What does Preamble of ARCA Act of 2025 do?

This bill amends title 38, United States Code. It reorganizes the acquisition structure of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill establishes the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation in the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill includes other purposes not explicitly detailed in this section.

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). The Secretary must appoint a manager for each major acquisition program within 30 days of its commencement. Managers must be certified in project management at level three or hold an equivalent certification. Managers report to the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition through the Program Executive Officer. Managers are responsible for developing a 'program baseline' that outlines acquisition phases, requirements, and cost/schedule/performance estimates. Managers must ensure program compliance, provide documentation, develop resource requests, and manage risks related to cost and schedule. The Assistant Secretary for Acquisition holds program decision authority for major acquisition programs. Program management offices for these programs must 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 completing 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 and provide a briefing to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs within 90 days of commencing the consolidation. The plan must include a timeline, communication and training plan, and a plan for modifying Department policy and guidance.

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 programs, with a satisfactory performance record. Conflicts of interest are strictly prohibited; mitigation plans will not be accepted. IV&V functions include verification of program design, requirements, and acquisition at initiation, conclusion, and at intervals determined by the Chief Acquisition Officer. The IV&V also extends to other VA programs and projects selected by the Chief Acquisition Officer. Funding for these contracts will be proportionally contributed by various VA organizational subdivisions. ’Independent verification and validation’ means a comprehensive inspection, review, analysis, and testing...performed by an entity awarded a contract.

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, including acquisitions where cost estimates exceeded budget requests by more than 5 percent. The Chief Financial Officer of the VA is responsible for providing support and resources to the Secretary to ensure the Director's effective functioning. The Director must submit a report to the Secretary within one year of the Act's enactment (and annually thereafter until December 31, 2028) on systems and methods for tracking operating and support costs of major acquisition programs, including recommendations for cost baselines. The Secretary must transmit the Director's report to the relevant Congressional committees within 30 days of receiving it.

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 using 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 two and four times the number of participants in fiscal year 2025. This requirement is set to terminate when the Secretary certifies 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 Senate and House Committees on Veterans' Affairs.

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 establish a memorandum of understanding with the acquisition research center under section 4142(a) of title 10, United States Code. The memorandum of understanding will facilitate a systems engineering analysis of the Department of Veterans Affairs' acquisition process. The Secretary must submit a report to the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs detailing the acquisition research center’s findings regarding the analysis. 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 requirements development processes. 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, unless a cost-benefit analysis justifies additional resources. The Secretary must submit a report detailing the established process and a plan for implementation 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, to establish a new subchapter regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs' acquisition organization. It defines a 'major acquisition program' as one with an estimated total program cost exceeding $1,000,000,000 or $200,000,000 annually, adjusted according to section 1908 of title 41. The Secretary is required to designate one Assistant Secretary as the Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Acquisition, who will serve as the Chief Acquisition Officer. 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 must appoint at least four Program Executive Officers, each overseeing major acquisition programs in specific areas (medical, information technology, professional services, and other areas). Program Executive Officers must hold a project management certification or equivalent.

Last updated: 12/15/2025 · Introduced: 5/5/2025

Author: Jerry Moran (R-KS)

TL;DR (AI)

The ARCA Act of 2025 reorganizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) acquisition structure, establishing a new Office of Acquisition headed by an Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Acquisition.
It defines 'major acquisition programs' as those exceeding $200 million annually or $1 billion total cost, requiring appointment of certified program managers for these programs.
The Act consolidates VA acquisition, procurement, and logistics activities under the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, impacting the Veterans Benefits Administration, Veterans Health Administration, and National Cemetery Administration.
To ensure program integrity, the bill mandates independent verification and validation (IV&V) contracts for major acquisition programs, prohibiting conflicts of interest.
A Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation is created within the VA to provide independent cost estimates and evaluate program effectiveness, reporting to the Secretary and Congress.

119th Congresspassed senateHR. 6833(In Committee)Official page

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

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