36C10D27Q0008.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

GENERAL INFORMATION

SET-ASIDE

Veterans Benefits Administration Acquisition Directorate 1800 G Street NW Washington DC 20006

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contracting Officer Edward Bradford Edward.Bradford@va.gov

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Veterans Benefits Administration

Acquisition Division

1800 G Street NW

Washington DC

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

Request for Information Notice Request for Information Notice

DESCRIPTION

*= Required Field

SUBJECT

Exploring the Feasibility of VA Partnering with Industry to Ready Disabled Veterans for Self-Employment (i.e., entrepreneurship; small business ownership)

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) for Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) Self-Employment Services. The information provided in response to this request may be used by VBA in developing its acquisition strategy and refining the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or otherwise pay for the information requested. Responses will be treated as information only and not as a proposal. There is no obligation for the Government to acquire any products or services described in this RFI. In accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 15.101(c)(2), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.

2.0 BACKGROUND

VBA’s VR&E Service, pursuant to Title 38 United States Code Chapter 31 (see Section 3100), provides to eligible Veterans with compensable service-connected disabilities all services and assistance necessary to enable them to achieve maximum independence in daily living and, to the maximum extent feasible, to become employable and to obtain and maintain suitable employment. After achieving the degree of rehabilitation needed to become suitably employed, VR&E is expected to assist Veterans in the pursuit of suitable employment.

One such avenue through which VR&E assists is utilizing VR&E’s Self-Employment Track, which is intended to assist eligible Veterans in achieving their vocational goals in entrepreneurship and business ownership. Services include the following:

· Developing and strengthening a business plan

· Training in small-business operations, marketing, finances, etc.

· Assessing the feasibility of implementing such a business plan

· Obtaining (through loans or grants) the resources necessary to implement a business plan and incorporate the business – such as securing loans

· Purchasing of equipment, acquiring initial stocks and supplies, etc.

Specialized expertise and/or support to assist Veterans interested in self-employment includes, but is not limited to,

· knowledge of local/state/federal laws associated with starting a business;

· market research/analysis both from the perspective of assessing viability of the prospective business in the job market and through the lens of purchasing subject matter expertise and purchasing equipment/supplies; and

· potential screening or other assessment tools for specialized job markets (i.e. ability to run background checks and/or credit checks to assess criminal history, driving records, substance use/abuse, financial/credit/tax history, education, etc.).

Further, VA recognizes that achieving successful self-employment outcomes often requires specialized expertise beyond traditional vocational rehabilitation services. Veterans pursuing entrepreneurship may need support with business planning, feasibility analysis, market research, financial literacy, regulatory compliance, business startup requirements, mentorship, and access to entrepreneurial networks and resources.

Self-employment cases frequently involve complex business considerations that require specialized knowledge, individualized assessments, and coordination with public and private sector resources. Veterans may require assistance evaluating business viability, developing comprehensive business plans, understanding applicable licensing and regulatory requirements, conducting market and financial analyses, identifying startup resource needs, and building the skills necessary to successfully operate a small business. These needs often require tailored, ongoing guidance throughout the planning and launch process.

VA is seeking information on how experienced industry partners can supplement existing VR&E services by providing subject matter expertise, structured entrepreneurial training, business feasibility assessments, market research capabilities, business financial planning and analysis (i.e., financial projections, startup cost estimates, cash flow planning, and capital requirements), and access to established business support networks. Such services may help Veterans make informed business decisions, evaluate and strengthen the viability of proposed business ventures, develop stronger business plans, and access the expertise and resources needed to successfully launch and sustain a small business.

Accordingly, VA requests information from organizations with demonstrated experience providing entrepreneur and small business support services, including business advisory services, training, business feasibility and market assessments, entrepreneurial training, startup incubation, financial planning, and other related support services. The goal is to identify potential partnership approaches that can enhance VA's ability to assist Veterans with service-connected disabilities in evaluating business concepts, developing viable business plans, preparing for business ownership, and successfully launching and sustaining small businesses

3.0 INFORMATION SOUGHT

The Government is seeking the following information from vendors responding to this RFI:

· Organization and Contact Information, specifically:

· Name of Organization

· Addresses for Primary Locations of Operation

· Points of Contact (available for follow-up discussions)

· Phone Numbers and Email Addresses for Points of Contact

· Business Size and Socioeconomic Status

· Answers to List of Questions (See Section 5.0 of this RFI)

· Past Performance (if applicable) describing how your organization:

· has supported entrepreneurs in exploring, planning, and starting small business enterprises

· prepared entrepreneurs for operating small business enterprises with training, apprenticeships, mentorships, and similar educational ventures

4.0 SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Please submit responses to the Contracting Officer, Edward Bradford, via email Edward.Bradford@va.gov no later than November 25, 2026.

Responses shall not exceed 10 pages total and shall be prepared in Times New Roman, 12-point font, with 1-inch margins.

5.0 LIST OF QUESTIONS

1. Please provide information regarding proposed joint ventures, teaming arrangements, or strategic alliances you believe would be beneficial in supporting the needs of Veterans pursuing self-employment outlined in the background section of this document.

2. Please describe your organization’s expertise in providing business planning, self-employment, entrepreneurship, small business operations, and startup incubation services.

3. Please describe how your organization would prepare for and respond to referrals issued by VR&E, specifically the timelines for contacting Veterans participating in the Self-Employment Track and the type of services your organization would provide throughout the engagement.

4. Please describe your organization’s service delivery model, including how services would be documented and how progress, milestones, and outcomes would be communicated to VA.

5. On average, how many full-time equivalent (FTE) business consultants, entrepreneurship specialists, or small business advisors are employed by your company?

6. How long has your company been providing self-employment, entrepreneurship development, small business consulting, or related business advisory services?

7. Please provide the qualifications, certifications, or specialized training your business consultants possess related to entrepreneurship?

8. Please describe your experience developing business plans, feasibility studies, and financial projections.

9. Please describe any additional wraparound services your organization could provide to support Veterans pursuing self-employment, such as business planning, market research, prototyping, regulatory compliance assistance or other entrepreneurial support services

10. The Self-Employment track currently serves approximately 500 Veterans annually across 56 VA Regional Offices nationwide. VA recognizes that demand for these services may increase if additional specialized entrepreneurial support becomes available and is therefore seeking information on industry's capacity to provide scalable services across one or more geographic regions.

a. Please describe your organization’s geographic coverage and capacity to support Veterans participating in the VR&E Self-Employment Track. Including regions or locations your organization is capable of serving, your ability to provide services across multiple VA Regional Offices, and any factors that may affect your capacity to support Veterans nationwide.

11. Please describe your organization’s partnerships, affiliations, or collaborative relationships with industry organizations, small business development centers, financial institutions, chambers of commerce, entrepreneurship programs, Veteran business organizations, or other entities that enhance your ability to support individuals pursuing self-employment.

12. Please describe your organization’s quality assurance and performance management processes.

13. Please indicate the Regions(s) of the country your company is interested in and capable of conducting self-employment services, by completing the attached “AREAS OF CONSIDERATION INTEREST FORM”. If the Government were to solicit for these services, individual contracts would be awarded for each of the 4 Regions outlined in the attachment.

14. Please list performance indicators or success metrics your organization uses to track self-employment outcomes.

6.0 ATTACHMENTS

See attached document: AREAS OF CONSIDERATION INTEREST FORM - MAP.

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