SBA creates vets office

Executive Order Establishing Set-Aside Progam

The Small Business Administration has created a new office to help small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans navigate the federal contracting marketplace and gain better access to federal contracting opportunities.

"We are eager to accept the challenge that President Bush has issued to us to help ensure that service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses receive their fair share of contracting opportunities," said SBA Administrator Hector Barreto, in a written statement. "Their contributions to our country and their courage are admirable and the SBA is ready to help these small businesses gain access to contracting opportunities in the federal marketplace and grow their businesses."

Called the Office of Federal Contract Assistance for Veteran Business Owners, the new office will offer a single point of contact for veterans to raise concerns and ask questions.

It will also provide suitable sole-source and set-aside opportunities and appeal procedures, and give federal contracting officers a place to ask questions about verifying a business's service-disabled-veteran status.

Teresa Lewis, a 20-year veteran of the Air Force with more than 14 years of government contracting experience, will head the office.