SDVOSB certification in Massachusetts

To get SDVOSB certified in Massachusetts, 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. Massachusetts APEX Accelerator (MSBDC, UMass Amherst) helps Massachusetts businesses apply at no cost.

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 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]

3. 03

   Get free help in Massachusetts

   Massachusetts APEX Accelerator (MSBDC, UMass Amherst): free counseling on SAM.gov, certification and bidding.^[9]

4. 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]

5. 05

   Register with Massachusetts too

   SDVOSB covers federal contracts. To sell to Massachusetts agencies, register on COMMBUYS supplier registration (free).

6. 06

   Add the Massachusetts certification

   MBE, WBE, VBE and other diversity certifications, through Supplier Diversity Office.^[10]

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

• Massachusetts APEX Accelerator (MSBDC, UMass Amherst)

SBA district office

• SBA Massachusetts District Office

Massachusetts certifies its own programs separately from SBA, for Massachusetts state contracts. SDVOSB does not carry over automatically; apply to this one on its own terms:

• MBE, WBE, VBE and other diversity certifications, Supplier Diversity Office. Free; Massachusetts-based firms first attend a pre-certification workshop.^[10]

854 open bids in Massachusetts right now; 0 name SDVOSB in the title.

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• 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]

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
8. sba.gov/district/massachusetts
9. massapex.org/
10. mass.gov/sdo