H.R. 6549 — VA Contracting and Procurement Act

This section limits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs' authority to obligate or expend more than $50 million for specified contracts and agreements unless funds are specifically authorized by law, with exceptions during declared wars, certain military actions under the War Powers Resolution, national emergencies, major disasters affecting VA facilities in impacted states, or public health emergencies. (1) Amends 38 U.S.C. 513 (contracts and personal services) to impose the limitation. (2) Amends 38 U.S.C. 1703 (Veterans Community Care Program, which furnishes hospital care, medical services, and extended care to enrolled or eligible veterans through non-VA providers such as Medicare-participating providers, DOD, Indian Health Service, federally qualified health centers, or other providers meeting VA criteria) to impose the limitation. (3) Amends 38 U.S.C. 1721 (rules and regulations for furnishing health care in VA facilities) to expressly authorize agreements (including for information technology) to administer such care and impose the limitation. (4) Adds new section 3698B to subchapter III of chapter 36 (administration of educational benefits) to impose the limitation unless funds are specifically authorized by law or the Secretary submits a notification to congressional Veterans' Affairs Committees (detailing purpose, scope, cost, and period of performance) and 30 legislative days elapse without Congress enacting a joint resolution of disapproval.

This section revises VA authority under 38 U.S.C. 8123 to procure prosthetic appliances (i.e., including any service or product required for fitting, supplying, training, or use) and adds authority to procure surgical implants (i.e., any item used in related surgery, including an implantable device, screw, guidewire, or surgical tool) by purchase, manufacture, contract, or other proper means. It further (1) requires VA to maintain a catalog of such items procured by purchase or contract, coordinating data requirements with the Defense Health Agency; (2) establishes a standardized electronic process, minimizing documentation, for manufacturers to propose catalog revisions (e.g., form, size, generation, or model); and (3) mandates procurement of all surgical implants via firm-fixed-price single purchase orders (as defined in the Federal Acquisition Regulation) processed through the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service in a manner that eliminates duplicative billing and enables real-time error correction. VA must implement the surgical implant purchase order requirements not later than one year after enactment and the catalog requirements not later than three years after enactment (during which VA must accept manufacturer proposals at least twice per year).