Acquisition and Logistics Services

The Office of Acquisition and Logistics (OA&L) operates the largest Federal procurement and supply system outside DoD. VA's Supply Fund, a self-sustaining, revolving fund authorized by statute, funds all OA&L activities, the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, and VHA's Logistics Office.

In support of VA's mission, OA&L serves two fundamental roles:

• Operations: To provide acquisition and logistics support and Supply Fund financial services for the administrations and staff offices to help fulfill their missions.
  
  
• Program Oversight and Stewardship: To ensure VA compliance with acquisition and logistics laws, regulations, and national policies governing Federal acquisition and personal property management.

Three major business lines exist within OA&L - acquisitions, logistics, and Supply Fund financial services. 

The Office of Acquisitions procures goods and services for VA. The office awards and administers cost-effective national contracts to meet supply and equipment needs of VA facilities around the country. Contracts include medical-related Federal Supply Schedules (with authority delegated by the GSA); blanket purchase agreements; direct delivery (for high-tech medical equipment and systems); centralized purchases; and prime vendor (PV) distribution contracts. VA facilities use PV contracts to purchase pharmaceuticals; medical and surgical supplies; and nonperishable food items needed to operate the largest health-care system in the Nation.

The Office of Acquisitions also develops Department-wide acquisition policy, manages VA's mandatory acquisition training program, and offers continuing education programs for VA procurement staff around the country. In addition, the office manages VA's Contracting Officer Certification Program and is responsible for warranting all VA contracting officers. To ensure the integrity of VA's acquisition program, the office conducts business reviews of all major contract actions.

The Office of Program Management and Operations is responsible for establishing policy and policy oversight of logistics, warehousing, and distribution functions within VA. The office distributes such items as hearing aids, prosthetic devices, and interment flags to VA facilities nationwide, in addition to providing hearing aid repair services. The office designs, prints, and distributes VA forms and publications. Program management responsibility for VA's metric system, value engineering, and environmental programs resides within this organization. The office also provides transportation services for supplies and household goods and coordinates a program to acquire and distribute clothing for veterans served by VA's Health Care for Homeless Veterans program. Other program responsibilities include employee relocation, inspection of X–ray and laundry equipment, recovery and sale of precious metals, and logistics training.

Additional information may be accessed at the Office of Acquisition and Logistics website at http://www.va.gov/oamm/.