The continuing frustration experienced by vetrepreneurs when they seek to participate in government directed procurement programs will not cease until legislators establish a certain policy of transparency and accountability for administrative policy makers.

Shielded behind the legislated principle of “insulation from illegal influence,” procurement executives and contracting officials have been free to establish a substitute form of priority and preference that has no accountability!

Instruments such as the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council and its regulations have been used to disguise what are simply the directives of sitting administrations.

This has resulted in interpretations of congressional intent that are clearly inconsistent with the concerns that the U.S. Congress has expressed for the needs of the SDVOBs and VOBs

The recent inclusion of references in legislation directed to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, that procurement officials will have their performance in meeting needs and goals for assisting SDVOB and VOB recorded is insufficient.

The performance of contracting authorities in meeting the procurement award goals established by executive policy should be made a part of employee personnel records and considered when reviews of eligibility for promotion and bonuses are present.

As long as there are no consequences for the subjective judgments of procurement officials regarding the award of contracting opportunities for SDVOBs and VOBs, our nation’s vetrepreneurs will continue to be denied participation in the prosperity they sacrificed to establish.

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