What is the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program?
Small businesses owned by veterans can compete for set-aside contracts at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Through its Veterans First Contracting program, VA awards a large amount of contract dollars to veterans every year by offering set-aside contracting opportunities. VA also sets aside contracting opportunities for businesses owned by veterans who are service-disabled.
If you are a Veteran or Service Disabled Veteran entrepreneur, you will need to understand the programs and preferences in place to support your participation in federal government contracting. There are two distinct programs that provide agencies authority to set aside acquisitions for exclusive competition among Veteran-owned small business concerns:
- The government-wide Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program, and
- The VA’s Veterans First Contracting Program
Eligibility Criteria
Businesses must be formally verified as a Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) to participate. Currently, eligible small businesses must receive their VOSB verification through VA’s Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE). The concern must be a small business pursuant to the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code assigned by the Contracting Officer to the procurement; The concern must be 51 % unconditionally and directly owned by one or more Service-Disabled Veterans or in the case of any publicly owned business, not less than 51% of the stock of the company is owned by one or more Service-Disabled Veterans; and The management and daily business operations of the SDVO SBC must be controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans (or in the case of a veteran with permanent and severe disability, the spouse or permanent caregiver of such veteran).
