I 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6004 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to give preference to local contractors, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 21, 2012 
Mr. COHEN (for himself and Ms. WILSON of Florida) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs to give preference to local 
contractors, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. PREFERENCE FOR LOCAL CONTRACTORS. 
(a) LOCAL CONTRACTORS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 5 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 
513 the following new section: 
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‘‘§ 513A. Preference for local contractors 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) The Secretary shall give 
preference for awarding a covered contract to a local con-
tractor. 
‘‘(2) In giving preference for awarding a covered con-
tract 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 treat-
ed 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 con-
tractor, the Secretary shall publish a public notice explain-
ing why a local contractor was not awarded the contract. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘covered contract’ means a con-
tract for— 
‘‘(A) the construction or maintenance of a 
facility of the Department; or 
‘‘(B) services provided to a particular facil-
ity or campus of the Department. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘local contractor’ means a prime 
contractor that— 
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‘‘(A) submits a bid or proposal for a cov-
ered 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 sec-
tions 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) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and inserting ‘‘In ac-
cordance with section 513A of this title, the Sec-
retary’’. 
(b) SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.—Section 8127(i) 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(i) PRIORITY FOR CONTRACTING PREFERENCES.— 
Preferences for awarding contracts to small business con-
cerns 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 disabil-
ities that, for purposes of such a contract, are local 
contractors under section 513A of this title. 
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‘‘(2) Contracts awarded pursuant to subsection 
(b), (c), or (d) to small business concerns owned and 
controlled by veterans with service-connected disabil-
ities 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 para-
graphs (1), (2), or (3). 
‘‘(5) Contracts awarded pursuant to 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) to a con-
tractor that, for purposes of such a contract, are 
local contractors under section 513A of this title. 
‘‘(6) Contracts awarded pursuant to any other 
small business contracting preference to a contractor 
that, for purposes of such a contract, are local con-
tractors under section 513A of this title. 
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