Veterans in Business – Still Serving America

Verification Assistance ProgramPart One

Preparing for Verification

Agenda Topics• Welcome, Introductions• Learning Objectives• Program Goals• What is Verification?• Who Is Eligible? – Types of Businesses• Definition – Veteran Owned Small Business• Types of Eligible Companies• OSDBU Web Site• Next Training Webinar Objectives, Topics, Date

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Learning ObjectivesTraining series for Verification Counselors

• Understand Verification process stages• Role of 38 CFR § 74.4 • Understand requirements for eligibility, ownership,

and control• Know the qualifications for companies to participate• Introduce revitalized website –

http://www.va.gov/osdbu/

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Verification Counselor Training

• Preparing for Verification – – Part One: Review your Checklist

• Preparing for Verification – – Part Two: Specific Documents to Submit, Pitfalls to Avoid

• 38 CFR § 74.4 Review – – Part Three: Regulations Governing Control

• Verification Assessment Tool Overview – Part Four

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CVE Mission Statement

• “Consistently deliver accurate and timely verifications through integrated technology, service and process platforms”

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Verification Assistance Program

• VA has developed the Verification Assistance Program to help Veterans understand the Verification process and policy. The goal of the program is to reduce the risk of denial due to lack of understanding and misinterpretation of the regulation

• To accomplish this objective, we are establishing a partnership with Veteran services and Small Business support organizations that can provide assistance to Veterans considering applying for the Veterans First program

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Goals

• Enable Verification Counselors to better assist Veteran owners of small businesses in their application for Verification

• Help SD/VOSB applicants be successful in their applications for Verification

• Decrease the number of denials• Provide Verification Counselors ongoing

training, support, and resources

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What is the Center for Veterans Enterprise?

• The Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) is an office within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

• CVE verifies Small Businesses for inclusion in

the VetBiz database

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CVE Mission Statement

• “Consistently deliver accurate and timely Verifications through integrated technology, service and process platforms”

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What is Verification?

• This is the process by which a Veteran is evaluated and determined eligible to be listed in the Vendor Information Pages (VIP) database

• Evaluation is primarily based on the requirements found in 38 Code of Federal Regulations Part 74

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Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)VetBiz Verification Program

Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) Verification Process - Stages

INITIATION EXAMINATION EVALUATION DETERMINATION RE-CONSIDERATION

FINAL DETERMINATION

90 Days (from receipt of complete application)

INITIATION

Veteran submits complete

application with supporting

documentation and CVE confirms

Veteran status

FINAL DETERMINATION

CVE issues decision on

Veteran’s appeal

EVALUATION

CVE performs detailed evaluation of the business for

eligibility into program

DETERMINATION

CVE issues eligibility decision

on application

RECONSIDERATION

Veteran appeals for reconsideration of

CVE’s denial decision

EXAMINATION

CVE conducts initial examination of the application and supporting documentation

60 Days (from receipt of valid request for reconsideration)

What Elements are Required for Verification?

• Veteran Status

• Ownership

• Control

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What Businesses are Eligible Under the Program?

• Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

• Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

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Eligibility Concerns

• Veterans, Service-Disabled Veterans and surviving spouses with ownership interests must have good character

• Failure to pay significant financial obligations owed to the Federal Government

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Who is Considered a Veteran?

• A person who served on active duty with the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard, for any length of time and at any place and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable

• Reservists or members of the National Guard called to Federal active duty or disabled from a disease or injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty or while in training status also qualify as a Veteran

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Who is Considered a Service-Disabled Veteran?

• A Veteran who possesses either :– A disability rating letter issued by VA, establishing

a service-connected rating between 0 and 100 percent, or

– A disability determination from the Department of Defense

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What is a Veteran-Owned Small Business?

• A small business that is not less than 51 percent owned by one or more Veterans, or in the case of a corporation, not less than 51 percent of each class of voting stock and 51 percent of the aggregate of all stock of which is owned by one or more Veterans

• The management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more Veterans

• Qualifies as “small” for Federal business size standard purposes

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What is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business?

• A business not less than 51 percent of which is owned by one or more Service-Disabled Veterans, or in the case of a corporation, not less than 51 percent of each class of voting stock and 51 percent of the aggregate of all stock of which is owned by one or more Service-Disabled Veterans

• The management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more Service-Disabled Veterans, or in the case of a Veteran with a permanent and severe disability, a spouse or permanent caregiver of such Veteran

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What is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business? (continued)

• Eligible surviving spouse

• Reservists or members of the National Guard disabled from a disease or injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty or while in training status

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What Does it mean to Own a Business Within the Definition of the Program?

• An applicant or participant must be at least 51 percent unconditionally and directly owned by one or more Veterans or Service-Disabled Veterans

• Ownership by one or more Veterans or Service-Disabled Veterans must be direct ownership

• Ownership by one or more Veterans or Service-Disabled Veterans must be unconditional ownership

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What Does it Mean to Control a Business Within the Definition of the Program?

• “Control” means both the day-to-day management and long-term decision-making authority

• “Control” is not the same as ownership, although both may be the same person

• “Control” includes both the strategic policy setting exercised by boards of directors and the day-to-day management and administration of business operations

• A business must be controlled by one or more Veterans or Service-Disabled Veterans who possess requisite management capabilities

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What Type of Companies are Not Eligible?

• Not for profit organizations are ineligible for inclusion in the program

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Revitalized OSDBU Web Site

• The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) recently revitalized website can help provide information to Veteran-Owned and Veteran-Owned Small Business. OSDBU seeks to enable SDVOSB, VOSB, Small Disadvantaged Businesses, HUBZone Businesses, and Woman-Owned Small Businesses to add value to the work of VA

• OSDBU provides outreach and liaison support to businesses (small and large) and other members of the public and private sectors concerning Small Business Acquisition issues. OSDBU is responsible for monitoring VA implementation and execution of the socioeconomic programs

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Revitalized OSDBU Website (continued)

• Visit the OSDBU website at http://www.va.gov/osdbu/ to take advantage of procurement preferences provided to Veteran-Owned and controlled Small Businesses, the business must be Verified as an eligible firm and be registered in the VIP database

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Revitalized OSDBU Web Site

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Summary

• The Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE)• The phases of the Verification Process• The Role of 38 CFR § 74.4• Veteran-Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran

Eligibility• Companies that can participate

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Next: Part Two – Training Objectives

• Understand Verification Initiation Process• Review key ‘Getting Started’ activities• Understand documents required and rationale• Understand resources available to Verification

Counselors – http://www.va.gov/osdbu/

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Veterans in Business – Still Serving America

Thank You!