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HR 7534

Contract Our Veterans Act of 2026

119th Congress Introduced by Andy Barr and 8 co-sponsors

Establishes a government-wide 5% annual prime and subaward goal for veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) and expands Section 36B sole-source and restricted contracting eligibilit

Introduced in House
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 7534

Overview

  • Bill: H.R. 7534
  • Session: 119th Congress
  • Title: Contract Our Veterans Act of 2026
  • Purpose: Amend the Small Business Act to establish a government-wide procurement goal for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans, and to create related eligibility, contracting, reporting, and programmatic provisions to advance veteran-owned small businesses in federal contracting.

Main purpose and intent

  • Establish a targeted participation goal for veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) in federal prime contracts and subcontracts.
  • Integrate veteran-owned businesses into various Small Business Act programs and reporting mechanisms, ensuring they are eligible for set-aside, sole-source, and restricted competition opportunities.
  • Expand government-wide equal opportunity and accountability measures to include veterans alongside existing groups (e.g., women-owned small businesses).

Key provisions and changes

  1. Section 36B added to the Small Business Act

    • Defines contracting officer role and eligibility criteria for sole-source awards above the simplified acquisition threshold when awarded to veteran-owned small businesses.
    • Allows restricted-competition contracting to veteran-owned small businesses if there is a reasonable expectation of multiple veteran-owned bidders and price/value considerations.

  2. Eligibility and inclusion

    • Veteran-owned small businesses must be listed in the existing Small Business Act database to be eligible for awards under Section 36B.

  3. Government-wide goals and reporting

    • Adds veteran-owned small businesses to the government-wide procurement goals.
    • Establishes a minimum government-wide goal: at least 5% of the total value of all prime contract and subcontract awards each fiscal year to veteran-owned small businesses.
    • Updates reporting to track participation by veterans, including aggregate metrics and dollars awarded, across various procurement methods (sole source, restricted competitions, etc.).

  4. Expanded programmatic integration

    • Updates several Small Business Act programs to reference Section 36B, ensuring veteran-owned concerns are considered across:
      • Business Opportunity Specialists
      • Commercial Market Representatives
      • 8(a) program considerations
      • Small business mentor-protege reporting
      • Subcontracting limitations and compliance

  5. Scorecards and procurement methods

    • Adds veteran-owned status to SCORECARD programs, enabling measurement of awards to VOSBs (and in aggregate with other groups).
    • Requires inclusion of veteran-owned awards data for various procurement methods, including sole-source and restricted competitions.

  6. Subcontracting and compliance

    • Amends restrictions and reporting to account for contracts awarded under Section 36B, including ensuring subcontracting plans reflect veteran-owned participation.

Who/what would be affected

  • Small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans (VOSBs): Eligible for narrowly tailored procurement opportunities, including sole-source and restricted competitions, when criteria are met.
  • Federal contracting officers: Authorized to use Section 36B procedures and must determine eligibility, responsibility, and fair/reasonable pricing with best value considerations.
  • Agencies and procurement programs: Must incorporate veteran-owned data into goals, reporting, mentorship programs, and utilization offices.
  • Contractors and subcontractors: Potential new or expanded opportunities under veteran-focused procurement methods, with compliance considerations in subcontracting plans.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative status: Introduced February 12, 2026; referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
  • No enacted dates or regulatory deadlines are provided in the text; implementation would likely follow approval and subsequent rulemaking to align with the Small Business Act and existing procurement regulations.
  • Administrative requirements include updating databases, goal-setting documentation, and annual reporting to reflect the 5% participation target for veteran-owned firms.

Summary of potential impact

  • Prospective effect: Increased access to federal contracts for veteran-owned small businesses; explicit 5% annual participation goal could drive more opportunities and competition within the veteran-owned sector.
  • Administrative impact: Agencies would need to adjust contracting practices, update databases, and enhance reporting to capture veteran-owned participation across procurement methods.
  • Market effects: Could shift some opportunities from other small business groups to veterans, particularly in sole-source and restricted-competition contexts, contingent on eligibility and price/value considerations.

If you’d like, I can tailor this into a one-page briefing for policymakers or a side-by-side comparison with current veteran-owned procurement policies.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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