New Jersey Moves Forward with Women Veteran Contract Preference Legislation

A recent development in New Jersey has caught the attention of government contracting professionals as the New Jersey Legislative Assembly's Military and Veterans Affairs Committee has advanced bill A870. This legislation proposes a 10% price preference for women veteran-owned businesses on state government contracts. The bill aims to address gender disparity within veteran contracting, fostering opportunities for women who have served in the military. As legislation moves forward, it reflects evolving perspectives on inclusion and support for veteran-owned enterprises in the public procurement space.

Supporters of the bill argue that it will enhance economic opportunities for women veterans, who often face additional challenges when seeking contracts. Advocates contend that these efforts are necessary to level the playing field for female veterans, enabling them to compete more effectively with traditional veteran-owned businesses. However, the bill has faced significant opposition from other veterans, including Assemblyman Brian Bergen and former VFW State Commander Barbara Kim-Hagemann. They raised concerns about potential divisions among veterans over gender-based categorizations and highlighted the lack of a disparity study to support the proposed preference.

Understandably, the dynamics within the veteran contracting community are complex. While the intention behind bill A870 is to empower women veterans, critics argue that creating price preferences based on gender may inadvertently create divisions and foster resentment among veterans. Bergen articulated these sentiments: “Every single female veteran that I spoke to unanimously thinks this is not a good policy position for us to take.” This sentiment underscores the necessity for robust discussions and studies to inform such legislative actions.

The advancement of this bill has profound implications for procurement processes across the state. Should A870 pass into law, procurement officers will need to revisit evaluation criteria to incorporate gender-based price preferences. The legislation could redefine competitive landscapes for state contracts, compelling both male and female veteran-owned businesses to reassess their bidding strategies. Additionally, organizations involved in state contracting should actively monitor the bill's progress, as compliance and outreach efforts may need adjustments to align with the new procurement landscape.