The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) began accepting applications through the Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert)
SBA’s new Veteran Small Business Certification program implements changes from the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA 2021) which transferred the certification function from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to SBA as of January 1, 2023. The transfer provides veterans with a central support point for their small business certification needs.
Benefits of SBA certification
Every year, the federal government awards a portion of contracting dollars specifically to businesses owned by veterans. Certification allows service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) firms the opportunity to compete for sole-source and set-aside contracts across the federal government. Certified veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) have additional opportunities to pursue contracts at the Veterans Administration (VA) under the VA’s Vets First program. Additionally, certified VOSBs can access federally owned personal property no longer in use through the General Services Administration's (GSA) Federal Surplus Personal Property Donation Program.
Eligibility requirements
To apply for certification with SBA as a VOSB or SDVOSB, a firm must meet the following requirements:
- Be considered a small business, as defined by the size standard corresponding to any NAICS code listed in the business’s SAM profile.
- Have no less than 51% of the business owned and controlled by one or more veterans.
- For certification as a SDVOSB, have no less than 51% of the business owned and controlled by one or more veterans rated as service-disabled by the VA
- For those veterans who are permanently and totally disabled and unable to manage the daily business operations of their business, their business may still qualify if their spouse or appointed, permanent caregiver is assisting in that management
For a full list of eligibility requirements, see the final rule published in the Federal Register.
Already registered as a SDVOSB and/or VOSB through the VA
- Firms verified by the VA Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) as of January 1, 2023, are automatically granted certification by SBA for the remainder of the firm’s eligibility period.
- SBA intends to grant a one-time, one-year extension of certification to current VOSBs and SDVOSBs verified by the VA as of the transfer date on January 1, 2023.
- New applicants certified by SBA after January 1, 2023, will receive the standard three-year certification period.
My business is currently self-certified SDVOSB through SAM.gov
- The NDAA 2021 grants a one-year grace period for self-certified SDVOSBs until January 1, 2024.
- During the grace period, businesses have one year to file an application for SDVOSB certification and may continue to rely on their self-certification to compete for non-VA SDVOSB set-asides.
- Self-certified SDVOSBs that apply before the expiration of the one-year grace period will maintain eligibility until the SBA makes a final eligibility decision.
How to apply for certification
The firm must be registered in SAM.gov. If you need help with SAM.gov, your MN PTAC can assist you – at no charge!
Then establish an SBA account and apply for certification, visit Veteran Small Business Certification portal.
Through the application portal, you will be able to:
- Access checklists and pre-application guides
- Check your firm’s eligibility
- Request information
- Create an account, login and proceed with an application
- Search for a certified VOSB or SDVOSB
To help prepare for your application and gather the correct documents, use this SBA Veteran Small Business Certification fact sheet.
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For more details about the transfer and SBA’s Veteran Small Business Certification, visit:
To submit questions about the transfer and SBA’s Veteran Small Business Certification, please email cvetransfer@sba.gov or call the dedicated toll-free call center at 800-862-8088.
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