The Verification Counseling Program provides education, assistance, and certification to Verification Assistance Partners through Verification Counselor Training.  Verification Assistance Partners are then equipped to provide Verification counseling to applicants.

Additional elements of the program include outreach to the Veteran community in which:

• Insight is provided to applicants regarding the interpretation of regulation 38 CFR Part 74
• Review of a firms business model
• Assist the Veteran with questions on how to use the Self Assessment Tool
• Status Checks on where an applicant is in the Verification process

Training and Registration

Training for Verification Assistance Partners is conducted to explain the Verification process, along with the rules of the Veterans First Program (38 CFR Part 74).  The training component for Verification Partners consists of an 8 hour seminar that is conducted monthly and covers topics on the Verification process, policy and regulations.

Visit the Verification Assistance Program Counselor Training page to view upcoming training dates and to register for participation.

Verification Assistance Partners and Resources

Verification Assistance partners are available to assist applicants who are interested in becoming eligible for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned or Veteran-Owned Small Business set-asides with the VA.  Services that Verification Partners provide include:

• Guidance on the regulation the governs the verification process (38 CFR Part 74)
• Assisting applicants with understanding  the documents that are required  for Verification
• Help with uploading documents in the Vendor Information Pages (VIP)
• Overall assistance to help Veterans form and expand their small businesses

VA Certified Counselors

In an effort to improve denial rates among Verification applicants, the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) in conjunction with the Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) has trained and certified counselors and partners from various Veteran Service Organizations, Small Business Development Centers and Procurement Technical Assistance Centers on the Verification Process.  These certified counselors are available throughout the region and can assist applicants in their application for Verification.

Locate a VA Certified Counselor to assist you.

Procurement Technical Assistance Program/Procurement Technical Assistance Center Counselors

Congress created the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) to help businesses seeking to compete successfully in federal, state and local Government contracting.  Funded through cooperative agreements between DoD and state/local entities, PTACs provide a range of expert services at little or no charge.  No Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC) membership is required.  To engage a PTAC Counselor in your area to assist you with the Verification process, visit the APTAC website and select your state to get help.

Find a Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC) in your area.

Veteran Service Organizations

American Legion

It is the nation’s largest wartime Veterans Service Organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow service members and veterans.  The American Legion is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization with great political influence perpetuated by its grass-roots involvement in the legislation process from local districts to Capitol Hill.  Legionnaires’ sense of obligation to community, state and nation drives an honest advocacy for Veterans in Washington.  The Legion stands behind the issues most important to the nation’s Veterans community, backed by resolutions passed by volunteer leadership.  If you are interested requesting help from a Verification Counselor in your area, please call Mr. Joe Sharpe (202) 861-2700 or Mr. Davy Leghorn (202) 263-5746 or via email at econ@legion.org.

American Legion provides verification assistance free of charge.

National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC)

NVSBC provide Verification assistance in the following areas.  NVSBC requires payment up front for all stages of reviews and assistance.  The Verification process, criteria, and standards continue to evolve.  NVSBC personnel have a current and detailed understanding of underlying statutes, regulations and guidance as implemented by the Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) examiners and evaluators.  NVSBC cannot guarantee approval; however, with extensive training, knowledge, and communications with CVE, NVSBC can greatly enhance the opportunity for a successful conclusion.  NVSBC is committed to your success and will work quickly and diligently with you to obtain your Verification through any and all of the CVE Verification stages.  If you would like to contact NVSBC for help with the Verification process, or have any questions about the assistance they can provide, please contact Mr. Scott Denniston at (703) 282-4140 or via email at scott.denniston@nvsbc.org.

There is a sliding fee associated with counseling services.  For more information, please contact the NVSBC at (703) 282-4140

Vet-Force

The Veterans Entrepreneurship Task Force (VET-Force), organized in 1998 to advocate for the development and passage of Public Law 106-50, the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999, wherein Congress realized that the United States must provide additional assistance to Veterans, particularly Service-Disabled Veterans, with forming and expanding their own small businesses; and thereby enabling them to “realize the American dream that they fought so hard to protect.”  Vets-Force provides Verification assistance free of charge.  For more information please send inquiries to info@vet-force.org.

Vets-Force provides verification assistance free of charge.

VETS Group

VETS Group offers training in Federal Procurement, Verification counseling, small business development, education in financial literacy, credit repair and identity theft; and is now in the process of implementing an initiative to identify more procurement opportunities for Veterans in the private-sector.  Partnerships are being formed with large corporate enterprises to offer Veteran employment opportunities, business education, mentoring, technical assistance, growth capital, and access to international markets.  VETS Group provides Verification assistance free of charge.  If you are interested requesting help from a Verification Counselor in your area, please call Mr. Joe Wynn at (202) 822-0011 or via email at joewynn@vetsgroup.org.

VETS Group provides verification assistance free of charge.