[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7401 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7401

  To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish a goal for the 
Department of Defense for participation by certain veteran-owned small 
      businesses in procurement contracts, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 15, 2024

Mr. Waltz (for himself and Mr. Panetta) introduced the following bill; 
         which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish a goal for the 
Department of Defense for participation by certain veteran-owned small 
      businesses in procurement contracts, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Contract Our Veterans Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GOALS FOR PARTICIPATION BY CERTAIN 
              VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES IN PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS.

    Chapter 287 of part V of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 3906. Small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans: 
              contracting goals and preferences
    ``(a) Contracting Goals.--In order to increase contracting 
opportunities for small business concerns owned and controlled by 
veterans and small business concerns owned and controlled by service-
disabled veterans, the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) establish a goal for each fiscal year for 
        participation in Department contracts (including subcontracts) 
        by small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans who 
        are not service-disabled veterans that is not less than the 
        governmentwide goal for that fiscal year for participation by 
        small business concerns owned and controlled by service-
        disabled veterans under section 15(g)(1) of the Small Business 
        Act (15 U.S.C. 644(g)(1)); and
            ``(2) establish a goal for each fiscal year for 
        participation in Department contracts (including subcontracts) 
        by small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans 
        with service-connected disabilities that is not less than the 
        governmentwide goal for that fiscal year for participation by 
        small business concerns owned and controlled by service-
        disabled veterans under section 15(g)(1) of the Small Business 
        Act (15 U.S.C. 644(g)(1)).
    ``(b) Sole Source Contracts for Contracts Above Simplified 
Acquisition Threshold.--For purposes of meeting the goals under 
subsection (a) and in accordance with this section, a contracting 
officer may award a contract to a small business concern owned and 
controlled by veterans or small business concerns owned and controlled 
by service-disabled veterans using procedures other than competitive 
procedures if--
            ``(1) such concern is determined to be a responsible source 
        with respect to performance of such contract opportunity;
            ``(2) the anticipated award price of the contract 
        (including options) will not exceed the amounts established in 
        section 36(c)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
        657f(c)(2)); and
            ``(3) in the estimation of the contracting officer, the 
        contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that 
        offers best value to the United States.
    ``(c) Use of Restricted Competition.--Except as provided in 
subsections (b) and (c), for purposes of meeting the goals under 
subsection (a) and in accordance with this section, a contracting 
officer shall award contracts on the basis of competition restricted to 
small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans or small 
business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans if 
the contracting officer has a reasonable expectation that two or more 
small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans or small 
business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans (as 
applicable) will submit offers and that the award can be made at a fair 
and reasonable price that offers best value to the United States.
    ``(d) Eligibility of Small Business Concerns.--A small business 
concern may be awarded a contract under this section only if the small 
business concern and the veteran owner of the small business concern 
are listed in the database described in section 36(f)(1) of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657f(f)(1)).
    ``(e) 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) or (c) 
        to small business concerns owned and controlled by service-
        disabled veterans.
            ``(2) Contracts awarded pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) 
        to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans 
        that are not covered by paragraph (1).
            ``(3) Contracts awarded pursuant to--
                    ``(A) section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 
                U.S.C. 637(a)); or
                    ``(B) section 31 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 657a).
            ``(4) Contracts awarded pursuant to any other contracting 
        preference for small business concerns.
    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `small business concern' has the meaning 
        given under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
        632).
            ``(2) The terms `service-disabled veteran', `small business 
        concern owned and controlled by veterans', and `small business 
        concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans' have 
        the meanings given, respectively, under section 3(q) of the 
        Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(q)).''.
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