VA Reaching Out to Suppliers, Contractors

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VA Reaching Out to Suppliers, Contractors

Deputy Secretary Gould Cites Partnership with Private Sector



WASHINGTON (August 20, 2009) - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
is strengthening its working relationship with the private-sector to
improve service for Veterans, cut costs for taxpayers and enhance the
operation of federal employees, VA's Deputy Secretary W. Scott Gould
said recently.



"VA is committed to our partnership with industry over the long term,"
Gould told a VA-sponsored forum with suppliers Aug. 13. "We are
committed to acquisition reform. And we are committed to the Veterans
we serve. We can do none of this without a strong, healthy partnership
with the private sector."



Last year, VA purchased more than $19 billion in services, material and
supplies. About $1.6 billion was with businesses owned by
service-disabled Veterans. Another $400 million in VA contracts went to
other Veteran-owned businesses.



Gould addressed a VA conference with suppliers in northern Virginia to
obtain the private sector's input on measures needed to transform VA's
procurement process to meet the needs of Veterans in the 21st century.



"We will synchronize acquisitions with our IT, human resources and
financial management functions to advance a high-performance culture
where suppliers are not viewed as adversaries, where open communications
are the rule, and clearly-articulated requirements are not the
exception," he added.



Gould, who serves as VA's chief operating officer, noted the Department
is hiring over 350 contracting and procurement specialists. VA's
Acquisitions Academy, the first of its kind among federal civilian
agencies, received the 2009 Acquisitions Excellence Award from the
Office of Management and Budget.