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Federal Set-Aside Programs

Find out which programs your business qualifies for.

Set-asides are one of the most powerful advantages in federal contracting. The government reserves a portion of its contracts exclusively for specific types of businesses, small businesses, veteran-owned firms, minority-owned companies, and businesses in economically distressed areas. If you qualify, you're not competing against Fortune 500 companies, you're only competing against peers. The federal government is legally required to award at least 23% of all contract dollars to small businesses.

Quick Reference
All Set-Aside Types
SBA
Small Business
685 active solicitations
 SBP
Small Business, Partial
9 active solicitations
 8(a)
8(a) Business Development
34 active solicitations
 SDVOSB
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business
136 active solicitations
 WOSB
Women-Owned Small Business
16 active solicitations
 EDWOSB
Economically Disadvantaged WOSB
4 active solicitations
 HUBZone
HUBZone
15 active solicitations
 VOSB
Veteran-Owned Small Business
See open opportunities
Detailed Guide
Who Qualifies & How to Apply
SBA Small Business 685 active
Reserved for businesses that qualify as "small" under SBA size standards based on NAICS code.
Who Qualifies
Any business that meets the SBA size standard for their NAICS code, typically under $25M, $40M in annual revenue for services, or under 500-1,500 employees for manufacturing.
How to Get Certified
Self-certification is sufficient for basic Small Business set-asides. No formal certification process required, just verify your NAICS code size standard.
Why It Matters
The government is required by law to award at least 23% of all contracts to small businesses. This is the most common set-aside type and applies to hundreds of thousands of solicitations each year.
Browse SBA Opportunities →
SBP Small Business, Partial 9 active
Part of a larger contract is set aside for small businesses, while the rest is open to all.
Who Qualifies
Same size standards as the Small Business set-aside.
How to Get Certified
Compete for the small business portion of the contract. The larger prime award may go to a large business.
Why It Matters
Used on large, complex contracts where some portions are well-suited for small businesses. Common in IT and construction.
Browse SBP Opportunities →
8(a) 8(a) Business Development 34 active
Reserved for socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses enrolled in the SBA 8(a) program.
Who Qualifies
Must be a small business, at least 51% owned and controlled by a U.S. citizen who is socially and economically disadvantaged. Participants stay in the program for up to 9 years.
How to Get Certified
Apply to the SBA 8(a) program (3-4 month process). Once accepted, you can compete for 8(a) sole-source awards up to $4.5M (services) or $7.5M (manufacturing) without competition.
Why It Matters
Extremely powerful, 8(a) companies can receive sole-source awards without bidding. The government obligates over $30 billion to 8(a) firms annually.
Browse 8(a) Opportunities →
SDVOSB Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business 136 active
Reserved for small businesses at least 51% owned by veterans with a service-connected disability.
Who Qualifies
U.S. military veteran with a service-connected disability rating, owning 51%+ of a small business. Must be verified in the VA's Vendor Information Pages (VIP) database.
How to Get Certified
Get disability rating from VA, then register and verify your business in VA's SDVOSB program. Once verified, you're eligible for SDVOSB set-asides across all agencies.
Why It Matters
The VA alone is required to award 12% of contracts to SDVOSBs. All other agencies have a 3% goal. Over $25B in SDVOSB contracts are awarded annually.
Browse SDVOSB Opportunities →
WOSB Women-Owned Small Business 16 active
Reserved for small businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women.
Who Qualifies
Small business, 51%+ owned by women who are U.S. citizens, in an "underrepresented" NAICS industry. Economically disadvantaged women can qualify in a broader range of industries (EDWOSB).
How to Get Certified
Self-certify or get certified by an approved third-party certifier. No SBA approval required for most awards under the WOSB threshold.
Why It Matters
Government goal is 5% of all contracts to WOSBs. Awards are concentrated in professional services, healthcare, construction, and IT.
Browse WOSB Opportunities →
EDWOSB Economically Disadvantaged WOSB 4 active
Subset of WOSB for women-owned businesses where the owner is also economically disadvantaged.
Who Qualifies
Same as WOSB, plus the female owner must demonstrate economic disadvantage (net worth under $750K, adjusted gross income under $350K).
How to Get Certified
Certify as EDWOSB through SBA or approved certifier. Eligible for set-asides in a wider range of NAICS codes than standard WOSB.
Why It Matters
Qualifies for all WOSB set-asides plus additional solicitations in industries where women are more broadly underrepresented.
Browse EDWOSB Opportunities →
HUBZone HUBZone 15 active
Reserved for small businesses located in Historically Underutilized Business Zones, economically distressed areas.
Who Qualifies
Small business with principal office in a HUBZone area, and at least 35% of employees living in a HUBZone. The business owner does not need to live in the zone.
How to Get Certified
Apply for HUBZone certification through the SBA. The process takes about 90 days. Must maintain the 35% employee requirement continuously.
Why It Matters
HUBZone firms get a 10% price evaluation preference on open competition contracts, plus exclusive access to HUBZone set-asides. Government goal: 3% of all contracts.
Browse HUBZone Opportunities →
VOSB Veteran-Owned Small Business
Reserved for small businesses at least 51% owned by U.S. military veterans (no disability requirement).
Who Qualifies
Any veteran (DD-214 discharge), owning 51%+ of a small business. Disability rating is not required.
How to Get Certified
Register and verify through VA's VIP program. Primarily used by the VA for non-SDVOSB eligible contracts.
Why It Matters
VA's goal is 12% combined for VOSB/SDVOSB. Most other agencies use SDVOSB designation, VOSB is primarily relevant for VA-specific work.
Browse VOSB Opportunities →
Can I qualify for multiple set-asides?

Yes, a business can hold multiple certifications at the same time. For example, a woman-owned veteran-owned small business in a HUBZone could qualify as WOSB, SDVOSB, and HUBZone simultaneously. Each certification makes you eligible for that specific set of solicitations. More certifications = more doors open to you. The only restriction is that you can only be awarded one set-aside type per individual contract.

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