DocuSign Envelope ID: 855FF551-2187-4B3C-8FA9-794411571A2E 

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.:- 1, THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 

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,,~~~-~....:.:.-:..--- January-25, 2022 

The Honorable Robin Carnahan 

Administrator 

U.S. General Services Administration 

1800 F Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20405 

Dear Ms. Carnahan: 

Thank you for your September 28, 2021, letter to the Department of Veterans 

Affairs 0,/A) in response to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report, VA 

ACQUISTION MANAGEMENT, "Steps Needed to Ensure Healthcare Federal 

Supply Schedules Remain Useful," (GAO-20-132), dated January 9, 2020. In 

• collaboration with VA's National Acquisition Center, the General Services Administration 

(GSA) drafted a new Delegation of Authority/Assignment of Function for VA to continue 

its management and operation of health care-related Federal Supply Schedules. 

As requested, enclosed is the signed Delegation of Authority/Assignment of 

Function agreement, which is included in the Corrective Action Plan for GSA and VA to 

resolve the GAO-20-132 report's recommendations. 

Thank you for your continued partnership with VA, and we look forward to 

working together for the benefit of all Veterans. 

Sincerely, 

Enclosure 
DocuSign Envelope ID: 855FF551-2187-4B3C-8FA9-794411571A2E 

The Administrator 

DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY/ASSIGNMENT OF FUNCTION 

TO: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs NA) 

FROM: U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) 

RE: Agreement regarding GSA's Delegation of Authority and Assignment of 

Function to VA for the operation and management of healthcare-related Federal 

Supply Schedules (FSS) 

I. Purpose 

This Agreement formally documents and clarifies the delegation of authority and assignment of 

function from the Administrator of General Services to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the 

operation and management of healthcare-related FSS and delineates the scope of VA's FSS 

program. This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous delegation/s of 

authority and/or assignment/s of function/s that may have been previously issued to VA by GSA 

for VA FSS. 

II. Authority 

This delegation of authority and assignment of function are made pursuant to the authority of 

the Administrator of General Services pursuant to 40 U.S.C. § 121. 

Ill. Delegation of Authority 

A In accordance with 40 U.S.C. § 121(d), the operation and management of health carerelated FSS pursuant to 40 U.S.C. § 501, are delegated to VA as follows: 

• Federal Supply Group (FSG) 65 - Medical, Dental, and Veterinary Equipment and 

Supplies: 

o Federal Supply Class Code (FSC) 6515 - Medical and Surgical Instruments, 

Equipment, and Supplies 

■ Medical/Rescue and Patient Transportation Products 

o FSC 6530 - Hospital Furniture, Equipment, Utensils, and Supplies 

• FSG 66 - Instruments and Laboratory Equipment: 

o FSC 6640 - Laboratory Equipment and Supplies 

o FSC 6630 - Chemical Analysis Instruments 

o FSC 6650-Optical Instruments, Test Equipment, Components and 

U.S. General Services Administration 

1800 F Street NW 

Washington DC 20405-0002 

www.gsa.gov 
DocuSign Envelope ID: 855FF551-2187-4B3C-8FA9-794411571A2E 

Accessories 

o FSC 6670 - Scales and Balances 

o FSC 6685- Pressure, Temperature, and Humidity Measuring and 

Controlling Instruments 

B. GSA has made the determination that the items under the FSCs in Ill.A., which have 

practical application beyond the direct patient healthcare context, may be offered by both 

GSA and VA, in order to meet the diverse needs of eligible ordering activities. 

IV. Assignment of Function 

In accordance with 40 U.S.C. § 121(e), and subject to VA's consent, the operation and 

management of healthcare-related FSS pursuant to 40 U.S.C. § 501, are assigned to VA as 

follows: 

• FSG 65 - Medical, Dental, and Veterinary Equipment and Supplies (except for those 

FSCs referenced in Section Ill.A. above) 

• FSG 66 - Instruments and Laboratory Equipment (except for those FSCs referenced 

in Section Ill.A. above) 

• Federal Supply Class Code (FSC) J065 - Maintenance, Repair, and Rebuilding of 

Equipment - Medical, Dental and Veterinary Supply 

• FSC Q301 - Medical - Laboratory Testing 

• FSC Q999- Medical- Other (including 621-1 Temp Healthcare Staffing Services) 

V. Authority Not Delegated 

Pursuant to and as required by 40 U.S.C. § 121(d)(2)(A), GSA retains its authority to prescribe 

regulations and establish policies and procedures governing and generally applicable to the 

FSS program. VA shall be afforded the opportunity to review and comment on all new and/or 

revised policies and procedures related to the operation and management of health care-related 

FSS prior to them going into effect. Also, once a new or revised GSA policy and/or procedure 

related to the operation and management of health care-related FSS is approved for official 

release, VA shall be made aware prior to it going into effect. 

VI. Scope 

VA is responsible for maintaining internal oversight of the VA FSS program to ensure 

compliance with applicable procurement laws and regulations, and VA FSS program policies 

and procedures. VA is also responsible for implementation of and compliance with laws, 

regulations, policies and procedures specifically applicable to VA FSS. VA may independently 

make future improvements to VA managed FSS, as long as they do not conflict with laws, 

regulations, policies and procedures generally governing FSS programs. The scope of this 

Agreement may be revised or amended by mutual agreement of the parties to address the 

future needs and priorities of both GSA's and VA's FSS programs. 

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DocuSign Envelope ID: 855FF551-2187-4B3C-8FA9-794411571A2E 

VII. Tennination 

Both GSA and VA reserve the right to terminate this Agreement in whole or in partl upon 365 

calendar days' notice, by notifying the other party in writing (via email or memorandum). In the 

event of termination, the parties agree to assist to ensure a reasonably seamless transition in 

order to provide uninterrupted use of the FSS covered by this Agreement and any successors to 

it. 

VIII. Counterparts 

This Agreement may be signed in counterparts. and when a copy is signed by an authorized 

representative of each Party, the Agreement shall be effedive as if a single document were 

signed by both Parties. Electronic, facsimile, or photocopied signatures shall be considered as 

valid signatures as of the date affixed, although the original signatures shalt thereafter be 

appended. 

IX. Effective Data 

This Agreement is effective on the date signed by the Administrator of General Services and 

shall remain in effect unless revised or amended by the Parties in accordance with the terms 

abovet or as otherwise required by law. 

2/8/2022 

Robin Carnahan, Administrator, GSA Date 

~~ecretary of Veterans Affairs 

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