What’s going on at the VAs?
Started by amyl
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Wow I thought VA salaries are capped at like 400k or something since not allowed to make more than the president
Where are you seeing this posted?
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cittykat
Full Member
These are not open fair market value contracts. They are federal government pork rates à la $600 toilet seats.
1099 Contract position, not an actual VA employee position. Buffalo too at one time. All by same SDVOSB qualified staffing company. The catch is that these VA staffing contracts are awarded preferentially to service disabled veteran owned small businesses (SDVOSB). They are trying to meet SDVOSB targets. Might help land the job if you’re a veteran with or without a service related disability too.
Mr. Wander is a smart guy who capitalized on his military service experience and knows how to work the system. If bidding was wide open, Vituity, NAPA, USAP, Northstar et al would come in with lower bids and save some taxpayer money. As things stand he likely has no competition and can name his price.
wanderstaffing.com
wanderstaffing.com
“Wander Staffing, an SDVOSB and 8(a) company founded in 2018, specializes in providing healthcare solutions to the U.S. Government and private institutions. With over 200 healthcare professionals placed in more than 20 states, we offer long-term, short-term, and locum staffing solutions. Founded by a retired Army Officer who progressed from Medic to Nurse to Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), our leadership brings unparalleled expertise and a 30-plus-year track record in the Government and healthcare sectors.
Wander Staffing is a GSA contract holder, offering nationwide access to our services through VA’s 621 I Professional and Allied Healthcare Staffing. We also serve as a trusted subcontractor on DHA’s MQS2-NG Contract # HT001524D9005 and VHA’s Integrated Critical Staffing Program (ICSP), providing staffing support across Physician, Dental, Ancillary, Nursing, and Medical Support services.
Our efforts have earned national recognition. We are recipients of the 2024 HIRE Vets Medallion Award, proud partners in the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP), and most recently, our founder was named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2025 Texas Small Business Person of the Year. These honors reflect our unwavering commitment to supporting Veterans, military families, and the broader healthcare workforce through meaningful employment and operational excellence.“
www.sba.gov
Description is interesting. Facility sounds wildly overstaffed. 17 bodies on payroll for 10 cases/day.
COMPENSATION (Rates are listed as 1099, all inclusive): ⢠M-F regular rate: $435/hr. ⢠On-Call (from home): $50/hr. ⢠Overtime and Holiday: $475/hr. ⢠We cover Med Mal (claims made + tail) SCHEDULE: ⢠M-F 7:00 am â 3:30 pm ⢠After 3:30 pm, 1 Anesthesiologist will begin on-call until 7 am the following day ⢠Anesthesiologist and a CRNA are on-call simultaneously ⢠Call from home: Available by phone within 15 min. and on-site within 60 min. ⢠Call-back rate of 3-4 times a month for the department (mostly General or Urology) ⢠The schedule is made by facility 1 month in advance. Request preferred time off at least 45 days in advance. ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT: ⢠Current department mix is 6 Anesthesiologists and 11 CRNAs ⢠Seven (7) ORs plus a GI and Cath Lab (currently running 5-6 ORs) ⢠Average 10 cases/day for the department CASES: ⢠General, Ortho, Plastics, Eyes, GYN, Vascular (carotid and AV fistulas), Urology, ENT, Podiatry (No cardiac, neuro, pulmonary, thoracic, transplants, trauma, OB) MODEL: ⢠ACT Model: Anesthesiologists are not required to be present during induction or emergence. NUANCES ABOUT THIS VA CONTRACT: ⢠This is a semi-open Gov solicitation that only a handful of companies can participate in. ⢠We currently hold the CRNA contract at this facility as well. ⢠Fast turnaround - proposals are due Jan 30th with award soon after. ⢠Interested and qualified Anesthesiologists must be submitted with the proposal; Part of the award process is the Government selecting their preferred Anesthesiologists. QUESTIONS, Please contact……ABOUT WANDER STAFFING: ⢠Founded in 2018 by a retired Army officer ⢠Not an agency
blogs.usfcr.com
“SDVOSB certification gives veteran-owned businesses access to billions in set-aside contracts, but the process is rarely straightforward. Applications face significant rejection risks, and under the SBA’s Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) program, processing typically takes 60–90 days, depending on workload and document requests. Success depends less on veteran status itself and more on whether your documents align to show ownership and control.
Real market impact: In FY2023, agencies already exceeded the old 3% goal, reaching 5% and awarding $31.9 billion to SDVOSBs. Now that 5% is the official target, agencies face increased pressure to maintain and potentially exceed this level, creating sustained high demand for certified SDVOSB contractors.
Certification is now mandatory: The goal increase coincides with the completion of eliminating self-certification for SDVOSB status. As of October 2024, only SBA VetCert-certified businesses count toward agency goals, making proper certification mandatory rather than optional for federal contracting opportunities.
Agency accountability: Federal agencies that fail to meet the 5% SDVOSB goal must submit corrective action reports to the SBA. This creates institutional pressure to actively seek certified SDVOSB contractors, particularly in agencies that historically underperformed on veteran contracting goals.
Anyway that seems to be how they can offer above market compensation for what sounds like a very easy job.
1099 Contract position, not an actual VA employee position. Buffalo too at one time. All by same SDVOSB qualified staffing company. The catch is that these VA staffing contracts are awarded preferentially to service disabled veteran owned small businesses (SDVOSB). They are trying to meet SDVOSB targets. Might help land the job if you’re a veteran with or without a service related disability too.
Mr. Wander is a smart guy who capitalized on his military service experience and knows how to work the system. If bidding was wide open, Vituity, NAPA, USAP, Northstar et al would come in with lower bids and save some taxpayer money. As things stand he likely has no competition and can name his price.
Gabriel D. Wander - Wander Staffing
wanderstaffing.com
Company - Wander Staffing
wanderstaffing.com
“Wander Staffing, an SDVOSB and 8(a) company founded in 2018, specializes in providing healthcare solutions to the U.S. Government and private institutions. With over 200 healthcare professionals placed in more than 20 states, we offer long-term, short-term, and locum staffing solutions. Founded by a retired Army Officer who progressed from Medic to Nurse to Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), our leadership brings unparalleled expertise and a 30-plus-year track record in the Government and healthcare sectors.
Wander Staffing is a GSA contract holder, offering nationwide access to our services through VA’s 621 I Professional and Allied Healthcare Staffing. We also serve as a trusted subcontractor on DHA’s MQS2-NG Contract # HT001524D9005 and VHA’s Integrated Critical Staffing Program (ICSP), providing staffing support across Physician, Dental, Ancillary, Nursing, and Medical Support services.
Our efforts have earned national recognition. We are recipients of the 2024 HIRE Vets Medallion Award, proud partners in the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP), and most recently, our founder was named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2025 Texas Small Business Person of the Year. These honors reflect our unwavering commitment to supporting Veterans, military families, and the broader healthcare workforce through meaningful employment and operational excellence.“
SBA business certifications: 8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, SDVOSB -Small Business Administration
Qualify for federal contracting set-asides. Explore and apply for 8(a), Women-Owned (WOSB), HUBZone, and Veteran-Owned (SDVOSB) business certifications.
www.sba.gov
Description is interesting. Facility sounds wildly overstaffed. 17 bodies on payroll for 10 cases/day.
COMPENSATION (Rates are listed as 1099, all inclusive): ⢠M-F regular rate: $435/hr. ⢠On-Call (from home): $50/hr. ⢠Overtime and Holiday: $475/hr. ⢠We cover Med Mal (claims made + tail) SCHEDULE: ⢠M-F 7:00 am â 3:30 pm ⢠After 3:30 pm, 1 Anesthesiologist will begin on-call until 7 am the following day ⢠Anesthesiologist and a CRNA are on-call simultaneously ⢠Call from home: Available by phone within 15 min. and on-site within 60 min. ⢠Call-back rate of 3-4 times a month for the department (mostly General or Urology) ⢠The schedule is made by facility 1 month in advance. Request preferred time off at least 45 days in advance. ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT: ⢠Current department mix is 6 Anesthesiologists and 11 CRNAs ⢠Seven (7) ORs plus a GI and Cath Lab (currently running 5-6 ORs) ⢠Average 10 cases/day for the department CASES: ⢠General, Ortho, Plastics, Eyes, GYN, Vascular (carotid and AV fistulas), Urology, ENT, Podiatry (No cardiac, neuro, pulmonary, thoracic, transplants, trauma, OB) MODEL: ⢠ACT Model: Anesthesiologists are not required to be present during induction or emergence. NUANCES ABOUT THIS VA CONTRACT: ⢠This is a semi-open Gov solicitation that only a handful of companies can participate in. ⢠We currently hold the CRNA contract at this facility as well. ⢠Fast turnaround - proposals are due Jan 30th with award soon after. ⢠Interested and qualified Anesthesiologists must be submitted with the proposal; Part of the award process is the Government selecting their preferred Anesthesiologists. QUESTIONS, Please contact……ABOUT WANDER STAFFING: ⢠Founded in 2018 by a retired Army officer ⢠Not an agency
SDVOSB Certification in 2026: Requirements, Process, and Benefits
How to get SDVOSB certified in 2026. Eligibility, required documents, SBA application process, and set-aside contract benefits explained.
blogs.usfcr.com
“SDVOSB certification gives veteran-owned businesses access to billions in set-aside contracts, but the process is rarely straightforward. Applications face significant rejection risks, and under the SBA’s Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) program, processing typically takes 60–90 days, depending on workload and document requests. Success depends less on veteran status itself and more on whether your documents align to show ownership and control.
Why SDVOSB Certification Is More Valuable Than Ever
Major opportunity expansion in 2025: The National Defense Authorization Act for FY2024 increased the federal spending goal for SDVOSBs from 3% to 5% of all prime and subcontract dollars. This represents a 67% increase in targeted opportunities - from approximately $19 billion to over $31 billion annually.Real market impact: In FY2023, agencies already exceeded the old 3% goal, reaching 5% and awarding $31.9 billion to SDVOSBs. Now that 5% is the official target, agencies face increased pressure to maintain and potentially exceed this level, creating sustained high demand for certified SDVOSB contractors.
Certification is now mandatory: The goal increase coincides with the completion of eliminating self-certification for SDVOSB status. As of October 2024, only SBA VetCert-certified businesses count toward agency goals, making proper certification mandatory rather than optional for federal contracting opportunities.
Agency accountability: Federal agencies that fail to meet the 5% SDVOSB goal must submit corrective action reports to the SBA. This creates institutional pressure to actively seek certified SDVOSB contractors, particularly in agencies that historically underperformed on veteran contracting goals.
What is SDVOSB Certification?
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certification is a federal designation that gives qualifying veteran-owned businesses preferential access to contracting opportunities. The SBA VetCert program handles verification, which assumed responsibility from the VA’s CVE in January 2023.“Anyway that seems to be how they can offer above market compensation for what sounds like a very easy job.
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Not sure about SC. I doubt many people want to go to MN right now.
Off gasworks -
I wanted to share this job post that I found on GasWork.com https://www.gaswork.com/post/558840
Please let me know what you think.
Thanks!
I wanted to share this job post that I found on GasWork.com https://www.gaswork.com/post/558840
Please let me know what you think.
Thanks!
Aren’t you in SC now? Do none of your folks know anything about that?
Generous rates in the 400s but to make a million, you’d still have to put in a lot of time with not much time off. Also that seems to be excess staffing for 5-6 ORs, GI, and Cath lab to the tune of 10 cases/day. When you’re dismissed for the day, I assume you clock out but with the govt, who knows.
No one knows for sure but they suspect it’s a ploy for crna independence. “Look we couldn’t even get someone for a million dollars”.
There are some things in life not worth a million dollars and this is one of them.
It's VA. CRNA independence will not affect physicians' liability.
That is for full-time or a percentage of FTE. The fee is $50 per unit for fee-basis part-time contracts, which are for locums on short-term, year-to-year contracts. Those with capped salaries have no problem with me taking the high-unit-value cases. Since I have to code my own cases, part-time work at the VA has been very educational for me, helping me figure out what I generate on a given day.
It’s all shady. I’ve seen crna locums contracts spelled out like 7-8 years ago
$1500 to show up
Than $50/case (so they all choose GI) that was years ago with the crna locums salaries exploded.
Maybe it’s $2500 to show up now for crna plus $100/case.
cittykat
Full Member
South Carolina positions apparently filled. But Wander Staffing has new posting for Missouri VA.
Same high pay with low volume.
Same high pay with low volume.
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Doesn’t seem like a lot of money on call. That’s where the money ball doing locums.
But if u just want to do daytime. It’s a good gig locums wise.
how much is the average on call pay?
Whatever you can negotiate. The key is to have the clock running regardless if on beeper or not
The beeper call rate is what anesthesiologist truly under value their worth.
I see. If I'm on call, I would want to get paid the same as my regular hourly rate.
cittykat
Full Member
Can negotiate all you want. But if someone else in your area is willing to take beeper call for $1-2k per day, that is the market rate.
Correct. Just takes suckers.
Don’t be the sucker. And I hope they read these messages boards.
Me and my buddies all collude and make these two hospitals now guaranteed us hours on beeper. There are now 10 of us in a circle.
The key is to have people on the same page. Even the old doc 65 plus year old doc asking for guranteeed hours. We let him on on the gig. He’s so old school mentality he should work for his pay. So he stopped taking 24 hr calls without guarantees as well. He seriously didn’t know you couple ask for such things. We all kinda of chuckle when we tried to explain to him. Cause he was taking 48 hr weekend beepers and messing up with our agenda.
So some people don’t know this is the trend.
This would be an amazing gig if it weren’t in Columbia, Missouri.
It almost sounds like you're advocating for collective bargaining...
What's wrong with Columbia? just curious
Columbia, MO should be a nice spot to work. I don’t understand that comment.
I just saw it only has 100k people, higher than average crime rate, and 2+ hours from any major cities. Never been to Missouri, I stand corrected if it’s actually a decent place to live.
cittykat
Full Member
Looked it up. 3 universities. 40000 college students. Highly educated population. Seems like it could be a nice place to live.
I went to high school college and med school in Kansas. Previous gf from Columbia Missouri. Halfway to St. Louis.
It’s college town. Visit it. Could change your mind.
You must be a city slicker who enjoys 2 hr traffic in the big cities
Nothing wrong with Missouri. Can go for weekend/summer trips to lake of the ozarks.
USA is big country as we all know. There is a place for everyone to live. You just make your own life where you want to be happy.
I never thought I’d be in Florida. Always thought it was the dump. My goal was always to be in the west coast. But now as I age. I like to visit the west coast. But the traffic’s even on Saturdays cringes me around Los Angeles. In a perfect world. I’d live near Manhattan beach 4 months out out of the year (summer time) and in Florida 8 months out of the year.
The original post was Columbia SC
lol when market was more saturated used to get call from job in Minot. Made snow belt where I was feel like the Caribbean!! And that was before all the looneys were taking over!!
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cittykat
Full Member
What? Where is no such thing as w2 full time 2 year contract at VA. You are on probation for 2 years as w2 employee no such thing as 2 year w2 contract (that I’m aware of)
cittykat
Full Member
The ad said you are an employee of Wander Staffing which has a contract to staff that VA location.
Ad link no longer available. So I can’t look at it
But not sure any one would take a w2 job with a staffing agency.
800k w2 job taxed at 28%-30% effective tax rate (not marginal) plus Medicare taxes plus state income taxes is equivalent to a 650k 1099 gig taxed at 15% effective rate and paying less in Medicare taxes as well
cittykat
Full Member
Yeah if it’s a w2 $390/hr rate it’s atrocious for upstate New York. No wonder why it’s still open
Only under the most limited circumstances will I take a w2 hourly assessment (meaning pay me for 12 hr everyday guarantee and I can leave as soon as cases are done). That’s probably only time I would ever do w2 hourly.
Knowing the VA. They willwant u to stay ur entire contracted time even if u have to twiddle ur thumbs and shop on Amazon and can’t leave with nothing going on.
