*Update! The CVE is now sending out emails to all businesses and representatives listed in the VetBiz registry, alerting them to the different types of webinars and when they are offered (email passed below in Comments section). This level of clarity will maximize the value offered by the webinars.
For veteran-owned businesses (VOSBs) pursuing set-aside work with the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs, they know all about the Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE). The CVE is tasked with examining a variety of documents and information to determine whether a business meets the eligibility criteria for VA set-asides, in a process called verification.
For a long time, going through the CVE has not been fun. I’m not going to go into details, but let’s just say the complaints have been long and loud since the verification process began several years ago. Some veteran advocates want the Small Business Administration to take over verification, and bills have been introduced in Congress to that end.
Recently, however, the CVE has taken a positive step towards making the process better. And when I say “positive,” I don’t mean a memo. (“We recommend everyone here at the VA do better. We will first draft a memo, to define the word ‘better.'”). The CVE is now conducting webinars for businesses going through the re-verification process. And these webinars are better than the PowerPoint presentations that were uploaded to VetBiz.gov in 2012 – they have some meat to them to actually help veterans get through the process. They’re also conducted by some of the higher-ups in the CVE, and since the webinar includes a forum open for questions, veteran business owners have the opportunity for real feedback. (Or to, you know, yell at the CVE directly).
As the CVE has gone through its growing pains and made its mistakes, it has gotten flak. Similarly, when it has made positive developments, it should be getting some praise too. It’s only fair.
This might not be happening as it relates to the webinar, however. I learned about it through a veteran business owner. This veteran business owner forwarded me the email the CVE had sent and noted: 1) the webinar was the same day he received the invite (and he could not attend on such short notice); and 2) it noted the wrong date that the business’s verification would expire. (If the date had been correct, the notice of the webinar would have been sent with less than a month to go).
Upon closer examination of the email, however, I saw that the veteran business owner had several dates to choose from in order to attend the webinar. (The slides were also sent after it was concluded, which was nice). And the re-verification date is surely easy to fix – since the CVE sends out reminders to re-verify 120 days ahead of time, can’t it send out the webinar email with it?
These are such small details, while the bigger work is preparing the slides and conducting the webinar. But by missing these small details, it gives room for complaint. The veteran business owner simply opens the email and thinks, “Thanks, guys.”
So CVE, we’re glad you’re taking the initiative of presenting a webinar on the actual substance of the re-verification process. But give folks a reason to take notice. Put it on your website (more prominently – I found it on the “You Asked, We Listened” VetBiz webpage, but it took some time). Slap an archive recording on YouTube. Make the slides easily available on VetBiz.gov. And make available the answers to the most common questions asked during the webinars. I am sure there are many that crop up often and are not facts-specific so indeed one answer does fit all. Not only would this benefit veteran business owners (and reduce calls to the Help Desk), but it would make it clear that you’re working to improve the verification process.
They say no good deed goes unpunished, but no good deed should go unrewarded, either.
Did you find this article informative? If so, sign up for Sarah Schauerte’s legal blog at: https://legalmeetspractical.com. Also, access Sarah’s comprehensive VetBiz Guidebook (addressing everything from revivification to cancellation to common eligibility issues) here, and her webinar tackling the verification process here.
Sarah,
Very well said. However, in spite of its attempts to educate, CVE is still not standardizing how each business specialist processes the reverification or new application
That is without a doubt the main issue I have with assisting veterans through the process – different examiners have different levels of understanding. I get a feel for it the second I get that first Additional Documentation Request and see what questions they’re asking.
Hello Sarah,
Thank you for your response. That is spot on and the major issue I have as well. Even when a business specialist supposedly coaches or counsels the SDV on how to properly respond to their questions, they still need approval and in many cases their counsel was incorrect and the veteran is denied or told to withdraw their application.
In my opinion, and I agree with you. They are light years ahead of two years ago and making some significant progress, but they have to address the shortcomings of standardized training and review processes on the part of their Business Specialists.
I underwent a random CVE verification visit last October, 2014. The examiner was competent, patient and accommodating. I was not at my home office when he called and it took several hours for me to return. I had immediate access to most documents that were required and was permitted to enter the remaining documents within the next week or so. Anything that keeps frauds from stealing my opportunities is a welcome addition to the process. Now we have to work on VA contracting officers to recognize CVE verification.
You had some valid comments regarding re-certification. Can you persuade the CVE to do the same thing for VetBiz owners trying to obtain the4ir initial verification?? I recently got a client verified under the CVE but there were many issues that arose during the process that were not explained in any of the literature. A more detailed explanation would have been helpful.
Tom Petruska
I think the CVE may have a webinar on initial verification, but I’m not sure what it entails. I do know the old literature/slides from 2012 or so are still on their website.
The CVE is finicky about answering nuanced or specific eligibility questions, like “my operating agreement has these two sentences about quorum. Are they okay?” And “what kind of information should I put in a Letter of Explanation addressing outside employment? THOSE are the kinds of question folks care about, not “is ‘examination’ before or after ‘evaluation?'”
I think the CVE would be fine with answering the former questions so long as they stress that everything is facts-specific, can be found to be fine in one area but not in another, etc. Disclaimers! Most people understand that. And for those that don’t, what’s the repercussion on the CVE?
I have a Guidebook on the nitty gritty, which is on the webpage under “VetBiz Program,” and a webinar (same section), which gives detailed answers to all of the eligibility issues I’m aware of.
Very Nice! The CVE has recently begun sending out the following email to businesses/representatives listed in the VetBiz registry, which clarifies what the webinars offer and when one may attend:
“CVE is hosting training for interested Service Disabled and Veteran Owned Small Businesses on different aspects of the verification process. At the conclusion of these webinars we will host a Town Hall on the Verification Program to solicit feedback from participants.
All webinars are voluntary. To register, select the date you wish to attend, scan the corresponding QR code with your smart phone or type in the hyperlink in your web browser. From that page you will be directed to the webinar registration . Although the
“Re-Verification” and “How to Stay Verified” webinars have targeted audiences based on the date of their verification, interested participants can select a date which fits their schedule. Using the pull-down menu for these webinars, an alternate date can be selected.
The Pre-Application Webinar is intended for firms interested in applying for verification for the first time.”