SDVOSB certification in Illinois
SDVOSB is a federal SBA certification with the same rules in every state. This guide covers what differs in Illinois: the SBA offices and APEX Accelerators that help you apply, the state programs that sit alongside it, and how many open Illinois bids there are now.
Facts checked
The short answer
To get SDVOSB certified in Illinois, register in SAM.gov, confirm you meet SBA's rules for small businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by veterans with a service-connected disability, and apply free on MySBA Certifications. Illinois APEX Accelerator network (Illinois SBDC) helps Illinois businesses apply at no cost.
Step by step
- 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]
- 02
Check SDVOSB eligibility
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]
- 03
Get free help in Illinois
Illinois APEX Accelerator network (Illinois SBDC): free counseling on SAM.gov, certification and bidding.[9]
- 04
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]
- 05
Register with Illinois too
SDVOSB covers federal contracts. To sell to Illinois agencies, register on BidBuy registration and the Illinois Procurement Gateway (IPG) (free).
- 06
Add the Illinois certification
Veterans Business Program, through Commission on Equity and Inclusion.[11]
Free help in Illinois
APEX Accelerators, funded by the Department of Defense, help with registration, certification and bids. SBA district offices run certification outreach and answer program questions.
APEX Accelerators
SBA district office
Illinois programs alongside SDVOSB
Illinois certifies its own programs separately from SBA, for Illinois state contracts. SDVOSB does not carry over automatically; apply to this one on its own terms:
- Veterans Business Program, Commission on Equity and Inclusion.[11]
Open bids in Illinois
281 open bids in Illinois right now; 0 name SDVOSB in the title.
No open bids right now. Browse all open bids
What SDVOSB gets you
- 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]
Related guides
Questions
Is SDVOSB certification different in Illinois?
No. SDVOSB is a federal SBA certification with the same rules in every state, and it applies to federal contracts, including federal work performed in Illinois. Illinois state and local contracts follow Illinois's own programs.
Where can I get free help with SDVOSB in Illinois?
Illinois APEX Accelerator network (Illinois SBDC) offers free government-contracting counseling, and the SBA Illinois District Office serves the state.
Does Illinois have its own certification like SDVOSB?
Illinois runs Veterans Business Program (Commission on Equity and Inclusion). It is separate from SDVOSB, and you apply on its own terms.
How many open Illinois bids mention SDVOSB?
BidRover lists 281 open bids in Illinois; 0 of them name SDVOSB in the title. Most set-asides are marked in the solicitation rather than the title, so read each notice.
Sources
- sam.gov/entity-registration
- certifications.sba.gov/
- sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/veteran-contracting-assistance-programs
- sba.gov/article/2024/01/09/sba-marks-one-year-anniversary-veteran-small-business-certification-program
- congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2670
- acquisition.gov/far/2.101
- uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section644&num=0&edition=prelim
- sba.gov/district/illinois
- sbdc.illinois.gov/find-a-center/apex-centers.html
- cei.illinois.gov/vendor-resources/get-bep-certified.html
- ceibep.diversitysoftware.com/