VetLikeMe News Alert

What is His Motive?
VA Chief of Acquisition Spills Guts Regarding
“Veteran’s First” Sham

In this episode of the Twilight Zone, we have a very special guest on the set who you’ll meet further down the column. In an astounding display of bureaucratic stupidity or marvelous cunning, Jan Frye, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Acquisition and Logistics phoned Wayne Gatewood, a fierce advocate for veterans—with a weight on his chest than needed to be re-leased. Wayne, take it away:

“Yesterday I had a conversation with Mr. Jan Frye, VA’s Chief of Acquisitions. Mr. Frye talked with me about the workings of the VA FSS Program and what he believes to be the importance of the FSS in relation to procurement methodology and the importance of the VA Supply Fund to OAL Operations. At the following Link, please read about the VA FSS Schedule: http://www.fss.va.gov At the following Link, please read about the VA Supply Fund: http://www.va.gov/oal/about/finance.asp.

Mr. Frye also let me know that Secretary Shinseki stands by the VA FSS Schedule as the go-to procurement methodology and it was Secretary Shinseki’s personal decision to not go Vets First! (I am attempting to get a past Press Release from VA PA Office that is supposed to contain the Secretary’s words relative to this matter). Please read the below two paragraphs from the Office of Acquisition and Logistics (OAL) webpage – “About Us.”

“The complex functions required to support the diverse programs of VA are reflected in the mission and organization of OAL. In addition to its primary role of supporting VA’s pro-grams, OAL has a Government-wide role in the supply management of medical supplies and non-perishable subsistence.”

“All OAL operations are funded through the self-sustaining VA Supply Fund which is managed by OAL. The operating costs are recovered through a variety of cost recovery mechanisms that are designed to pass the costs of services provided along to the beneficiaries of such service.”

The VA’s Supply Fund offsets the operating costs of OAL, such as the VA Acquisitions Academy, Denver Acquisitions and Logistics Center, National Contract Service, National Acquisition Center, and the staff that operates these activities. The fund also pays for bonus’ and other items. How does it work? VA gets .05 % of every dollar of every FSS Schedule contract that is let. Given the VA purchases billions of dollars in products, supplies, medicine, services, etc., per year, with much of that through FSS, the FSS program brings in millions of dollars to the Supply Fund. In addition to the money that comes back to the Supply Fund to support OAL, Mr. Frye also told me that VA believes that FSS provides the best cost and the most reliable and timely source of services and supplies to support our millions of Veterans. (But, since there are no cost comparisons with SDVOSBs for certain products and supplies I ask, ―how can that claim be supported”?)*

A GAO Report on the Supply Fund along with an “anonymously prepared Analysis of the VA FSS and the Supply Fund”, are also attached. I have looked over the Analysis but can-not confirm its validity or support its claims. Nonetheless, it appears to be very thorough.

So there you have it folks….FSS Priority…so says Secretary Shinseki! If you want to comment on this matter, send me an e-mail and I will place it in the News for Mr. Frye and staff to read. For me personally, nothing changes until the Law changes and until that happens, it re-mains Vets First as required by PL 109-461. Also, for any and all purchases under the small purchase threshold (to include the “griddle” Aldevra was trying to sell to VA when VA went FSS), by Law, has to be purchased from a small business! So says the Law, so says SBA….. Small purchases are for small business only and not VA FSS to large business.

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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.

Inc. Magazine is looking for successful business owners who are prior military for a potential national article:

“How has your military experience influenced your business leadership style?”

Veteran Owned Business was recently contacted by a writer for Inc. Magazine who is working on an article about: “…how military experience influences the leadership styles of veteran business owners?“  In short, VOB has been asked to reach out to our members to find veteran owned businesses (with a minimum of 10 employees) to answer two (2) survey questions for possible inclusion in this–and future–business article(s).

If you are a military veteran (active duty and/or reserves works too), run a successful business and have at least 10 employees, please email us your answers to the following questions.  Also, please include your contact information in case we and/or the writer needs to get back in touch with you.

1. Do you have any specific stories or examples that illustrate how the discipline instilled in you during your military career has translated into your career as the leader of a business?

2. As you developed your own leadership style and practices, did you model yourself after any particular military leader: someone you served under or with, or whom you just know a great deal about? If so, who is that person (or people)?

Because of the demographics of the publication (and because the subject is “leadership styles”), Inc. Magazine is stipulating  the response come from a business owner who a) was/is in the military b) is still in business and c) has a minimum of 10 employees.

Please email your responses to: info@VeteranOwnedBusiness.com. Don’t forget to include your contact information including: name, business name, phone number, and email address.

We are keeping our fingers crossed we get a good response to this media request in order to help a few of our members get national exposure!

VeteranOwnedBusiness.com is proud to announce the addition of several new sub-categories added to our Free Veteran Owned Business Directory of over 8,000 members.

Happy Thanksgiving & Thank You!

As proud Americans, we all have many things to be thankful for: family, friends, a safe place to call home and—thanks to our brave service military members and families—a country that remains a beacon of hope and freedom for others around the world.

We at Veteran Owned Business are thankful for many things. There’s one thing we are extremely thankful for and that is for YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. Thanks to members like you, we have reached out to millions of Americans and have grown from a single member to nearly 10,000! We are especially grateful to count you among our members.

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday… whatever your shopping pleasure (or pain), please keep a look out for businesses owned by veterans this Thanksgiving weekend. When you do come across one, please be sure to thank them for their service. We’d also appreciate a little plug to push them to sign up as a VOB member (it’s FREE).

From all of us at Veteran Owned Business, we wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

VeteranOwnedBusiness.com
2420 Minton Road
Melbourne, FL 32904
(877) VOB-LIST | (877) 862-5478
Facebook.com/VeteranOwnedBusiness
Twitter.com/VeteranOwned

“I applaud Mark’s dedication to his community as a small business owner and his commitment to our nation as a former military member,” said Bachmann. “At a time when Americans face a high unemployment rate and a dismal economic outlook, I encourage all of my constituents to, like Mark, find solutions that will put their fellow Americans back to work again. I am so proud to represent Mark Ellson in our nation’s capital and I wish him continued success as a small business owner.”

At the VIP graduation ceremony, Bachmann’s Legislative Assistant, Chase Kroll, presented Ellson with a copy of the official statement in the Congressional Record recognizing his achievements in the VIP program. The statement reads:

Mister Speaker, this month, veteran business owners from across the nation are receiving special training through the National Center for the Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP). Upon completion of this training, these veteran employers are equipped with the knowledge and skills to compete in the federal government contract process. Today it’s my honor to recognize one of those veterans, President and CEO of JEMNI Inc., Mark Ellson, of Woodbury, Minnesota upon his graduation from VIP.

As a small-business owner, Mark brings more than 20 years of experience to providing services and products for his customers. Mark was a perfect candidate for the VIP certification because of his distinction as an Army combat and service disabled veteran and his dedication to hiring other disabled veterans. VIP invests in veteran-owned businesses because they know owners, like Mark, will strongly consider hiring and mentoring a veteran for future business growth. This VIP certification strengthens Mark’s ability to secure federal government contracts that will grow his business, and in turn, increase job opportunities for veterans.

Mister Speaker, Mark’s dedication to veterans is admirable in every way and it is my sincere wish that the VIP certification will continue to create jobs for these heroes in Minnesota’s Sixth Congressional District and beyond. Please join me in congratulating Mark Ellson of JEMNI, Inc. on his graduation from the National Center for the Veteran Institute for Procurement.

The statement recognizing Ellson appeared in the Oct. 13 edition of the Congressional Record. The Congressional Record is the official record of the U.S. House of Representatives.

VIP is a program sponsored by Maryland’s Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and is designed to help teach veterans how to navigate the federal contracting market as small business owners.

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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.

In honor and celebration of Veteran’s Day, the Veterans Business Outreach Center will host a free workshop on “How to Start and Finance a Veteran Owned Business” at Fayetteville State University on Thursday, November 10, 2011, from 12 noon-1:30 pm.  Seats are limited and registration is required.  Lunch is free and will be served at 12 noon.  Please see the attached flyer for details.  Attachment:  How to Start and Finance a Veteran-Owned Small Business.

Lisa Belcher
Business Counselor
Fayetteville State University
Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC)
1200 Murchison Rd.
Fayetteville, NC 28301
Office: (910)672-2683

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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.

(Columbus, Ohio) It has been a little more than a month since announcing the creation of the Veterans Affairs Committee for Columbus City Council and already the chair of the committee, Councilmember Hearcel F. Craig, is proposing a significant change to the Columbus City Code that will assist veteran-owned businesses compete for city contracts.  Craig, a Vietnam era U.S. Army veteran himself, says the legislation will add veteran-owned businesses to those enterprises certified and tracked by the Equal Business Opportunity Commission Office (EBOCO).

The change, announced at the annual Veteran’s Stand Down event held at Veteran’s Memorial, will allow those businesses to better compete for city contracts in the same manner as minority or female owned businesses currently participate in the bid process.   The change also provides veteran-owned businesses with bid counseling and start-up assistance from EBOCO.

“By increasing our services for veteran-owned businesses, the City of Columbus once again is demonstrating its commitment to helping those who protected the very freedoms we enjoy as Americans,” said Craig.   “This is a business friendly initiative that will help position these firms to expand their opportunities to do work for the city.”

Craig has also committed to exploring the feasibility of awarding credits against cost for bids submitted by certified veteran-owned businesses.  This policy would mirror existing credits for local workforce and local businesses.

Columbus City Council recently passed ordinance 1325-2011, legislation that extends for another year military leave with pay to City employees currently serving on active duty, including the health and life insurance benefits for their family members.  City Council also supports the Mayor’s Veterans Advisory Committee and takes part in numerous activities thought the year supporting our servicemen and women.

View Press Release

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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.