(a) Supplies.
(1) As used in FAR 8.002(a)(1)(i), the term “agency inventories” includes Supply Fund Stock and VA Excess.
(2) A national committed use contract awarded by the VA National Acquisition Center has a priority between wholesale supply sources (FAR 8.002(a)(1)(v)) and mandatory Federal Supply Schedules (FAR 8.002(a)(1)(vi)).
(3) Federal Supply Schedule contracts awarded by the VA National Acquisition Center in Federal Supply Classification (FSC) Groups 65 and 66 shall be mandatory for use by VA and shall have the same order of priority as mandatory Federal Supply Schedules (FAR 8.002(a)(1)(vi)). VA contracting officers must place orders against Federal Supply Schedules contracts awarded by the VA National Acquisition Center in FSC Groups 65 and 66 in the following descending order of priority:
(i) Nationally awarded Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs), issued by the VA National Acquisition Center against Federal Supply Schedules.
(ii) Multi-VISN, single-VISN, or locally awarded BPAs, issued by VISN, regional, or local VA contracting officers against Federal Supply Schedules.
(iii) Federal Supply Schedules without BPAs.
(4) Indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts, awarded by VISN, regional, or local facility VA contracting officers, for supplies not covered by national committed use contracts or Federal Supply Schedule contracts shall have an order of priority between optional use Federal Supply Schedules (FAR 8.002(1)(a)(vii)) and commercial sources (including educational and nonprofit institutions) (FAR 8.002(1)(a)(viii)). VA contracting officers must place delivery orders against IDIQ contracts, awarded by VISN, regional, or a local facility contracting officers, for supplies not covered by national committed use contracts or Federal Supply Schedule contracts in the following descending order of priority:
(i) VISN or regionally awarded contracts.
(ii) Locally awarded contracts.
(5) Open market purchases (purchases not falling within any of the higher priorities in paragraphs (a)(2) through (4) of this section) have the same priority as commercial sources (including educational and nonprofit institutions) (FAR 8.002(1)(a)(viii)).
(b) Unusual or compelling urgency. The contracting officer may use a source lower in priority than as specified in paragraph (a) of this section when the need for supplies or services is of an unusual or compelling urgency (see FAR 6.302-2). The Contracting Officer must include a justification for each deviation in the procurement file.
(c) Eligible Beneficiaries.
(1) A contracting officer may authorize an acquisition from the Veterans Canteen Service or a commercial source when a VA healthcare official (e.g., social worker, physician) determines that personal selection of shoes, clothing, and incidentals will result in a therapeutic benefit to an eligible beneficiary.
(2) The contracting officer must cite Federal Prison Industries, Inc., clearance No. 1206 in the purchase document for any purchase from a commercial source of dress shoes similar to Federal Prison Industries, Inc., Style No. 86-A.
