Protecting Business Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-561
Sponsor: Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1]
Introduced: 2019-01-15 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Disability and paralysis
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government studies and investigations
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Public contracts and procurement
Small business
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2019-01-15
text: 

Protecting Business Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2019

 
This bill applies certain small business subcontracting limitations to contracts that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awards to a small business concern owned and controlled by a veteran or a veteran with a service-connected disability. 
 
The VA may award such a contract only after obtaining a certification from the offeror that it will comply with such subcontracting limitations if awarded the contract. Such certification shall specify the applicable performance requirements and explicitly acknowledge that the certification is subject to criminal penalties for making false statements in any matter within the jurisdiction of the U.S. government. The bill also specifies limitations for contracts for supplies from a regular dealer that have been granted a waiver from the requirement to supply the product of a domestic small business manufacturer or processor. 
 
The VA Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and the VA Chief Acquisition Officer shall jointly monitor compliance and refer any violation or suspected violation to the VA Inspector General.
 
If the VA determines that a contract recipient did not act in good faith, such recipient shall be subject to any or all of the following: (1) referral to the VA Debarment and Suspension Committee, (2) a criminal fine, and (3) criminal prosecution.
 
The Inspector General shall report on (1) the number of referred violations and suspected violations; and (2) the disposition of such violations, including the number of small business concerns suspended or debarred from federal contracting or referred for Department of Justice prosecution.

action_date: 2020-02-25
text: 

Protecting Business Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2019

 
This bill applies certain small business subcontracting limitations to contracts that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awards to a small business concern owned and controlled by a veteran or a veteran with a service-connected disability. 
 
The VA may award such a contract only after obtaining a certification from the offeror that it will comply with such subcontracting limitations if awarded the contract. Such certification shall specify the applicable performance requirements and explicitly acknowledge that the certification is subject to criminal penalties for making false statements in any matter within the jurisdiction of the U.S. government.
 
The VA Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and the VA Chief Acquisition Officer shall jointly monitor compliance and refer any violation or suspected violation to the VA Inspector General.
 
If the VA determines that a contract recipient did not act in good faith, such recipient shall be subject to any or all of the following: (1) referral to the VA Debarment and Suspension Committee, (2) a criminal fine, and (3) criminal prosecution.
 
The Inspector General shall report on (1) the number of referred violations and suspected violations; and (2) the disposition of such violations, including the number of small business concerns suspended or debarred from federal contracting or referred for Department of Justice prosecution.

action_date: 2020-09-30
text: 

Protecting Business Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2019

 
This bill applies certain small business subcontracting limitations to contracts that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awards to a small business concern owned and controlled by a veteran or a veteran with a service-connected disability. 
 
The VA may award such a contract only after obtaining a certification from the offeror that it will comply with such subcontracting limitations if awarded the contract. Such certification shall specify the applicable performance requirements and explicitly acknowledge that the certification is subject to criminal penalties for making false statements in any matter within the jurisdiction of the U.S. government.
 
The VA Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and the VA Chief Acquisition Officer shall jointly monitor compliance and refer any violation or suspected violation to the VA Inspector General.
 
If the VA determines that a contract recipient did not act in good faith, such recipient shall be subject to any or all of the following: (1) referral to the VA Debarment and Suspension Committee, (2) a criminal fine, and (3) criminal prosecution.
 
The Inspector General shall report on (1) the number of referred violations and suspected violations; and (2) the disposition of such violations, including the number of small business concerns suspended or debarred from federal contracting or referred for Department of Justice prosecution.

action_date: 2020-10-30
text: 

Protecting Business Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2019

 
This bill applies certain small business subcontracting limitations to contracts that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awards to a small business concern owned and controlled by a veteran or a veteran with a service-connected disability. 
 
The VA may award such a contract only after obtaining a certification from the offeror that it will comply with such subcontracting limitations if awarded the contract. Such certification shall specify the applicable performance requirements and explicitly acknowledge that the certification is subject to criminal penalties for making false statements in any matter within the jurisdiction of the U.S. government.
 
The VA Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and the VA Chief Acquisition Officer shall jointly monitor compliance and refer any violation or suspected violation to the VA Inspector General.
 
If the VA determines that a contract recipient did not act in good faith, such recipient shall be subject to any or all of the following: (1) referral to the VA Debarment and Suspension Committee, (2) a criminal fine, and (3) criminal prosecution.
 
The Inspector General shall report on (1) the number of referred violations and suspected violations; and (2) the disposition of such violations, including the number of small business concerns suspended or debarred from federal contracting or referred for Department of Justice prosecution.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-10-30
text: Became Public Law No: 116-183.
action_date: 2020-10-30
text: Became Public Law No: 116-183.
action_date: 2020-10-30
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2020-10-30
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2020-10-20
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2020-10-20
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2020-10-01
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2020-09-30
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2020-09-30
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2020-09-30
text: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6001-6002)
action_date: 2020-09-30
text: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2020-02-27
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2020-02-25
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2020-02-25
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1180-1181)
action_date: 2020-02-25
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2020-02-25
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 561.
action_date: 2020-02-25
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1180-1182)
action_date: 2020-02-25
text: Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2019-10-16
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2019-10-16
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2019-02-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
action_date: 2019-01-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2019-01-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-01-15
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 116-183