GSA #10085

May 28, 2004
Contact: Viki Reath (202) 501-1231
viki.reath@gsa.gov

WASHINGTON – Disabled veterans gain expanded opportunities to $260 million in federal contracts dollars, under a new U.S. General Services (GSA) program, GSA announced today.

The announcement comes on the heels of a federal acquisition rule allowing agencies to provide sole-source and set-aside contracts to service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses. Federal contracting officers welcome the rule as an additional means to helps agencies devote three percent of their spending to service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses, a goal set by Congress and supported by President Bush.

 “This effort reflects President Bush’s commitment to the men and women veterans of the U.S. military, who have given so much to protect and defend freedom and democracy for our great country,” said GSA Administrator, Stephen A. Perry. “As a major federal acquisition agency, GSA is leading the effort to expand opportunities for service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses to compete for contracts with federal government agencies.

GSA’s Region Six Administrator, Bradley Scott of Kansas City, Mo., presented the initiative to veterans and agencies on May 27 at GSA National Capital Region (NCR) all-day event, Opening Doors for America’s Heroes: Growing Success Through Government Contracting,  hosted by NCR Administrator Donald C. Williams at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

 “Our service-disabled men and women have developed great strengths that, when applied to business, can greatly benefit the civilian community,” said Scott, who has spearheaded GSA’s service-disabled, veteran-owned small business initiative.

GSA has developed partnerships with the Small Business Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense and the Defense Logistics Agency. For information, please visit: GSA's Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Web Page.

GSA was created by Congress to help agencies improve efficiency and better serve the public. On behalf of federal agencies, GSA acquires office space, equipment, telecommunications, information technology, supplies and services, and provides policy solutions for more than one million federal workers in more than 8,000 buildings in 2,000 U.S. communities.