Preference for Local Veteran Contractors Act

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to give preference to local contractors, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preference for Local Veteran Contractors Act 2. Preference for local contractors (a) Local contractors (1) In general Chapter 5 513A. Preference for local contractors (a) In general (1) The Secretary shall give preference for awarding a covered contract to a local contractor. (2) In giving preference for awarding a covered contract to a local contractor under paragraph (1)— (A) if such local contractor is a small business concern, such preference shall be given in accordance with section 8127(i) of this title; and (B) if such local contractor is not a small business concern, the local contractor shall be treated as a contractor covered under section 8127(i)(7). (b) Notice required If the Secretary awards a covered contract to a contractor that is not a local contractor, the Secretary shall publish a public notice explaining why a local contractor was not awarded the contract. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) The term covered contract (A) the construction or maintenance of a facility of the Department; or (B) services provided to a particular facility or campus of the Department. (2) The term local contractor (A) submits a bid or proposal for a covered contract; and (B) has its principal offices or location within a 60-mile radius of the facility of the Department covered by such contract. . (2) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 513 the following new item: 513A. Preference for local contractors. . (3) Conforming amendment Section 8106(a) The Secretary In accordance with section 513A of this title, the Secretary (b) Small business concerns Section 8127(i) (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 (b), (c), or (d) to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans with service-connected disabilities that, for purposes of such a contract, are local contractors under section 513A of this title. (2) Contracts awarded pursuant to subsection (b), (c), or (d) to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans with service-connected disabilities that are not covered by paragraph (1). (3) Contracts awarded pursuant to subsection (b), (c), or (d) to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans that— (A) are not covered by paragraphs (1) or (2); and (B) for purposes of such a contract, are local contractors under section 513A of this title. (4) Contracts awarded pursuant to subsection (b), (c), or (d) to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans that are not covered by paragraphs (1), (2), or (3). (5) Contracts awarded pursuant to section 8(a) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 637(a) (6) Contracts awarded pursuant to any other small business contracting preference to a contractor that, for purposes of such a contract, are local contractors under section 513A of this title. (7) Contracts awarded pursuant to section 8(a) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 637(a) (8) Contracts awarded pursuant to any other small business contracting preference to a contractor that is not covered by paragraph (6). . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall take effect 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: Preference for Local Veteran Contractors Act - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to give a preference to a local (within a 60-mile radius) contractor in the award of a contract for: (1) the construction or maintenance of a VA facility, or (2) services provided to a particular VA facility or campus. Requires the Secretary, upon awarding such a contract to a non-local contractor, to publish a public explanation of why a local contractor was not awarded the contract. Includes veterans who are local contractors within a required VA priority for awarding contracts to small businesses.