SDVOSB & VOSB Certification
Veteran-owned small business? The federal government prioritizes you.
The federal government awards approximately $25 billion in SDVOSB contracts each year, with the VA adding billions more through its Veterans First Contracting Program. Finding contracts that match your business doesn’t have to mean checking SAM.gov every morning.
Search veteran set-aside contracts for freeWhat are SDVOSB and VOSB certifications?
A Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) is a small business at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more veterans with a service-connected disability. The disability does not need to be severe — any service-connected disability rating qualifies. The SBA administers SDVOSB certification through its online portal.
A Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) is similar but does not require a service-connected disability — any honorably discharged veteran qualifies. VOSB certification is primarily used for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contracts through the VA’s Veterans First Contracting Program. For non-VA federal agencies, SDVOSB is the more widely applicable certification.
The federal government’s goal is to award at least 3 percent of all prime contracting dollars to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses — approximately $25 billion annually, per SBA procurement scorecards. The VA has its own separate commitment under Veterans First that exceeds this government-wide goal.
How SDVOSB set-aside contracts work
When a federal agency posts an SDVOSB set-aside contract, only certified SDVOSB firms can submit a proposal. There’s no competing against large businesses or even other small businesses that don’t have the certification. The field is narrowed significantly before the first bid is submitted.
Two threshold levels apply to SDVOSB contracts. Sole-source awards can go directly to a single SDVOSB firm — no competition at all — typically for contracts under $4.5 million (or $7.5 million for manufacturing). Competitive SDVOSB set-asides require at least two qualified SDVOSB firms to compete, but the competition is limited to that pool only.
SDVOSB set-asides appear across all federal agencies, but the VA is the largest single source. If you do any work that could serve the VA — healthcare, construction, IT, logistics, professional services — there is likely a relevant SDVOSB or VOSB opportunity posted on SAM.gov or through the VA’s procurement systems.
How ContractRadar works for veteran-owned small businesses
Create a free account and start searching veteran set-aside contract opportunities immediately -- 5 semantic searches per day across federal, state, and local sources, no credit card required. Upgrade to $30/month for daily email alerts, unlimited search, and AI match scoring. No training required -- profile setup takes minutes.
Tell us your SDVOSB or VOSB status
Set up your ContractRadar profile by selecting your veteran certification — SDVOSB, VOSB, or both. Add the NAICS codes that describe your business and the states where you work. Takes less than five minutes.
We watch the portals every day
ContractRadar pulls new postings from SAM.gov, the SBA subcontracting portal, and state and local procurement portals every day. AI reads each posting's full text and scores it against your profile — not just NAICS codes. Rate your matches over time and the system learns what you're actually looking for.
You get an email when something matches
When a matching contract posts, you get an email with the agency name, contract title, deadline, and a direct link to the full SAM.gov posting. Every match is saved in your account — nothing falls through the cracks.
Veteran-owned subcontracting opportunities
Prime contracts are not the only path. Federal law requires large prime contractors to subcontract a portion of their work to small businesses — and they actively look for veteran-owned subcontractors to help them meet their SDVOSB/VOSB subcontracting goals. These opportunities are posted on the SBA’s subcontracting portal (SUBNet), and they are often less competitive than bidding on a prime contract directly. Subcontracting is a proven way to build past performance and establish relationships with prime contractors who may bring you on for future work.
ContractRadar monitors the SBA subcontracting portal alongside SAM.gov. When a subcontracting opportunity that matches your SDVOSB/VOSB certification and NAICS codes is posted, you get the same daily email alert you would for a prime set-aside contract. No separate setup required.
See what SDVOSB contracts have been awarded
For every matched opportunity, ContractRadar automatically searches USASpending.gov for previously awarded contracts from the same agency with matching NAICS codes and set-asides. See who held similar SDVOSB contracts, what the government actually paid, and whether there’s an incumbent — so you can decide whether to compete, team up, or move on to a better opportunity.
Start free. Upgrade when you’re ready.
Create a free account and start searching veteran set-aside contract opportunities immediately -- 5 semantic searches per day across federal, state, and local sources, no credit card required. Upgrade to $30/month for daily email alerts, unlimited search, AI match scoring, and past award intelligence. No per-user fees, no enterprise contracts. Cancel anytime from your profile page.
You earned your certification. Make it work for you. ContractRadar makes it simple to stay on top of SDVOSB and VOSB opportunities without spending hours on SAM.gov every week.
ContractRadar for other small business certifications
Learn more about government contracting:
ContractRadar also monitors state and local government procurement portals.
New to government contracting? Read our guide to SAM.gov contract monitoring for small businesses or visit the FAQ.