SDVOSB Set-Aside
Contract Opportunities
SDVOSB is the only set-aside with a dedicated agency-level priority hierarchy — VA Veterans First — and the federal government consistently meets its 3% SDVOSB goal. Mindy filters SAM.gov, agency forecasts, and recompetes for SDVOSB work agency-wide, plus a dedicated stream for VA Veterans First opportunities.
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Who Qualifies for SDVOSB
SDVOSB eligibility centers on veteran ownership, control, and a VA-rated service-connected disability. Certification moved from the VA to the SBA in 2023.
- →51%+ unconditionally owned by one or more service-disabled veterans.
- →Service-connected disability rated by the VA or DoD (any percentage qualifies).
- →Day-to-day management and long-term decision-making controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans.
- →Small business size standards for your primary NAICS code.
- →SBA certification via certify.SBA.gov (prior CVE certifications were migrated).
Source: SBA, SDVOSB Program. Surviving spouses and caregivers of veterans rated 100% disabled or who died from a service-connected disability may also qualify in limited circumstances.
Where SDVOSB Opportunities Actually Live
SDVOSB work shows up in two distinct lanes — federal-wide set-asides and VA-specific Veterans First procurements. The smartest firms track both because the rules and the volume are different:
SAM.gov SDVOSB set-asides (federal-wide)
Filter SAM.gov by “SDVOSB Set-Aside” or “SDVOSB Sole Source.” Available at every federal agency. The 3% federal-wide goal drives consistent volume across DoD, DHS, GSA, and elsewhere.
VA Veterans First (VA-only priority)
At the VA, SDVOSBs and VOSBs get statutory priority — ahead of all other small business categories. Most VA procurements that any small business could perform end up going to a verified veteran-owned firm.
SDVOSB-set-aside IDIQ vehicles
The VA T4NG (Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology Next Generation), GSA VETS 2 GWAC, and various agency-specific veteran-owned IDIQs run task-order competitions only among vehicle holders.
Agency forecasts
Forecasts often identify anticipated SDVOSB or VOSB set-asides 6–18 months ahead. The VA's forecast is especially useful because Veterans First means most opportunities default to veteran-owned firms.
Top Agencies Awarding SDVOSB Contracts
Because the federal-wide 3% goal is consistently met, SDVOSB work is spread across most agencies. But a handful dominate:
Department of Veterans Affairs
By far the largest SDVOSB buyer. Veterans First priority means most procurements end up at a veteran-owned firm. T4NG is the key IT vehicle.
Department of Defense
Largest absolute SDVOSB dollar volume outside the VA. Army, Navy, and Air Force all run substantial SDVOSB set-aside programs.
Department of Homeland Security
Active SDVOSB usage across CBP, ICE, USCIS, and FEMA — especially in IT services, logistics, and training.
General Services Administration
GSA VETS 2 GWAC and SDVOSB Schedule contracts drive consistent task-order flow.
Department of Health and Human Services
NIH, CDC, and CMS regularly use SDVOSB set-asides for IT services, professional services, and research support.
How to Win SDVOSB Contracts: 5 Tactics That Actually Work
1. Make the VA your first target
Veterans First priority makes the VA the most aligned agency for any SDVOSB. Start with the VA Forecast of Contracting Opportunities, attend VA OSDBU events, and pursue T4NG or a VA Schedule contract early.
2. Don't ignore federal-wide opportunities
Many SDVOSB firms cluster at the VA and miss the larger federal-wide pool. DoD alone awards substantial SDVOSB volume across hundreds of NAICS codes. Mindy's SDVOSB filter spans all agencies, not just the VA.
3. Pursue sole-source aggressively
SDVOSB sole-source authority goes up to $4.5M services / $8M manufacturing. Contracting officers can use it when they know you — meaning capability briefings and relationship-building convert directly to award value. Start before you need it.
4. Stack with HUBZone or 8(a)
The certifications are independent. SDVOSB + HUBZone is common because the eligible pools rarely overlap and both compound. SDVOSB + 8(a) gives you the deepest possible set-aside coverage for the 8(a) program duration.
5. Track SDVOSB recompetes
When an SDVOSB incumbent contract is expiring, the recompete will almost always be re-set aside as SDVOSB. Mindy flags these 12 months in advance — including incumbent name and award value so you can position before the solicitation drops.
How Mindy Helps SDVOSB Firms
SDVOSB filter agency-wide
Daily briefings filtered to SDVOSB set-asides across every federal agency — not just the VA.
VA Veterans First stream
Dedicated feed of VA procurements that fall under Veterans First — the highest-conversion pool for any SDVOSB.
SDVOSB recompete alerts
12-month advance notice when an SDVOSB incumbent contract is expiring — incumbent name and award value included.
Sole-source intel
Tracks which agencies actually use SDVOSB sole-source authority and surfaces the forecasts most likely to convert.
SDVOSB Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between SDVOSB and VOSB?+
VOSB (Veteran-Owned Small Business) requires 51%+ ownership by any veteran. SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business) requires the owner to have a service-connected disability rated by the VA. VOSB is recognized primarily at the VA under the Vets First Contracting Program. SDVOSB is recognized government-wide and unlocks set-asides at every federal agency, not just the VA. Most firms pursue SDVOSB whenever possible because the eligible opportunity pool is far larger.
How do I get SDVOSB certified?+
As of January 2023, SDVOSB certification moved from the VA Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) to the SBA. You apply through certify.SBA.gov. If you were previously CVE-verified, your status was migrated. The application requires VA documentation of your service-connected disability, ownership and control documentation, and small business size standard verification for your primary NAICS. Processing typically takes 60–90 days.
What is VA Veterans First contracting?+
A statutory program at the Department of Veterans Affairs that requires the VA to give priority to SDVOSBs and VOSBs when buying goods and services — ahead of all other small business set-aside categories. In practice, this means the VA is the single largest buyer of SDVOSB work because of the priority hierarchy. If you're SDVOSB and not actively pursuing VA work, you're leaving the most-aligned agency on the table.
Can SDVOSB firms win sole-source contracts?+
Yes — up to $4.5M for services and $8M for manufacturing, same thresholds as 8(a) and HUBZone. A contracting officer can sole-source to an SDVOSB without competition when the requirement is below the threshold and the price is fair. SDVOSB sole-sources are more common at the VA (because of Veterans First) but happen across DoD, DHS, and other agencies too.
Does the federal government meet its SDVOSB goal?+
Yes, consistently. The statutory federal-wide goal is 3% of prime contract dollars to SDVOSBs, and the government has met or exceeded this for many recent years. That makes SDVOSB one of the few set-aside categories that's working at scale. The competition inside SDVOSB is real because of this success — strong past performance and capture work matter more than just being certified.
Can I be SDVOSB and 8(a) at the same time?+
Yes, and many veteran-owned firms are. The two certifications are independent and stack. An SDVOSB + 8(a) firm qualifies for set-asides in both categories, can sole-source under either, and benefits from the 8(a) nine-year development structure. If you qualify for both, certify for both — there's no downside.
What happens to my SDVOSB status if my disability rating changes?+
SDVOSB eligibility is tied to having a service-connected disability — the rating percentage doesn't matter (a 10% rating qualifies the same as a 100% rating). If your disability rating is removed entirely, you would lose SDVOSB eligibility at the next recertification. If the rating is reduced but still present, your eligibility continues. Most SDVOSB-related issues stem from ownership/control documentation, not the disability rating itself.
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