What does Preamble of ARCA Act of 2025 do?

This bill proposes to amend Title 38 of the United States Code. The bill aims to reorganize the acquisition structure of the Department of Veterans Affairs. It also seeks to establish the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill's stated purpose is 'to reorganize the acquisition structure of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to establish the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation in the Department, and for other purposes.'

What does DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MAJOR ACQUISITION PROGRAM of ARCA Act of 2025 do?

This section amends Title 38 of the United States Code to establish requirements for managing major acquisition programs within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It mandates the appointment of a manager for each major acquisition program within 30 days of the Secretary's approval. The appointed manager must be certified in project management at level three or hold an equivalent certification. The manager reports to the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition through the Program Executive Officer. The manager is responsible for developing a 'program baseline' which includes acquisition phase descriptions, requirements for advancement, and cost, schedule, and performance estimates. The manager must ensure program compliance, provide documentation, develop resource requests, and assess and manage risks. Program decision authority for oversight of major acquisition programs is designated as the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition. Program management offices for these programs are required to be independent of other VA administrations and staff offices, reporting directly to the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition. Managers must notify the program decision authority within 30 days of the conclusion of an acquisition phase.

What does DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ACQUISITION AND PROCUREMENT of ARCA Act of 2025 do?

This section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to consolidate acquisition, procurement, and logistics activities under the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition within one year of the Act's enactment. The consolidation includes activities from the Veterans Benefits Administration, Veterans Health Administration, and National Cemetery Administration. Physical relocation of employees is not required by this consolidation. The Secretary must submit a written plan to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs within 90 days of commencing consolidation. The plan must include a timeline, a communication and training plan, and a plan for modifying Department policy and guidance. The Secretary may include other relevant and appropriate matters in the plan.

What does INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION OF MAJOR ACQUISITION of ARCA Act of 2025 do?

This section establishes a process for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contract with entities for independent verification and validation (IV&V) of major acquisition programs. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must seek contracts within 120 days of the Act's enactment using competitive procedures. Entities seeking these contracts must demonstrate prior experience performing IV&V or SETA support for healthcare or defense organizations, with a satisfactory performance record. Entities must also demonstrate a lack of conflict of interest, and the VA cannot accept mitigation plans to address such conflicts. The IV&V functions include verification at program initiation, conclusion, and at intervals selected by the Chief Acquisition Officer. The Chief Financial Officer must ensure that organizational subdivisions proportionally contribute to fund these contracts. The section defines key terms like 'covered contract' and 'independent verification and validation'.

What does DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS COST ASSESSMENT AND PROGRAM of ARCA Act of 2025 do?

This section establishes a Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), reporting directly to the Secretary. The Director's responsibilities include developing cost estimation policies, conducting independent cost estimates for major acquisition programs, and evaluating program effectiveness. The Director must provide an independent cost estimate to the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition before full-scale acquisition decisions. The Director is required to submit an annual report to the Secretary and relevant Congressional committees on cost estimation and program evaluation activities. This report must include a list of acquisitions where the independent cost estimate exceeded the budget request by more than 5 percent. The Director must also submit a report to the Secretary, within one year of enactment and annually thereafter until December 31, 2028, on systems and methods for tracking operating and support costs of major acquisition programs. The Secretary is then required to transmit this report to the relevant Congressional committees within 30 days of receipt.

What does IMPROVEMENTS TO HIRING OF ENTRY-LEVEL ACQUISITION POSITIONS IN of ARCA Act of 2025 do?

This section directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to prioritize the use of acquisition internship programs for hiring into entry-level acquisition positions. The Secretary must ensure the annual number of participants in acquisition internship programs is between twice and four times the number of participants in fiscal year 2025. This requirement terminates when the Secretary certifies to Congress that the number of graduates from these programs is sufficient to meet the Department's acquisition human capital needs. The 'appropriate committees of Congress' are defined as the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives.

What does INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF ACQUISITION PROCESS OF DEPARTMENT OF of ARCA Act of 2025 do?

This section requires the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs to collaborate with the Acquisition Research Center of the Department of Defense. The collaboration involves conducting a systems engineering analysis of the Department of Veterans Affairs' acquisition process. This analysis must be completed within one year of the Act's enactment. A report detailing the findings of the analysis must be submitted to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs. The report is due within one year of the memorandum of understanding being established.

What does REQUIREMENTS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. of ARCA Act of 2025 do?

This section amends subchapter VI of chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, by adding a new section concerning the requirements development process for major acquisition programs. The Secretary is required to establish a standardized requirements development process for major acquisition programs. This process must define and validate mission-driven requirements for programs exceeding $200,000,000 annually or $1,000,000,000 in lifecycle costs. The process must incorporate data-driven needs assessments, stakeholder input, and alignment with statutory mandates. Requirements must be iteratively validated through independent verification and validation. The Secretary shall implement the process using existing staff, without creating new positions, unless a cost-benefit analysis justifies additional resources. The Secretary must submit a report and implementation plan to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs within 180 days of the Act’s enactment.

What does CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. of ARCA Act of 2025 do?

This section amends subchapter VI of chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code. Section 8171 is amended by striking paragraphs (5) and (6). Section 8172 is struck.

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ARCA Act of 2025

Q: What does DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ACQUISITION ORGANIZATION. of ARCA Act of 2025 do?

This section amends Chapter 81 of title 38, United States Code, by inserting a new subchapter VII regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs' acquisition organization. It defines a 'major acquisition program' as one with an estimated total life cycle cost exceeding $1,000,000,000 or an annual cost exceeding $200,000,000, both adjusted according to section 1908 of title 41. The Secretary is required to designate an Assistant Secretary for Acquisition who will serve as the Chief Acquisition Officer and focus on acquisition functions. An Office of Acquisition is established within the Department, headed by the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition. The Secretary must appoint several Deputy Assistant Secretaries responsible for logistics, procurement, and acquisition, program management, and performance, all reporting to the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition. The Secretary is directed to appoint at least four Program Executive Officers, each overseeing major acquisition programs in areas like medical, information technology, and professional services. Program Executive Officers must hold a project management certification at level three or an equivalent certification.

Last updated: 3/18/2026 · Introduced: 12/18/2025

Author: Tom Barrett (R-MI)

TL;DR (AI)

The bill reorganizes the Department of Veterans Affairs' acquisition structure by establishing an Office of Acquisition headed by an Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and appointing Program Executive Officers to oversee major acquisition programs.
It mandates the appointment of dedicated managers for major acquisition programs, requiring them to develop program baselines and ensure compliance while reporting through Program Executive Officers to the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition.
The bill consolidates acquisition, procurement, and logistics activities under the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, encompassing functions from various VA administrations, without requiring employee relocations.
To enhance oversight, the bill establishes a process for the VA to contract with independent entities for verification and validation of major acquisition programs, requiring proportional funding contributions.
The legislation creates a Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation within the VA to develop cost estimation policies, conduct independent cost estimates, and evaluate program effectiveness, reporting to the Secretary and Congress.

119th Congressin committeeS. 1591(Passed Senate)Official page

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Includes provisions on preamble, department of veterans affairs acquisition organization., and 9 more.

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