be necessary by secretary of defense because of significant conditions resulting from trauma, abnor malities and disease and limited to artificial limbs, eyes, voice, ears, nose and fingers. >> so by that definition biologics would not be included in that? >> no sir. >> can you explain why the use of blanket purchase agreements and indefinite quantity ensure the best value when acquiring prosthetics? >> these are small business set aside competitive contracts that provide the d.o.d. to look at the cost and make assessment and select the sole source to provide at the best value to d.o.d. >> this would be for ms. halliday. do you have any opinions as a result of what you have looked into as to items the va may be including in the definition of prosthetics that may be better suited for search s outside of section 8123? >> there was a large inventory of prosthetics when we looked at the medical centers. i think va really has to take a look at which items are not unique but just standardized that you would use on a regular basis and that would be -- take a review to do that. i understand that the