The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), through the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Compensation Service (CS), is expected to recompete its Program Support Services (PSS) IDIQ. This multiple-award vehicle will provide program management and business analysis support to the office that delivers disability compensation to Veterans. The current PSS IDIQ was awarded in 2021 as a 100% Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-aside.
PSS will procure professional support services across the Compensation Service’s eight functional areas below, supporting how VBA delivers Veterans’ disability benefits through its 56 claims processing offices:
- Program management, data analytics and visualization, SharePoint configuration and records management, program analysis, strategic planning, communications management, and process re-engineering
The set-aside structure is the key variable to watch. SDVOSBs with documented program management, data analytics, and VA/VBA past performance, plus the cleared personnel to meet VA’s requirements, will be best positioned when the RFP lands. With the recompete on the horizon, now is the time for firms to document past performance, build teams, and position against the incumbent pool.
OPPORTUNITY SNAPSHOT
- Opportunity: Program Support Services (PSS) for the VBA Office of Compensation Service
- Agency: VA, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Compensation Service
- Estimated Value: $86M
- Type: Multiple-Award IDIQ (recompete of prior Solicitation No. 36C10D21R0001)
- Forecasted RFP Release: February 2027
- Forecasted Award: September 2027
- NAICS: 541611 – Administrative Management & General Management Consulting Services
- Contract Type: Multiple-award IDIQ; task orders
- Duration: 5-year ordering period; task order periods set individually
- Number of Awards: TBD (Multiple)
- Competition: TBD (Prior PSS IDIQ was a SDVOSB set-aside)
- Place of Performance: Telework/virtual and Government site (Washington, DC); defined at the task order level
- Security: Favorable VA background investigation required for access to VA systems/sensitive data; most common level is Tier 1 (Low Risk), with Moderate/High designations set per task order
WHY PSS MATTERS
VBA’s Compensation Service supports the work of VBA’s 56 claims processing offices in delivering monthly disability payments to Veterans, and PSS provides the program management and business analysis backbone behind that mission. This is intended to help CS modernize benefit delivery through evolving technology, data-driven analysis, and process improvement. The work touches the policy, training, quality assurance, and IT functions that keep disability claims moving accurately and on time. The prior PSS IDIQ was under NAICS 541611 and had three awards with a $21.6M aggregate ceiling per awardee.
This is a broad professional-services requirement spanning eight Compensation Service functional areas, from the Front Office and the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities to Policy and Procedures, Pre-Discharge and Interagency, the Records Research Center, National Training, Business Requirements and Planning, and Quality Assurance.
Task orders draw on the specialized labor categories associated with management, program, and policy analysts; subject matter experts; SharePoint developers; copy writers/editors; and strategic planners
WHO SHOULD CONSIDER PSS
PSS is designed for firms experienced in delivering program management and business analysis services to federal, ideally VA/VBA, program offices. Firms with the following capabilities should assess their fit now:
- Program and project management—plans, charters, schedules, risk/issue management, and enterprise-level program support
- Data analysis and visualization—dashboards, metrics, and data-driven decision support
- SharePoint configuration and records management—site development, administration, and content management
- Program and process analysis—strategic planning, process re-engineering, and organizational optimization
- Communications management—branding, infographics, data visualizations, and stakeholder/change communications
- Policy, training, and quality-assurance support—familiarity with VBA disability compensation policy, M21-1 procedures, training curriculum, and quality review processes
- SDVOSB status (per the prior set-aside) and personnel able to pass VA background investigations and meet VA Handbook 6500 security/privacy requirements
HOW OST CAN HELP
With an RFP forecast for February 2027 and awards targeted for September 2027, pre-solicitation activities now strengthens PWin. OST supports firms pursuing complex VA, VBA, and federal professional-services multi-award contracts with:
- Bid/no-bid assessment: Evaluating your program management and analytics capabilities, SDVOSB status, key personnel qualifications, and past performance alignment against PSS requirements
- Capture planning: Developing win themes and positioning relative to the incumbent pool from the current PSS IDIQ
- Teaming strategy: Identifying complementary partners to strengthen coverage across program management, data analytics, SharePoint, communications, and VBA domain expertise
- Past performance strategy: Documenting relevant program management, business analysis, and VA/VBA experience, and preparing strong Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs)
- Proposal development: Technical approach, staffing and level-of-effort plans, quality control plan, and transition-in approach in accordance with solicitation requirements
If you are evaluating whether VA’s VBA Compensation Service PSS opportunity aligns with your firm’s capabilities or need support with your proposal delivery, we are happy to help you determine if you can benefit from this $86M solicitation. If this interests you, please book a call with OST Partner and President Bill Schalik via the button below.
