The VA Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and the Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) have combined to announce the implement of a helpful new “Pre-Determination Findings Notification” policy.
The new policy includes an extra step designed to help Veteran Owned Small Businesses; specifically, those applying to VA’s Veterans First Contracting Program opportunities for the first time.
By giving new applicants the opportunity to fix easily correctable errors prior to final determination, both offices think the process is an extra step in the right direction.
The goal of the change is to increase the number of verified Veteran-owned Small Businesses involved in the Vets First program by providing email and phone notifications of initial application errors. Both offices hope these notifications will help eliminate the large percentage of verification denials that, according to them, are currently issued due to “single points of failure that can be easily and quickly corrected.”
The program is scheduled to begin on May 1st, 2013, but the pilot program is already in place. During the pilot program, feedback is important as the process may be improved by lessons learned. Here is the step-by-step of how the new process will work initially:
- Firms that have easily corrected issues will receive an email notification identifying issues (Preliminary Findings) before the official determination letter of eligibility is issued.
- The Findings Letter will be sent via email and followed up by a telephone call within 24 hours to confirm receipt.
- The sixty (60) day initial processing “clock” will stop at the point that the Veteran Owner notifies CVE of the applicant’s intent to participate in the Pre-Determination process.
- The applicant will have 48 hours to inform CVE via email, of the firm’s intent to participate in the Pre-Determination process. Within five (5) business days from receipt of the Preliminary Findings, the Veteran is required to submit amended documentation and other information in response to the Preliminary Findings.
- If additional issues are discovered as a result of the changes made by the applicant or the issues identified in the Preliminary Findings are not adequately addressed, the Veteran will be notified that the applicant has two business days to withdraw its application or CVE will proceed immediately to determination and the applicant will have the opportunity to request reconsideration.
- If the applicant submission is not made within five (5) business days, CVE will issue a determination letter on the issues identified in the Preliminary Findings.
- If an application is withdrawn, all previously submitted documents will remain in CVE’s secure case management system and need not be resubmitted when initiating a new application.
- All Veteran-owned companies receiving Preliminary Findings are encouraged to work with a Verification Assistance Partner counselor to address the issues identified in the Findings Letters.
Here is a list of the types of errors that will be eligible for correction notification as part of the Pre-Determination Program. Applicants with points of failure (singularly or combined) regarding these issues are eligible for the Pre-Determination process. These issues are typically found in a company’s business and organizational documents.
- Quorum 38 CFR 74.4(f)(2) read more….
- Weighted Voting 38 CFR 74.4 (f)(2)(i) read more….
- Serve as general partner for partnership 38 CFR 74.4(d) read more….
- Serve as a management member of limited liability company 38 CFR 74.4(e) read more….
- Community Property 38 CFR 74.3(f) read more….
- Living Trust and direct ownership 38 CFR 74.3(a) read more….
- Highest compensation for Veteran 38 CFR 74.4(g)(3) read more….
- Highest officer position 38 CFR 74.4(c)(2) read more….
- Ownership 51% Unconditional 38 CFR 74.3(b) read more….
