The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched a new one-stop shop contracting website, called Pathfinder, for those looking to sell to or innovate with VA.
The new Pathfinder website denotes it is a “demo site,” but it is fully operating for contractors looking to get involved with the agency.
Users can choose between two paths on the site, those who want to “sell a market-ready solution” to VA, and those who want to “co-design a solution” with VA.
From there, users can learn more about how VA buys, or learn more about the various avenues of working and innovating with VA.
Michael Parrish, chief acquisition officer and principal executive director at VA, said the new website will help vendors get certified through SAM.gov if they haven’t worked with the agency before, according to reporting from Federal News Network.
“It’s ready to use now, there’s still some processes that we have to go through on the [operational technology] side for compliance – but there’s a new website, it’s a single entry point into VA, both for innovation and selling,” Parrish said at the May 5 ACT-IAC Health Innovation Summit.
Parrish also noted the VA is looking to make changes in the way it evaluates bids, by focusing more on the best value, rather than the lowest price.
