expense of other veteran small businesses we will comment on the potential affects, but NVSBC will not take a position on legislation that pits one segment of the veteran small business community against another.