VA National Cemetery Administration runs 155 national cemeteries and 34 soldiers' lots and monument sites across the country. Keeping those grounds operational and dignified requires a steady stream of contracts: turf maintenance, construction, monument installation, and more. The agency spends roughly $500 million annually to get it done.
If your business operates in landscaping, grounds maintenance, construction, or related trades, VA NCA is worth understanding. The agency has a strong record of contracting with small and veteran-owned businesses, and it publishes its opportunities on the same federal systems every other agency uses. Here is what you need to know to get started.
What VA NCA actually buys
The bulk of VA NCA spending falls into three categories.
Grounds and turf maintenance. Mowing, trimming, fertilizing, irrigation, and seasonal upkeep across active cemetery grounds. These contracts run year-round and are often awarded on a base-plus-option structure spanning three to five years. Contract values typically range from $500,000 to $5 million depending on cemetery size and scope.
Construction and site improvements. Columbarium construction, committal shelter renovation, road and walkway repair, drainage systems, and accessibility upgrades. These are NAICS 238990 (All Other Specialty Trade Contractors) and 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction) projects. Single awards frequently run $1 million to $10 million, and larger multi-site programs go higher.
Tree care and arborist services. Tree removal, pruning, stump grinding, and hazard assessment. NAICS 561730 (Landscaping Services) covers most of this work. Many national cemeteries sit on mature tree-lined grounds that require regular professional attention.
Beyond these top categories, VA NCA also buys grave liner supply and installation, monument and marker installation, janitorial services at administrative buildings, and IT support services at the district level.
Primary NAICS codes to know
When you search SAM.gov for VA NCA opportunities, filter by these codes:
- 561730 — Landscaping Services (turf maintenance, grounds upkeep, tree care)
- 238990 — All Other Specialty Trade Contractors (specialty construction, site improvements)
- 237990 — Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (roads, drainage, large site work)
Your SAM.gov registration must list the NAICS codes that match your work. If 561730 or 238990 is your primary code, confirm that the size standard applies to your business. For 561730, the small business size standard is $9 million in average annual receipts. For 238990 and 237990, it is $19 million.
How to register and get into the vendor ecosystem
Before VA NCA can award you a contract, you need three things in place.
SAM.gov registration. This is the federal vendor database. Registration is free and takes about a week to activate. You will need your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), EIN, NAICS codes, and banking details for electronic payment. Renew annually or your registration lapses and you become ineligible for awards.
DSBS profile. The Dynamic Small Business Search system (accessible through SBA.gov) pulls from your SAM.gov registration. Contracting officers search it to find small businesses for set-aside awards. A complete profile with accurate NAICS codes and a clear capabilities description helps you show up in the right searches.
Certifications if you qualify. VA NCA operates inside the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the VA has a statutory goal to award a significant share of contracts to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB) and veteran-owned small businesses (VOSB). If you qualify as an SDVOSB or VOSB, get certified through the SBA's Veterans Small Business Certification (VetCert) program at veterans.certify.sba.gov. This certification is required to compete for VA set-aside contracts under the Veterans First Contracting Program.
If you hold an 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, or EDWOSB certification, those designations are also usable at VA NCA. The Veterans First program takes priority at VA, but other set-asides apply when no SDVOSB or VOSB competition is feasible.
Set-aside and diversity opportunities
VA NCA uses the full range of federal small business set-asides. The Veterans First Contracting Program is the most significant one to understand. Under Public Law 109-461, VA must first attempt to award contracts to SDVOSBs, then to VOSBs, before moving to other small business categories or full and open competition. This creates a tiered preference structure that gives veteran-owned businesses a real structural advantage at this agency.
In practice, most grounds maintenance and construction awards at VA NCA go through small business set-asides. Women-owned small business set-asides (WOSB and EDWOSB) are used when the procurement falls under an eligible NAICS code. HUBZone set-asides appear for construction work in qualifying areas. 8(a) sole-source awards are available for contracts under $4.5 million in services and $7 million in construction when an 8(a) firm has the right capabilities.
Check SAM.gov for active and recent VA NCA awards to see how the agency has structured similar contracts. Search by awarding agency "Department of Veterans Affairs" and narrow by NAICS code.
Finding open opportunities
VA NCA posts all solicitations on SAM.gov. Set up a saved search with:
- Awarding agency: Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration
- NAICS codes: 561730, 238990, 237990
- Set-aside type: filter for small business, SDVOSB, VOSB, WOSB, 8(a), or HUBZone depending on your certifications
Turn on email alerts so you get notified when new solicitations post. Many VA NCA contracts are awarded at the district level, so a solicitation for work at a cemetery in your region may come from a VA Contracting Activity in a different city. The solicitation itself will name the contracting officer and the place of performance.
Who to contact
The VA Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE), now merged with SBA operations under the VetCert program, handles SDVOSB and VOSB certification questions. For acquisition-related inquiries, VA NCA contracts run through VA regional contracting activities. Each solicitation will list the responsible contracting officer.
The VA Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) supports small businesses across all VA components, including NCA. You can reach VA OSDBU through the VA website at va.gov/osdbu. The office holds procurement conferences, posts vendor guides, and runs a Vendor Information Pages (VIP) database. Registering in VIP gives VA contracting officers visibility into your certifications and capabilities.
For targeted outreach, look up the NCA district office that covers your region. VA NCA operates five district offices: Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, Pacific, and the National Capital District. District-level procurement staff sometimes hold pre-proposal meetings or industry days for larger upcoming contracts.
One practical tip for a first contract
Attend a VA-hosted small business event before you respond to any solicitation. VA OSDBU runs in-person and virtual vendor outreach sessions throughout the year. These sessions let you meet contracting officers face to face, ask questions about upcoming requirements, and put a name to your business.
Contracting officers cannot tip you off about pending awards, but they can tell you what types of services the agency uses most, what performance problems they see with current vendors, and what certifications matter most at this particular agency. That intelligence is worth more than any proposal template.
One hour at a VA procurement event can save you from submitting a technically complete proposal that misses the agency's actual priorities. Show up prepared with a one-page capability statement that lists your NAICS codes, past performance examples with contract numbers and dollar amounts, and your active certifications.
VA NCA awards contracts to small businesses every fiscal year. The grounds do not maintain themselves, and the agency is legally required to give your business a fair shot.
