,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #aed  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,janu>y #af1 #bjai ,mr4
 ,te/] 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,blum5?al1 ,ms4 
,baldw91 ,mrs4 ,murray1 ,mr4 ,ka9e1 ,mr4
 ,b5net1 & ,ms4 ,s9ema7 introduc$ !     
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$  
to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs   
,a ,,bill  ,to am5d title #ch1 ,unit$   
,/ates ,code1 to improve ov]sight (     
contracts = s]vices & f9ancial processes
 ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & = 
o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title  ,?is    
,act may be cit$ z ! ,dep>tm5t (        
,vet]ans ,affairs ,contract1 ,lead]%ip1 
& ,ensur+ ,acc\ntability & ,re=m ,act ( 
#bjai or ! ,,va ,,cle> ,act ( #bjai4    
#b4 ,improv+ ov]sight ( contracts =     
s]vices ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,section #eac (  
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is      
am5d$-- 7#a7 9 ! fir/ s5t5ce1 by /rik+  
,! ,secret>y may1 = & ins]t+ ! foll[+3  
7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y may1 =  2 &   
7#b7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ new      

subsection3  7b7 ,contract requirem5ts  
,! ,secret>y %all ensure t ea* contract 
= a s]vice into :i* ! ,secret>y ent]s "u
 subsection 7a7 includes ! foll[+3  7#a7
 ,measurable metrics to asc]ta9 !       
p]=mance ( ! provid] ( ! s]vice1 relat+ 
to co/1 s*$ule1 & fulfillm5t ( contract 
requirem5ts4  7#b7 ,a plan ( action &   
mile/ones = ! provision ( ! s]vice1 )   
e/imates ( ! dates on :i* significant   
portions ( ! contract w be complet$ & a 
description ( ! res\rces ! s]vice       
provid] w assign to provide ! s]vice4   
7#c7 ,safegu>ds to ensure t ! s]vice    
provid$ meets a m9imum ?re%old ( quality
 det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y1 includ+        
au?ority = ! ,secret>y to levy a        
f9ancial p5alty ^u ! s]vice provid] if !
 s]vice provid$ fails to meet su*       
?re%old4  7#d7 ,measurable metrics      
relat+ to ! use ( aw>d or inc5tive fees4
  7#e7 ,a requirem5t t ! s]vice provid] 
docum5ts ?r\gh in=mation te*nology      
sy/ems ( ! ,dep>tm5t ! "w ( ! s]vice    
provid] s t ! ,secret>y c review &      

validate ! quality ( ! s]vice provid$   
us+ ! metrics set =? 9 ! contract "u    
p>agraph 7#a74  7c7 ,report+ requirem5ts
  7#a7 ,= ea* contract = a s]vice into  
:i* ! ,secret>y ent]s "u subsection     
7a7-- 7,a7 n lat] ?an #de days aft] !   
la/ day ( ea* qu>t] = ! duration ( !    
contract1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to !  
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives--  
7i7 a report on ! s]vice provid$ "u !   
contract & an assessm5t z to h[ su*     
s]vice comp>es ) respect to ! metrics   
set =? 9 ! contract "u subsection       
7b77#a72 &  7ii7 a report t details !   
significant modifications made to !     
contract1 if any1 & a ju/ification = su*
 modifications2 &  7,b7 publi% on !     
int]net website ( ! ,dep>tm5t in=mation 
ab\t ! contract & ! significant         
modifications made to ! contract1 if    
any4  7#b7 ,:5ev] ! ,secret>y provides  
notice to a s]vice provid] t ! s]vice   
provid] is fail+ to meet obligations    

pursuant to a contract ent]$ "u         
subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y %all submit 
to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( 
! ,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'    
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
report on su* failure t includes !      
foll[+3  7,a7 ,an explanation ( !       
reasons = provid+ su* notice4  7,b7 ,a  
description ( ! effect ( su* failure1   
includ+ ) respect to co/1 s*$ule1 &     
requirem5ts4  7,c7 ,a description ( !   
actions tak5 by ! ,secret>y to mitigate 
su* failure4  7,d7 ,a description ( !   
actions tak5 by ! contractor to address 
su* failure4  4  7b7 ,effective date    
,subsections 7b7 & 7c7 ( section #eac ( 
su* title1 z add$ by subsection 7a71    
%all take effect on ! date ( ! enactm5t 
( ?is ,act4  7c7 ,applicability  7#a7 ,9
 g5]al ,subsections 7b7 & 7c7 ( su*     
section1 z s add$1 %all apply ) respect 
to contracts ent]$ into by ! ,secret>y (
 ,vet]ans ,affairs on or aft] ! date t  
is "o ye> be=e ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is
 ,act4  7#b7 ,c]ta9 report+ requirem5ts 

,subsection 7c77#a77;,a7 ( su* section1 
z s add$1 %all apply ) respect to qu>t]s
 t beg9 aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is  
,act4  #c4 ,height5$ ov]sight =         
contracts = s]vices ( ! ,dep>tm5t (     
,vet]ans ,affairs ( m ?an #b1jjj1jjj1jjj
  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,section #eac ( title    
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 z am5d$ by    
section #b1 is fur!r am5d$ by add+ at ! 
end ! foll[+ new subsections3  7d7      
,ju/ification & plan = c]ta9 contracts  
,9 ea* case ( a contract = a s]vice into
 :i* ! ,secret>y ent]s "u subsection 7a7
 t w\ld result 9 ! ,dep>tm5t incurr+ an 
obligation ( m ?an #b1jjj1jjj1jjj1 n    
lat] ?an #bj days aft] ! date ( !       
contract aw>d1 ! ,secret>y %all submit  
to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( 
! ,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'    
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives--  
7#a7 a ju/ification ( ! ne$ = !         
contract1 includ+ an explanation ( :y ! 
,dep>tm5t is unable to p]=m ! s]vice2 & 
7#b7 a plan = h[ ! ,dep>tm5t w fund !   
contract 9 future ye>s4  7e7 ,review (  

c]ta9 contracts ,9 ea* case ( a contract
 = a s]vice into :i* ! ,secret>y ent]s  
"u subsection 7a7 t w\ld result 9 !     
,dep>tm5t incurr+ an obligation ( m ?an 
#b1jjj1jjj1jjj1 aft] ! fir/ ye> ( s]vice
 ( su* contract1 ! ,inspector ,g5]al ( !
 ,dep>tm5t & ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al ( !   
,unit$ ,/ates %all ea* complete a review
 ( ! contract--  7#a7 to det]m9e :e!r ! 
metrics includ$ 9 ! contract 7 met2 &   
7#b7 to review ! appropriat5ess ( funds 
exp5d$ = ! contract4  4  7b7 ,effective 
date ,subsections 7d7 & 7e7 ( section   
#eac ( su* title1 z add$ by subsection  
7a71 %all take effect on ! date ( !     
enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  7c7 ,applicability
  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,subsections 7d7 & 7e7 (
 su* section1 z s add$1 %all apply )    
respect to contracts ent]$ into by !    
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs on or aft]
 ! date t is "o ye> be=e ! date ( !     
enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  7#b7 ,ju/ification
 & plan = c]ta9 contracts ,) respect to 
contracts describ$ 9 subsection 7d7 (   
su* section1 z s add$1 t 7 ent]$ into by

 ! ,secret>y on or be=e ! date ( !      
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all   
submit ! ju/ification & plan requir$ by 
su* subsection n lat] ?an #bj days aft] 
! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act 9 lieu ( 
#bj days aft] ! date ( ! contract aw>d z
 o!rwise requir$ by su* subsection4  #d4
 ,ov]sight & acc\ntability ( f9ancial   
processes ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs  7a7 ,indep5d5t review (       
f9ancial processes  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n    
lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date ( !       
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (      
,vet]ans ,affairs %all ent] into a      
contract ) an indep5d5t ?ird p>ty--     
7,a7 to review & audit ! f9ancial       
processes1 includ+ report+ /ructures1 & 
actu>ial & e/imation models ( !         
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs2  7,b7 to 
develop recomm5dations = improv+ su*    
/ructures2 &  7,c7 to complete su*      
review & developm5t n lat] ?an #ahj days
 aft] ! date on :i* ! ,secret>y & !     
indep5d5t ?ird p>ty ent] into !         
contract4  7#b7 ,implem5tation plan ,n  

lat] ?an #fj days aft] ! completion ( ! 
review & developm5t requir$ by p>agraph 
7#a71 ! ,secret>y %all submit to !      
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
plan to implem5t ! recomm5dations       
develop$ "u subp>agraph 7,b7 ( su*      
p>agraph4  7b7 ,plans = use (           
supplem5tal appropriations requir$      
,:5ev] ! ,secret>y submits to ,congress1
 to address a budget>y issue affect+ !  
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 a reque/ 
= supplem5tal appropriations or any o!r 
appropriation :5 ! reque/ is submitt$   
outside ! /&>d budget process1 !        
,secret>y %all1 n lat] ?an #de days be=e
 ! date on :i* su* budget>y issue w\ld  
/>t affect+ a program or s]vice1 submit 
to ,congress a ju/ification = ! reque/1 
includ+--  7#a7 a plan t details h[ !   
,secret>y int5ds to use ! reque/$       
appropriation & h[ long ! reque/$       
appropriation is expect$ to meet ! ne$s 
( ! ,dep>tm5t2 &  7#b7 a c]tification z 

to :e!r ! reque/ 0 made us+ an updat$ & 
s\nd actu>ial analysis4  #e4 ,te/imonial
 subpo5a au?ority ( ! ,inspector ,g5]al 
( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs       
,section #cab ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end !     
foll[+ new subsection3  7c7 7#a7 7,a7 ,9
 addition to ! au?ority o!rwise provid$ 
by ! ,inspector ,g5]al ,act ( #aigh 7#e 
,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 & 9 accordance ) !     
requirem5ts ( ?is subsection1 !         
,inspector ,g5]al1 9 c>ry+ out !        
provisions ( ?is section1 may require by
 subpo5a ! att5dance & te/imony (       
witnesses z necess>y 9 ! p]=mance ( !   
functions assign$ to ! ,inspector ,g5]al
 by ! ,inspector ,g5]al ,act ( #aigh 7#e
 ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 & ?is section1 :i* 9 !
 case ( contumacy or refusal to obey1   
su* subpo5a %all be en=ceable by ord] ( 
any appropriate di/rict c\rt ( ! ,unit$ 
,/ates4  7,b7 ,an ,inspector ,g5]al may 
n require by subpo5a ! att5dance &      
te/imony ( any curr5t ,f$]al employees1 
b may use o!r au?oriz$ proc$ures4  7#b7 

,! au?ority to issue a subpo5a "u       
p>agraph 7#a7 may n be delegat$4  7#c7  
7,a7 ,if ! ,inspector ,g5]al int5ds to  
issue a subpo5a1 ! ,inspector ,g5]al    
%all notify ! ,attorney ,g5]al ( su*    
int5t4  7,b7 ,n lat] ?an #aj days aft] !
 date on :i* ! ,attorney ,g5]al is      
notifi$ pursuant to p>agraph 7#a71 !    
,attorney ,g5]al may object to !        
issuance ( ! subpo5a if ! subpo5a w     
int]f]e ) an ongo+ inve/igation &1 if ! 
,attorney ,g5]al makes su* an objection1
 ! ,inspector ,g5]al may n issue !      
subpo5a4  7,c7 ,if ! ,attorney ,g5]al   
does n object to ! issuance ( ! subpo5a 
dur+ ! #aj-;day p]iod describ$ 9        
subp>agraph 7,b71 ! ,inspector ,g5]al   
may issue ! subpo5a4  4  #f4 ,c5traliz$ 
sy/ems = c]ta9 records ( ! ,dep>tm5t (  
,vet]ans ,affairs  7a7 ,adm9i/rative    
inve/igation bo>ds ,! ,secret>y (       
,vet]ans ,affairs %all implem5t a       
c5traliz$ sy/em 9 :i* complet$ reviews (
 adm9i/rative inve/igation bo>ds are    
record$ & ma9ta9$4  7b7 ,ref]rals (     

cl9icians to lic5s+ bo>ds ,! ,"u        
,secret>y = ,heal? ( ! ,dep>tm5t (      
,vet]ans ,affairs %all implem5t a       
c5traliz$ sy/em = track+ in/ances 9 :i* 
! ,dep>tm5t has ref]r$ a cl9ician to !  
lic5s+ bo>d ( a ,/ate because ( !       
behavior ( ! cl9ician or cl9ical        
outcomes4