White House outlines veteran-owned business plan

Agencies have until Feb. 7 to give the White House their plans for how they will use small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans.

Agencies have until Feb. 7 to give the White House their plans for how they will use small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans.

Agencies must reserve contracts for this type of business as well as encourage the companies to participate. The plans, which go to the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, also must show how the agencies will encourage other contractors to use these businesses as subcontractors.

In October, President Bush signed an executive order requiring agencies to devise such plans. The Office of Management and Budget recently released a memo outlining what the plans should include.

The White House wants each agency to designate a senior official to oversee strategy and annually report progress to the Small Business Administratiaon.

The goal is for agencies to spend 3 percent of their prime and subcontracting dollars with these businesses.