Key takeaways
- The Department of Veterans Affairs spent $416 billion in fiscal 2026, compared with $377 billion in fiscal 2025, according to the Monthly Treasury Statement.
- Its biggest programs: Disability compensation, Veterans Health Administration, community care.
- The Department of Veterans Affairs buys through four main components and offices, each with its own contracting staff.
- VA publishes a procurement forecast of upcoming contracts.
VA at a glance
| Fact | VA |
|---|---|
| FY 2026 outlays | $416 billion (5th of the 20 largest agencies) |
| FY 2025 outlays | $377 billion |
| Biggest programs | Disability compensation, Veterans Health Administration, community care |
| Main buying components | 4 |
| Procurement forecast | VA forecast |
Sources: U.S. Treasury, Monthly Treasury Statement for September 2026 (outlays); Acquisition.gov procurement forecast directory; SBA FY 2025 Small Business Procurement Scorecard as reported in June 2026.
Who buys at VA
VA gives contracting priority to service-disabled veteran-owned and veteran-owned small businesses under its Veterans First program, and much health care buying happens through regional networks and medical centers.
- Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and its medical centers and regional networks
- Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
- National Cemetery Administration
- Office of Procurement, Acquisition and Logistics, including national acquisition centers
How to start selling to VA
- Register in SAM.gov. Every federal contractor needs an active SAM registration and Unique Entity ID; see our SAM registration guide.
- Check your NAICS codes and size. Each solicitation is assigned one NAICS code, and its size standard decides whether you can compete as a small business; see SBA size standards and the top NAICS codes for government contracts.
- Read the forecast. VA's procurement forecast lists contracts planned for the coming year, often before they reach SAM.gov.
- Meet the small business office. VA's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (or its equivalent) can explain how the agency buys and connect you with program offices.
- Get veteran certification if you qualify. VA sets aside many contracts for veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses certified through SBA's VetCert program.
- Consider contract vehicles. Many agency buys go through GSA's Multiple Award Schedule and other governmentwide or agency contracts rather than open competition.
- Find the program owner. Contracting officers run the process, but program offices decide what they need; reaching them before a solicitation is released is where deals are shaped.
Large contractors at VA
These companies from our largest federal contractors list do much of their federal business with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many subcontract to smaller firms.
| Company | All federal obligations, FY 2025 | Main federal business |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealth Group | $25.4B | Veterans community care networks through Optum |
| TriWest Healthcare Alliance | $13.4B | Veterans community care and TRICARE health networks |
| McKesson | $12.0B | Pharmaceutical distribution to the VA and other agencies |
Obligations are each company's total with all federal agencies, not VA alone. Source: GovTribe FY 2025 parent-company rankings.
Budget and funding timing
- Fiscal year. The federal fiscal year runs Oct. 1 to Sept. 30; see our government fiscal year calendar.
- Fiscal 2027 funding. VA is operating under a continuing resolution through Dec. 11, 2026, which generally bars new starts; follow it in our FY 2027 appropriations tracker.
- Year-end buying. Agencies obligate a large share of contract dollars in the final quarter of the fiscal year, July through September.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group's SDRs book meetings with public agencies across Federal, SLED, K-12 & Higher Ed, Healthcare, Tribal, Special Districts and Utilities. We map VA's program offices, track its forecast and get you in front of the people who shape requirements before solicitations drop. See how our federal sales development works.