SDVOSB certification in Washington
SDVOSB is a federal SBA certification with the same rules in every state. This guide covers what differs in Washington: the SBA offices and APEX Accelerators that help you apply, the state programs that sit alongside it, and how many open Washington bids there are now.
Facts checked
The short answer
To get SDVOSB certified in Washington, 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. Washington APEX Accelerator helps Washington 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 Washington
Washington APEX Accelerator: free counseling on SAM.gov, certification and bidding.[10]
- 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 Washington too
SDVOSB covers federal contracts. To sell to Washington agencies, register on WEBS registration, plus statewide payee registration to get paid (free).
- 06
Add the Washington certification
Veteran-Owned Business certification, through Washington Department of Veterans Affairs.[12]
Free help in Washington
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 offices
Washington programs alongside SDVOSB
Washington certifies its own programs separately from SBA, for Washington state contracts. SDVOSB does not carry over automatically; apply to this one on its own terms:
- Veteran-Owned Business certification, Washington Department of Veterans Affairs.[12]
Open bids in Washington
215 open bids in Washington 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 Washington?
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 Washington. Washington state and local contracts follow Washington's own programs.
Where can I get free help with SDVOSB in Washington?
Washington APEX Accelerator offers free government-contracting counseling, and Washington is served by 2 SBA district offices: Seattle District Office, Portland District Office (southwest Washington).
Does Washington have its own certification like SDVOSB?
Washington runs Veteran-Owned Business certification (Washington Department of Veterans Affairs). It is separate from SDVOSB, and you apply on its own terms.
How many open Washington bids mention SDVOSB?
BidRover lists 215 open bids in Washington; 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/seattle
- sba.gov/district/portland
- washingtonapex.org/
- omwbe.wa.gov/
- dva.wa.gov/veterans-service-members-and-their-families/veteran-owned-businesses