The Small Business Jobs and Credit Act provides a level field for all agencies except Veterans Affairs, where veteran small businesses have a unique mandatory statutory preference.
Both types of veteran-owned small businesses have had mandatory preference over any other small business programs for Department of Veterans Affairs contracting opportunities since June 20, 2007, when 38 USC 8127(i) became effective:
(i) Priority for Contracting Preferences.? Preferences for awarding contracts to small business concerns shall be applied in the following order of priority:
(1) Contracts awarded pursuant to subsection (, ( c), or (d) to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans with service-connected disabilities.
(2) Contracts awarded pursuant to subsection (, ( c), or (d) to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans that are not covered by paragraph (1).
(3) Contracts awarded pursuant to?
(A) section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637 (a)); or ( section 31 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 657a) (HUBZone);
(4) Contracts awarded pursuant to any other small business contracting preference.