SDVOSB certification: who qualifies and how to apply

SDVOSB certification, run by SBA's Veteran Small Business Certification program (VetCert), lets small businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans compete for set-aside and sole-source contracts across the federal government.

SDVOSB is the only one of the four that depends on the owners' military service and VA disability rating, and the only one whose set-asides work at every agency without an industry list (unlike WOSB) or economic limits (unlike 8(a)).

1. 01

   Requirement 1

   The business must be small and at least 51% owned and controlled by veterans; for SDVOSB, by veterans the VA has rated as having a service-connected disability.^[3]

2. 02

   Requirement 2

   SBA took over veteran certification from the VA on January 1, 2023. Since January 1, 2024, firms need SBA certification for government-wide SDVOSB set-asides, and since December 22, 2024 for subcontracting and goal credit as well.^[3][4]

• Certified SDVOSBs can receive set-asides and sole-source awards at any federal agency; veteran-owned (VOSB) certification alone helps only at the VA.^[3]
• The government-wide SDVOSB goal is 5% of prime contract dollars, raised from 3% by the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act.^[5]
• Certification lasts three years.^[4]
• Since October 1, 2025 the federal micro-purchase threshold is $15,000 and the simplified acquisition threshold $350,000. Under the Small Business Act, purchases between the two are reserved for small businesses when at least two can compete, so that range is where most small-business set-asides start.^[6][7]

1. 01

   Register in SAM.gov

   Every certification and federal award needs an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID. Registration is free and must be renewed every 365 days.^[1]

2. 02

   Check eligibility against SBA's rules

   Confirm the firm is small for its primary NAICS code and that it meets the SDVOSB requirements above.

3. 03

   Apply on MySBA Certifications (VetCert)

   Apply at certifications.sba.gov with proof of the owners' VA service-connected disability rating and the firm's ownership documents.^[2]

4. 04

   Get free help from an APEX Accelerator

   APEX Accelerators (formerly PTACs) give free counseling on registration, certification and bidding. The state guides below list the ones serving each state.

5. 05

   Find set-asides

   On SAM.gov, filter Contract Opportunities by the SDVOSB set-aside type. On BidRover, search open bids that name SDVOSB in the title.

No open bid in BidRover's catalog names SDVOSB in its title right now; set-aside status is usually stated inside the solicitation.

No open bids right now. Browse all open bids

The federal rules are the same everywhere. Each state guide adds the SBA district offices and APEX Accelerators serving that state, its DBE certification program and the state programs that sit alongside this one.

1. sam.gov/entity-registration
2. certifications.sba.gov/
3. sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/veteran-contracting-assistance-programs
4. sba.gov/article/2024/01/09/sba-marks-one-year-anniversary-veteran-small-business-certification-program
5. congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2670
6. acquisition.gov/far/2.101
7. uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section644&num=0&edition=prelim