The Department of Veterans Affairs announced a partnership with the Defense Department this week to upgrade its supply chain system, which is perennially on a government watchdog agency’s “high risk” list for waste, fraud and abuse .
The partnership with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) will give the VA access to the DLA’s worldwide procurement system in an effort to streamline the VA’s purchase of everything from medical and surgical supplies to cleaning equipment and construction materials, the VA said in a news release Monday.
“This is a huge step forward in our efforts to transform VA into a modern, high-performing organization by simplifying operations and leveraging DoD’s supply chain system to support our veterans,” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said in a statement.
Army Lt. Gen. Darrell Williams, director of the DLA, said the agreement would help the VA reduce costs for supplies.