On July 27, 2012, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued an interim final rule reducing the burden of reverification under its VetBiz Vendor Information Pages (VIP) Verification Program (the Program). This rule provides that service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) and veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) that have already verified their veteran-owned and veteran-controlled status must re-verify once every two years, compared with the prior annual requirement.
VA officials have observed from administering the Program since 2010 that an annual examination is not necessary to adequately maintain the integrity of the program. The VA conducts a thorough examination of personal and company documentation to verify ownership and control by a veteran, including reviewing the corporate documents, federal personal and business tax returns, personal history statements, and occasionally administering an on-site investigation or interview.
The VA also notes that implementing a longer eligibility period is consistent with other Federal set-aside programs – for example, Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) concerns re-certify every three years; and a program term of nine years applies to the Small Business Administration’s (SBA’s) 8(a) Business Development Program.
The effective date of the rule is July 27, 2012. Comments must be received by the VA on or before August 27, 2012. For a full copy of the rule, visit its entry in the Federal Register at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-06-27/html/2012-15801.htm.
