No SDVOSB Set-Aside To Fix Forever GI Bill Software Glitch
To fix the Forever GI Bill software glitch, VA announced it will not use a set-aside for a service-disabled veteran owned small business (SDVOSB).
It will instead use one of the larger vendors lucky enough to win its Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology Next Generation (T4NG) contract instead.
The announcement came on FBO.gov on January 10, 2019, after numerous changes to an original Request for Information (RFI) The RFI followed news that VA failed to implement its updated Forever GI Bill claims processing system after spending millions without required results.
In October 2018, veterans reported financial hardship as a result of not being paid their housing subsistence payments as required by law. VA previously promised Congress the system would be operations through a partnership with Booz Allen Hamilton. The contract work went south when Booz developers were unable to integrate VA’s 50-year-old data system in time.
Repeat trips to Capitol Hill ended with VA throwing Booz under the bus in front of lawmakers claiming the enormous contractor was unable to conduct basic database development.
This month, VA concluded its review of market research. Unfortunately, for SDVOSB owners, the agency will not use its set-aside mechanisms to complete the project. The T4NG project is an IT update contract vehicle costing taxpayers over $20 billion.
The rub is T4NG was supposed to update VA software systems, but the agency is still holding onto databases over 50 years old. The age has made working with VA quite difficult over the years with a train wreck of failures.
Coincidently, January 10 was the same day President Donald Trump signed into law the Forever GI Bill Housing Payment Fulfillment Act. The legislation requires VA to pay back all the veterans who did not receive what they were owed as a result of the agency’s mistake.
Previously, VBA undersecretary Paul Lawrence, PhD, told Congress VA would not repay veterans the amount they did not receive. Lawrence also accused veterans of malingering related to complaints that they were in financial hardship when VA did not pay the required subsistence payments.
Later, after a lot of push back from Congress, VA promised to do the honest thing. Given the agency’s checkered history on ethics, Congress passed legislation mandating the payment, anyway.
” Lawrence also accused veterans of malingering “…..Geeez, I haven’t heard that word since I had to go to sick call one time during basic training for a few stitches in my head over 25 years ago. Where do they get these incompetent people that blame Vets for their own mistakes?
Plenty of Veteran Owned Businesses/SDVOSBs who have the ability to help fix this. The VA should have set-asides for veteran business owners on every given chance. Sadly the system (VA in general) is broken as with anything that grows too big to be managed properly!
We try to be/remain positive whenever possible on/about the VA; however, with fiascos like the GI Bill issue… it just gets harder and harder and they (VA) make it more and more impossible.
PEACE~ I THINK IT IS TIME TO BRING BACK THE DRAFT AND THIS TIME NO ONE IS EXEMPT! NO RUNNING OFF TO JOIN THE PEACE CORPS OR ANY OTHER SUBBIES! ARMY, MARINES, NAVY, OR THE AIRFORCE ONLY! MAYBE THIS WILL TEACH FOLK TO HAVE A BETTER RESPECT FOR MILITARY AND VETERANS!MY CLAIMS/APPEALS HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN VA HELL SINCE 2003. DO THE MATH! IN 2004 I WAS AWARDED 100% PT WITH NO FUTURE ASSIGNMENTS/EXAMS(FOR PTSD) DUE TO A CUE AND LESS THAN 2 YEARS AFTER THEY TOOK IT BACK WITH NO JUSTIFICATION AS TO WHY. I HAD OTHER ISSUES ON THE CLAIM AND BECAUSE I CONTINUED TO PURSURE THOSE OTHER ISSUES ASALL OF THEM COULD’VE RESULT IN MY DEATH AND I HAD FAMILY THAT DEPENDED ON MY INCOME TO LIVE ON SINCE THEY WERE MINOR CHILDREN AT THE TIME AND I COULDNT LEAVE THEM WITH NOTHING TO LIVE ON. NOT MANY PEOPLE WILL JUST TAKE CARE OF CHILDREN FOR FREE! ANYHOO, THEY JUST TOOK IT BACK AND LEFT ME WITH THE 60% THAT I WAS PREVIOUSLY AWARDED AND HAVE BEEN IGNORING MY APPEALS EVER SINCE. THE ONLY REASON I PURSUED THE OTHER ISSUES WERE BECAUSE MY CASE WENT TO THE US CIRCUT COURT AND THEY REMANDED BACK TO US COURT OF VETERANS APPEALS WHO REMANDED IT TO THE BVA AND THEY SENT IT BACK TO THE REGIONAL VA. I AM SO SICK OF THIS MADNESS. I CAN’T FIND A SERVICE OFFICER TO TAKE MY CASE OR ATTORNEY. MY CLAIM WAS NOT COMPLICATED BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS DOCUMENTED. THEY ARE WAITING FOR ME TO DIE.
I have a different take on the draft. A requirement of Federal Service like the old draft requirement but undo a lot of AFGE jobs where fat asses sit that can’t be fired. You have to serve somewhere so then you get the technical school you are qualified for. Advancement to a civilian position through college if you can qualify. If you are in a wheel chair or have any disabling condition they find something you can do even if it is only sit at a computer and push one button to get the envelopes stuffed or printing of Faxes done. A lifetime work welfare program if necessary. Draft force shared with the States. Like you say, everyone must serve but we don’t need that large of a military. And our total governance requires that kind of work force. Amend the constitution so we don’t have super construction companies getting rich off the Army Corps of Engineers projects. Make them self help infrastructure projects like the CC Boys in the Great Depression. And then shorten the work week to 32 hours so people can decide between taking two jobs or using the extra time to enjoy their favorite pass time. Encourage further mechanization so we can shorten the work week even more.
And keep the pay at the volunteer service level.
VA saying veterans are maligning, isnt that the pot calling the kettle black. Veterans have been complaining for decades (myself since 2003) about VA maligning on getting appeal decisions. This 2019 and still waiting! Thats guy should be removed from his position for even making a statement like that! ???
SDVOSB (VA) the so called SET ASIDE’ initiatives, aren’t really what is advertised by (VA).
What are you noticing regarding set-asides?
Veterans should LITERALLY be on a hotel victor mission and take custody of this Lawrence SOB and until the VA is fully operational and veterans get EVERYTHING, AND I DO MEAN EVERYTHING, they are due, owed, promised, and guaranteed, then Mr. Lawrence will remain in veterans custody at a place to be determined.
Hmmmm…. as if. See, that is something the VA would do and has done, so, pay back is an emeffer……
I’m trying to get “data” out of that 50 year old data base. Went in April of 1961. Its now almost 58 years and some of the data missing from my VA claims file is from 1965. So I need the archived data from 53 years ago. Just because some of us are older than dirt doesn’t mean our claims should be thrown out because someone didn’t keep the data.
Seems VA just keeps on fucking up.
How much longer will the American People stand by and watch the VA Titanic sink! That’s a lot of Taxpayers Monies going down the toilet!
The bulk of the American people don’t give a flying fuck about veterans. Those yellow ribbon bumper stickers are there to make them feel better – no more than that. The Sheeple won’t begin to tangibly care about veterans issues until their kids start getting drafted. Good luck with that one. Thank you for your service.
Paul Lawerence, Phd. (Plumbing House doctor) REFUSED TO DO WHAT CONGRESS TOLD HIM TO DO??
is Paul Lawerence still employed by the VA??
I am unaware that anyone who is in a government appointed position can tell Congress to “go to hell” and still get his own paycheck?
What did Paul Lawerence get his Phd in? What was his thesis about; ‘How to successfully suborn the mission of your employer??
Really, now, what desert was Paul Lawerence released in with a hole in his canteen?
Again, are you shitting me??
And the leftwingers want health care administered to them by the government??
And when the VA official lied to the Congress about why Booz Hamilton could not deal with the antiquated VA system, how is it that he/she, the liar was not arrested for lying to Congress??
How can the VA, (in its inner sanctum of darkness), refuse to give the contract to veterans under the set-aside??
That is, my friends, fellow veterans, what does it take to get the mule to move?? How much pain do you have to inflict upon this stubborn, ignorant creation to get him to pull the pack-weight up the hill??
The American People will watch everything SINK right before their stupid eyes until everyone is dead, including them. To even begin to straighten out Paul Lawrence is an impossible feat. This is a job for SHAFT. Can you dig it?