Posts Tagged ‘Department of Veterans Affairs’

First Report to The President from Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development – Empowering Veterans Through Entrepreneurship

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

At the President’s direction, the SBA led the first-ever Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development, which included representation from seven federal agencies and four leading veterans organizations.  The Task Force is focused on increasing the number of veteran-owned businesses and the number of Americans – including other veterans – those businesses employ.  Through public meetings, the Task Force gathered input and ideas which ranged widely in scope, strategy, and feasibility.

The result of their work was compiled in a report, “Empowering Veterans Through Entrepreneurship.”

To read the report, click the image above (PDF).

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This is a public service announcement (PSA) brought to you by Veteran Owned Business.   Veteran Owned Business is in no way affiliated with the above organization(s). We do not in any way endorse the above business/organization or guarantee the above offer.  VeteranOwnedBusiness.com and the Veteran Owned Business Directory are simply providing information we feel is of interest to veterans, active duty military, reservists, service disabled veterans, veteran owned businesses, service disabled veteran owned businesses, families of veterans, families of our armed forces and any other person or persons directly or indirectly involved with the United States military.

If your business is (or you know of another business) owned by a veteran (VOB), active duty military, reservist or service disabled  veteran (SDVOSB) of the United States, Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard or National Guard, please be sure to visit the VeteranOwnedBusiness.com sign up page to get your free listing.

The objective of our FREE Veteran Owned Business Directory is to continue to offer a growing list of products and services that are unique in the fact that they are all owned by, sold by and/or serviced by past and present military members.

VA Launches Outreach Campaign to Eliminate Homelessness Among Veterans

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

“Make the Call” Events Scheduled for 28 Communities Across the Nation

WASHINGTON – As part of its drive to end homelessness among Veterans by 2015, the Department of Veterans Affairs is launching a nation-wide outreach initiative, “Make the Call,” to spread the message about its special programs to help homeless Veterans and their families to 28 communities across the nation in October.

“Those who have served this nation as Veterans should never find themselves on the streets, living without care and without hope,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.

Shinseki noted that 28 communities – from Atlanta to Hawaii – will host special programs this fall highlighting local services for homeless Veterans, their families and those at risk of becoming homeless.

“Working with our partners in state and local government, the non-profit and the private sectors, we can restore our homeless Veterans and their families to the lives of dignity they’ve earned,” Shinseki added.

This fiscal year, VA expects to spend $3.4 billion to provide health care to homeless Veterans and $800 million in specialized homeless programs. The latest studies say more than 75,000 Veterans are homeless on a typical night, and about 135,000 spend at least one night a year in a homeless shelter.

VA is encouraging family, friends and citizens in the community to “Make the Call” and help prevent and end homelessness among Veterans. Since March 2010, VA has offered a toll-free telephone number, staffed around the clock by trained professionals, to help homeless Veterans, their families and at-risk people. The number is 877-4AID-VET (or 877-424-3838).

Recently, VA has transformed its efforts in the fight against homelessness. It is changing from a program focus upon temporary, shelter-based services, to prevention, employment, permanent housing, and help to families and Veterans at risk of becoming homeless.

The remaining special awareness and outreach programs are in:

  • Georgia – Atlanta, Oct. 29
  • Louisiana – New Orleans, Oct. 22
  • Massachusetts —Boston, Oct. 20
  • New York – New York Harbor, Oct. 21
  • Texas – Houston, Oct. 20

More information about VA’s programs for homeless Veterans, at-risk Veterans and their families is available at www.va.gov/homeless.

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This is a public service announcement (PSA) brought to you by Veteran Owned Business.

VA Connecticut Security Monitors Project: 100% Set Aside for SDVOSBs

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

Attention Service Disabled Veteran Business Owners:

67–100% SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN OWNED SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE. INSTALL VA-SUPPLIED SECURITY MONITORS.

SITE VISIT SCHEDULED FOR 9/20/2011 @ 1:00 PM QUOTATION DUE OCTOBER 3, 2011 NLT 10:00 AM

Solicitation Number: VA24111RQ1378
Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs
Office: VA Connecticut Health Care System
Location: Department of Veterans Affairs Connecticut Health Care System

: Modification/Amendment
:
VA Connecticut
:
950 Campbell Avenue
West Haven, CT 06516
:

Mark.Reveaux@va.gov

Click here to view more information about this bid

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If your business is (or you know of another business) owned by a veteran (VOB), active duty military, reservist or service disabled  veteran (SDVOSB) of the United States, Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard or National Guard, please be sure to visit the VeteranOwnedBusiness.com sign up page to get your free listing.

The objective of our FREE Veteran Owned Business Directory is to continue to offer a growing list of products and services that are unique in the fact that they are all owned by, sold by and/or serviced by past and present military members.

VA Headstone Solicitation: 100% Set Aside for Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB)

Monday, September 12th, 2011

Attention Service Disabled Veteran Business Owners:

99–Inscribed Upright Granite Headstones & Flat Granite Markers, J1, L1, W1 Indiantown Gap Nat Cem, Annville, PA

Solicitation Number: VA78611RP0310
Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs
Office: VA National Cemetery Administration Centralized Contracting Division
Location: Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration

: Solicitation

:
This acquisition is 100% set aside for Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). The NAICS Code is 327991. Size standard is 500 employees. The National Cemetery Administration is soliciting offers under solicitation number VA-786-11-RP-0310 for the supply and inscription of:

1. approx. 315 (J1) Flat Granite Markers, Thin (12″ x 24″ x 3″)

2. approx. 735 (L1) Flat Granite Markers, Small (12″ x 18″ x3″)

3. approx. 735 (W1) Upright Granite Headstones (13″ x 42″ x 3″)

for Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, RR#2, Old Indiantown Gap Road, Annville, PA 17003-9618.

Contractor shall provide all labor and material necessary to manufacture or purchase, inscribe, package and palletize, if necessary, shipments of the inscribed headstones and markers.

The period of performance will be from October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012 with two (2) one-year options (if exercised) to extend the term of the contract through September 30, 2014. Granite shall be standard grade, fine to medium grained material as classified by the National Building Granite Quarries Association. It shall be free of cracks, seams, and starts. Lithichrome may be required on inscriptions provided under this contract. All potential offerors shall submit at their expense:

THREE (3) inscribed granite samples – one (1) J1 (24″x 12″x¾”), one (1) L1 (24″x 12″x¾”) and one (1) W1 (24″x 13″x¾”). Full size copies of drawings are available upon request at no charge to potential vendors. Request should be e-mailed to the NCA Memorial Programs Service (MPS) Program Support Unit at MPSProgSupport@va.gov. Evaluation criteria for this award will be in the following order: 1) Price; 2) Technical Qualifications, and 3) Performance. Electronic solicitations will be available for download from http://www.fbo.gov on or about September 5, 2011. Responses to the solicitation are due on or about 2:00 P.M. on September 19, 2011. Any amendments to the solicitation will also be available at www.fbo.gov. Offerors are advised they are responsible for obtaining any amendments.

****NOTE – All potential offerors who have submitted and received approval notification for a sample of same type within the last 12 months may submit a copy of that approved review with the bid to avoid submitting another sample.*****

****NOTE – ALL SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES MUST BE LISTED IN VETBIZ AND BEEN VERIFIED AT TIME OF CONTRACT AWARD. ****

Click here to view more information about this bid

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If your business is (or you know of another business) owned by a veteran (VOB), active duty military, reservist or service disabled  veteran (SDVOSB) of the United States, Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard or National Guard, please be sure to visit the VeteranOwnedBusiness.com sign up page to get your free listing.

The objective of our FREE Veteran Owned Business Directory is to continue to offer a growing list of products and services that are unique in the fact that they are all owned by, sold by and/or serviced by past and present military members.

Veteran Business Owners – VA Extends Open Period for the Mentor-Protégé Program to September 16, 2011

Thursday, August 25th, 2011

Attention Veteran Business Owners:

Department of Veterans Affairs’ NEWS FLASH

The Mentor-Protégé Program submission period has been extended to September 16, 2011

The Department of Veterans Affairs has extended the open period for the Mentor-Protégé Program to September 16, 2011 COB (5:00pm ET).

Please visit the Mentor-Protégé Program website at http://www.va.gov/OSDBU/veteran/mpp.asp for further information.

Please contact Fernando Guerra or Chuck Southern if you have any questions regarding the Program.

Regards,

Fernando J. Guerra
Small Business Specialist
Small Business Programs Office
Department of Veterans Affairs


If your business is (or you know of another business) owned by a veteran (VOB), active duty military, reservist or service disabled veteran (SDVOSB) of the United States, Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard or National Guard, please be sure to visit the VeteranOwnedBusiness.com sign up page to get your free listing.

The objective of our FREE Veteran Owned Business Directory is to continue to offer a growing list of products and services that are unique in the fact that they are all owned by, sold by and/or serviced by past and present military members.

SDVOSB Contract Fraud: What The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) Found

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

What United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) Found

Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, House of Representatives

SERVICE-DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM

Preliminary Information on Actions Taken by Agencies to Address Fraud and Abuse and Remaining Vulnerabilities

Statement of Gregory D. Kutz, Director Forensic Audits and Investigative Service

Click here to view What GAO Found (GAO SDVOSB Fraud Document)


Prior Press Release (7/27/2011):

VA Strengthens Veteran-Owned Small Business Eligibility Process

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs today reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to support legitimate veteran-owned small businesses seeking contracts with the Department of Veterans Affairs after the VA Inspector General (VAIG) released an audit report critical of its small business verification and contract oversight program.

“VA takes the recommendations in this report very seriously. Since October 2010, VA has taken decisive action to strengthen our verification process to ensure that only legitimate Veteran-owned small businesses become eligible to contract with the federal government,” said Tom Leney Executive Director of the VA Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization.

The VAIG report released today audited the VA’s Veteran-Owned and Small and Disadvantaged Business eligibility verification and contract award process from May 2009 to May 2010. The findings pre-date the implementation of strong reforms VA put in place in December 2010 to strengthen the veteran-owned small business verification process. On December 10, 2010, VA sent a letter to over 13,000 firms in its database informing them of new standards for verification of veteran-owned small business status. In the December 10, 2010 letter, VA identified an expanded and extensive set of business-related documents required to be submitted for review as part of the verification process and greatly expanded the number of applications that received the additional scrutiny of an on-site examination.

Since January 1, 2011 VA has processed over 7,500 applications. Nearly 1,500 companies were verified as Veteran-owned small businesses while 1,135 companies were denied verification as a result of the more rigorous review process. An additional 5,000 firms withdrew their applications or were denied for incomplete documentation. Some of the reasons for rejection include the inability to verify that the owner is a Veteran or disabled Veteran, failure to prove a Veteran is the majority owner, and lack of day-to-day operational management of the company by a Veteran.

The Center for Veteran Enterprise (CVE) has also implemented extensive quality controls to ensure those firms verified are in fact eligible to compete as veteran owned firms.

For more information contact: Josh Taylor at 202-461-7216

VA Strengthens Veteran-Owned Small Business Eligibility Process | Department of Veterans Affairs News Release

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

VA Strengthens Veteran-Owned Small Business Eligibility Process

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs today reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to support legitimate veteran-owned small businesses seeking contracts with the Department of Veterans Affairs after the VA Inspector General (VAIG) released an audit report critical of its small business verification and contract oversight program.

“VA takes the recommendations in this report very seriously. Since October 2010, VA has taken decisive action to strengthen our verification process to ensure that only legitimate Veteran-owned small businesses become eligible to contract with the federal government,” said Tom Leney Executive Director of the VA Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Utilization.

The VAIG report released today audited the VA’s Veteran-Owned and Small and Disadvantaged Business eligibility verification and contract award process from May 2009 to May 2010. The findings pre-date the implementation of strong reforms VA put in place in December 2010 to strengthen the veteran-owned small business verification process. On December 10, 2010, VA sent a letter to over 13,000 firms in its database informing them of new standards for verification of veteran-owned small business status. In the December 10, 2010 letter, VA identified an expanded and extensive set of business-related documents required to be submitted for review as part of the verification process and greatly expanded the number of applications that received the additional scrutiny of an on-site examination.

Since January 1, 2011 VA has processed over 7,500 applications. Nearly 1,500 companies were verified as Veteran-owned small businesses while 1,135 companies were denied verification as a result of the more rigorous review process. An additional 5,000 firms withdrew their applications or were denied for incomplete documentation. Some of the reasons for rejection include the inability to verify that the owner is a Veteran or disabled Veteran, failure to prove a Veteran is the majority owner, and lack of day-to-day operational management of the company by a Veteran.

The Center for Veteran Enterprise (CVE) has also implemented extensive quality controls to ensure those firms verified are in fact eligible to compete as veteran owned firms.

For more information contact: Josh Taylor at 202-461-7216

National PTSD Awareness Day June 27th: Ways to Help PTSD Victims

Thursday, June 23rd, 2011

June 27th is PTSD Awareness Day

June 27th is PTSD Awareness Day.  The VA’s National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is working to increase PTSD awareness.  The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers this list ten ways you can help those suffering with PTSD:

Ten ways community members can help:

  1. Understand that anyone can experience trauma, such as accidents, assault, war, or disasters.
  2. Think broadly. When trauma happens, the survivor’s family, friends, coworkers, and community are affected.
  3. Learn about common reactions to trauma and readjustment to life outside a war zone.
  4. Be aware of where get help for trauma survivors, Veterans, and people with PTSD.
  5. Expand your understanding of how PTSD is identified and treated.
  6. Know that treatment for PTSD works.
  7. Ask a Veteran or trauma survivor if talking would help, but do not push if someone is not ready to discuss things.
  8. Realize that stigma is a barrier to getting treatment. Getting people to talk or seek help is not always easy. Your encouragement matters.
  9. Know the facts. More than half of US adults will experience trauma in their lifetime. About 7% of adults will deal with PTSD at some point. For Veterans and male and female sexual assault survivors, the figure is higher.
  10. Connect with self-help resources, apps, and videos about PTSD.

Stay informed about PTSD through the VA’s PTSD Monthly Update.

This is a public service announcement (PSA) brought to you by Veteran Owned Business.   To learn more about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), ways to identify those who may be suffering from PTSD and the various options available to those who may be suffering from PTSD, please visit the VA’s National Center for PTSD at: http://www.ptsd.va.gov.  You can also call the PTSD Information Line at (802) 296-6300.

Here is a list of PTSD Resources including organizations and departments who are all working together to create awareness of PTSD and find effective treatments that can help.

If you are in crisis, please call 911, go to your nearest Emergency Room, or call 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)(Spanish/Español 1-888-628-9454). NOTE: Veterans, press “1″ after you call — or Veterans can chat live with a crisis counselor at any time of day or night.

PTSD Resources List of Organizations and Government Agencies

Thursday, June 23rd, 2011

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Resources


Here is a growing list of Organizations, VA Departments and U.S. Government Agencies who are all working together to create awareness of PTSD and find effective treatments that can help:

Department of Veterans Affairs

To provide a wealth of resources to our US Veterans, VA is made up of three branches, Veterans Health (VHA), Veterans Benefits (VBA), and Cemetery.

  • Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
    This VHA site provides access to apply for health benefits. Read real stories from Inside Veterans Health, or access the MyHealthIVet portal.
  • VA Office of Mental Health Services
    Provides a range of information on depression, substance abuse, and other mental health problems, to improve the health and well-being of Veterans through excellence in health care, social services, education, and research.
  • VA Military Sexual Trauma Support Team
    Military sexual trauma (MST) is the term that VA uses to refer to sexual assault or repeated, threatening sexual harassment that occurred while the Veteran was in the military. Both women and men can experience MST during their service. Learn more about what VA is doing to help.
  • VA MIRECCs
    The Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers (MIRECC) generates new knowledge about the causes and treatments of mental disorders, applies new findings to model clinical programs, and widely disseminates new findings through education to improve the quality of Veterans’ lives and their daily functioning in their recovering from mental illness.

Collaborators

  • afterdeployment.org
    A mental wellness resource for Service Members, Veterans, and Military Families.
  • BraveHeart Welcome Back Veterans Southeast Initiative
    Our mission is to offer veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan war and their families: education about PTSD, self-assessment and support resources, and assistance in accessing treatment services in the southeast.
  • Defense Centers of Excellence (DCoE) for Psychological Health & Traumatic Brain Injury
    Provides authoritative information and resources 24/7 to Service Members, Veterans, and families, and those who support them.
    Contact: resources@dcoeoutreach.org or 1-866-966-1020.
  • Home Base Program
    The Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program provides clinical care and support services in New England area to veterans of the current conflicts, who experience combat stress and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI); counseling for families including parents and children; education for clinicians and other community members; and research in the understanding and treatment of PTSD and TBI.
  • International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS)
    ISTSS is an international, interdisciplinary professional organization that promotes advancement and exchange of knowledge about traumatic stress. This knowledge includes: Understanding the scope and consequences of traumatic exposure, preventing traumatic events and ameliorating their consequences and advocating for the field of traumatic stress.
  • National Child Traumatic Stress Network
    A Center to improve access to care, treatment, and services for children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events and to encourage and promote collaboration between service providers in the field.
  • National Resource Directory
    A tri-agency Web portal that connects wounded warriors, Service members, Veterans, their families and caregivers with those who support them. Links to 10,000+ resources.
  • Office of Recovery Act Coordination U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
    Recovery Act-funded programs are being invested in improving health and human services, including areas such as community health services, research, prevention and wellness.
  • Real Warriors Campaign
    The Real Warriors Campaign is a multimedia public education campaign sponsored by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury to encourage help-seeking behavior among service members and veterans with invisible wounds.
  • Veterans on Deck
    This is a 501c3 nonprofit designed by VA PTSD clinicians and researchers to compliment evidence based psychotherapy with opportunities for social interaction and community reintegration of PTSD and MST Veterans through team sailing with PTSD clinicians.
  • Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)
    The VVA is a congressionally chartered not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to improving the condition of Vietnam-era Veterans and their families.
  • WarriorCare.mil
    A blog that provides wounded, ill, injured and transitioning Service members and their families with information on programs and initiatives that affect them.

If you work with and/or know of another organization actively involved with PTSD, please email us for inclusion on this PTSD Resource List at info@VeteranOwnedBusiness.com.

This is a public service announcement (PSA) brought to you by Veteran Owned Business.   To learn more about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), ways to identify those who may be suffering from PTSD and the various options available to those who may be suffering from PTSD, please visit the VA’s National Center for PTSD at: http://www.ptsd.va.gov.  You can also call the PTSD Information Line at (802) 296-6300.

Here is a list of organizations and departments who are all working together to create awareness of PTSD and effective treatments that can help.

If you are in crisis, please call 911, go to your nearest Emergency Room, or call 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)(Spanish/Español 1-888-628-9454). NOTE: Veterans, press “1″ after you call — or Veterans can chat live with a crisis counselor at any time of day or night.