Washington DC, Aug. 13, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Improving veteran care by centralizing the procurement of medical supplies is the goal of an interagency agreement between the Defense Logistics Agency and Department of Veterans Affairs signed at the VA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., Aug. 12.
DLA Director Army Lt. Gen. Darrell Williams and VA Secretary Robert Wilkie formalized the partnership, which is expected to help reduce costs of pharmaceutical national contracts, radiology and imaging contracts, and electronic cataloging.
โIn the 21st century, an ad hoc supply chain is not sufficient,โ Wilkie said. โIt does not do justice to those we are sworn to serve. This is part of not only comprehensive reform of this institution, but it also cements our relationship with the Department of Defense.โ
The partnership gives the VA access to DLA Troop Supportโs worldwide procurement system for medical and surgical items, cleaning supplies and equipment, construction materials and equipment, and other supplies, according to a VA release. A centralized ordering system will also reduce risk, fraud, waste and abuse when ordering these materials.
โOn behalf of the Department of Defense, we are proud to be a value-add to VA on behalf of Americaโs veterans,โ Williams said. โLeveraging economies of scale, like the ones outlined in this agreement, help us reduce costs for the military services and other government partners like VA.โ
The agreement is part of DLAโs Whole of Government portfolio, which provides supplies and services to non-DoD agencies, added Dan Strausbaugh, deputy division chief of DLAโs Whole of Government Support Division.
โWeโre always reaching out for more business to better streamline certain processes and make the taxpayerโs burden on the federal government less,โ he added.
