Last week, the U.S. Senate passed the Acquisition Reform and Cost Assessment Act (ARCA), a landmark piece of legislation that would strengthen acquisition management across the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Coalition for Common Sense in Government Procurement (Coalition) applauds this significant milestone, which would help ensure that veterans receive high-quality care through a coordinated, efficient and transparent procurement system. ARCA represents the most consequential reform of VA acquisition management in more than a generation, marking a transformative moment for the department and the veterans it serves.
On May 21, the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a legislative hearing that included consideration of ARCA. The Coalition was honored to be invited by Chairman Jerry Moran to provide a statement for the record addressing the proposed legislation and its importance to improving VA procurement operations.
Elevating VA Acquisition Management
ARCA establishes an Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Acquisition, a new senior-level position that will unify and oversee procurement activities across the department. Under the legislation, all VA contracting officers and acquisition centers will be consolidated under this office, creating a streamlined, departmentwide framework.
Consolidating procurement operations under a single acquisition leader would help standardize practices, improve coordination across the enterprise, and strengthen communication with industry partners. These reforms together would support more efficient management of acquisition and logistics resources. This restructuring also adds accountability to address the challenge of open-market purchase card buys for medical supplies, which increase costs and weaken the integrity of the VA’s supply chain.
In addition, this centralized structure would enable the VA to approach procurement with greater strategic focus. ARCA marks an essential step in ensuring timely, cost-effective delivery of products and services to veterans.
Positioning the VA to Adopt Best Practices
ARCA also lays the foundation for adopting commercial best practices and strengthening the VA’s supply chain operations. With procurement functions operating under a unified structure, the VA will be better positioned to enhance purchasing power, improve data visibility, and reduce administrative burdens across the acquisition life cycle.
ARCA would further allow the VA to efficiently manage and distribute its acquisition personnel and logistics resources to meet the evolving needs and challenges of veterans. These reforms would advance transparency, efficiency, and collaboration across the enterprise, reinforcing a stronger supply chain and supporting improved outcomes for veterans. These reforms would promote more consistent delivery of high-quality products to the VA’s healthcare system.
This bipartisan legislation will now be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives. The Coalition and industry stand ready to support the VA in its implementation of procurement reforms. ARCA represents a significant step toward strengthening the VA’s acquisition system to deliver best value to veterans.