Government Contracts for Veteran-Owned Businesses

How to win government contracts as a veteran-owned business

1. 1

   Confirm you're a small business and find your NAICS

   Set-asides are for small businesses under the SBA size standard for your work. Start by pinning down your NAICS code and size standard.

   Find your NAICS code →
2. 2

   Get SBA VetCert certified

   Certify as SDVOSB or VOSB through the SBA's free VetCert program. Check which set-asides you qualify for first so you certify for the right ones.

   Check your set-aside eligibility →
3. 3

   Find and bid the right opportunities

   See live federal and Texas bids — each with a plain-English workup (scope, deadlines, bonding, set-aside) so you can decide whether to bid without reading a 200-page RFP.

   Browse live bids →

Common questions

What's the difference between VOSB and SDVOSB?

VOSB is a veteran-owned small business; SDVOSB is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business. SDVOSBs get the strongest federal preference — including set-aside and sole-source contracts — with a government-wide goal of awarding at least 3% of federal contracting dollars to them each year.

Do I have to be certified to win veteran set-asides?

Yes. Self-certification ended — to compete for SDVOSB or VOSB set-asides you must be certified through the SBA's Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) program. It's free.

What is the VA 'Vets First' preference?

When the Department of Veterans Affairs buys goods or services, it gives verified SDVOSBs and VOSBs first priority over other businesses — a stronger preference than any other agency offers. If you sell anything the VA buys, this is a major edge.

Where do I find veteran set-aside contracts?

Federal opportunities post on SAM.gov; state and local ones are scattered across dozens of portals. BidGovContracts pulls federal and Texas opportunities into one feed, flags which are set aside, and summarizes each in plain English — so you don't have to portal-hop.