How to find your first government contract as a VOSB or SDVOSB
Registration, certification, the thresholds that matter for a new firm, where veteran set-asides actually apply, and a 90-day plan built around small wins.
Most first federal contracts are small. A few thousand dollars of supplies, a one-time service call, a short subcontract under a larger firm. That is the normal path, and it is the one this guide plans for.
Veteran status helps, but it is not a shortcut. It opens specific doors: set-asides and sole-source awards for service-disabled veteran-owned firms across government, and a stronger preference for all certified veteran-owned firms at the Department of Veterans Affairs. You still have to be registered, certified, findable, and ready to bid.
Step 1: Register in SAM.gov and get your UEI
Every federal prime contractor needs an active registration in SAM.gov. Your Unique Entity ID (UEI) is assigned during registration. SAM.gov says activation can take up to 10 business days, and the registration must be renewed every 365 days. Put the renewal date on a calendar now. A lapsed registration can cost you an award.
Step 2: Pick your NAICS codes
NAICS codes classify what you sell. Contracting officers assign one NAICS code to each solicitation, and that code sets the size standard you must meet to count as small for that buy. SBA notes that a business generally has a primary NAICS code but can list several if it sells several things.
Find codes in the U.S. Census Bureau NAICS list, then check each one in SBA's Size Standards Tool. List the codes for work you can actually perform today. A long list of codes you can't deliver on doesn't help you, and contracting officers can tell.
Step 3: Get SBA-certified through VetCert
Certification moved from the VA to SBA on January 1, 2023. SBA's Veteran Small Business Certification program (VetCert) now certifies both veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs). The basic tests: at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more veterans (service-disabled veterans, for SDVOSB), and small under a NAICS code listed in your SAM profile.
SBA charges nothing to apply. Self-certification is gone. FAR sole-source rules for SDVOSBs require SBA certification, the VA requires it for Veterans First awards, and the FY2024 NDAA required veteran firms to be SBA-certified by December 22, 2024 to count toward subcontracting and goaling. Our VetCert guide walks through the application.
What the veteran preference actually gets you
Here is where VOSB and SDVOSB differ, and where many new owners get it wrong.
Across government (FAR subpart 19.14), the set-aside program is for SDVOSBs only. A contracting officer may set aside a buy for SDVOSBs when market research shows two or more eligible SDVOSBs are likely to bid at a fair market price. A VOSB without a service-connected disability rating does not get a separate set-aside category outside the VA, though it still competes as a small business.
The governmentwide goal is the reason agencies look for you. The FY2024 NDAA, enacted December 22, 2023, raised the SDVOSB goal from 3% to at least 5% of federal prime and subcontract dollars each year. Some older pages still say 3%. The current figure is 5%.
At the VA, both VOSBs and SDVOSBs get priority. Under the Veterans First Contracting Program, VA contracting officers consider SDVOSB set-asides first, then VOSB set-asides, before other small business programs. Above the micro-purchase threshold, the VA must set aside a buy when it reasonably expects two or more eligible, certified veteran firms to offer at a fair and reasonable price. To qualify, you must be listed as certified in SBA's VetCert database.
The numbers that matter for a first contract
| Rule | Current value | Why it matters to you |
|---|---|---|
| Micro-purchase threshold (FAR 2.101) | $15,000 | Small buys under this amount use the simplest procedures, which makes them a realistic first sale. |
| Simplified acquisition threshold (FAR 2.101) | $350,000 | Buys above the micro-purchase level and up to this amount are set aside for small business when two or more competitive small firms are expected (FAR 19.502-2). |
| SDVOSB sole source, manufacturing (FAR 19.1406) | $8.5 million incl. options | A contracting officer can award directly to one SDVOSB when no second SDVOSB offer is expected. |
| SDVOSB sole source, other NAICS (FAR 19.1406) | $5 million incl. options | Same rule for services and non-manufacturing work. |
| VA sole source, SDVOSB or VOSB (VAAR 819.7008, 819.7009) | $5 million | The VA's own direct-award authority under Veterans First. |
| Governmentwide SDVOSB goal | At least 5% of prime and subcontract dollars | Agencies are measured against it each year. |
Sole-source awards are not something you ask for on day one. They also require that you be judged responsible and that the price be fair and reasonable, and they tend to go to firms a contracting officer already knows can deliver. Treat them as something you earn after a few completed jobs.
Where to find opportunities
SAM.gov Contract Opportunities is the free, official source. SBA points contractors there first. You can filter by NAICS or product and service code, by place of performance, and by type of set-aside, then save the search and get email notifications when new notices match. Set up one saved search for your primary NAICS with the SDVOSB set-aside filter (or VOSB, for VA work) and check it daily.
Paid tools exist to save time, and some firms find them worth it once bidding becomes routine. Two to know about:
| Tool | What it does | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| SAM.gov (sam.gov) | Official federal opportunity listings, saved searches, email alerts | Free |
| SamSearch (samsearch.co) | AI search across SAM.gov and other markets, opportunity scoring, requirement extraction, proposal drafting | Paid, priced per seat and module; quoted on a demo |
| GovDirections (govdirections.com) | Federal, state, and local bid listings with daily email matches by NAICS | Free account for federal bids; paid plans $39, $59, or $200 per month by geography |
Links: SamSearch and GovDirections. Prices are what each company posted on October 6, 2026. Start with SAM.gov. Pay for a tool when the time you spend searching is costing you more than the subscription.
Subcontracting and teaming with primes
For many new firms, the first federal dollars come as a subcontractor. The SDVOSB goal counts subcontract dollars as well as prime awards, which gives large primes a reason to bring in certified veteran firms.
- Search SBA's SubNet A database where large contractors post subcontracting opportunities for small businesses.
- Use GSA's subcontracting directory Lists large (other than small) prime contractors you can approach about subcontracting.
- Look up who won the last contract Search a prime's contract history by UEI or name, then pitch the work you can take off their hands on the recompete.
- Team with other veteran firms Two or more small businesses can form a joint venture that still qualifies for set-asides if its paperwork meets SBA rules. Complementary capabilities beat two firms doing the same thing.
eVeteran lists 38,731 SBA-certified veteran-owned firms, sorted by trade and city. If a solicitation needs a capability you don't have, or a prime wants a second veteran firm on the team, search the directory for certified partners in that NAICS area and location.
Find certified teaming partners by trade
Get free help: APEX Accelerators
APEX Accelerators, formerly called Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), offer no-cost guidance on selling to federal, state, and local government. They can help you check whether you're ready, register in the right places, see which certifications you qualify for, and research past contracts. The program is managed by the Department of War's Office of Industrial Base Growth. Find your local office at apexaccelerators.us. Book this appointment before you pay anyone for anything.
A realistic first 90 days
- Days 1 to 15: register and pick codes Start your SAM.gov registration, choose a primary NAICS code plus the two or three others you can deliver on, and confirm you're small under each. Book an APEX Accelerator meeting.
- Days 15 to 30: apply for VetCert Gather ownership and control documents and submit through SBA. You can do market research while you wait.
- Days 30 to 45: write a one-page capability statement Core capabilities, past work (commercial jobs count), UEI, NAICS codes, certification status, and a direct contact. It goes to every small business office and prime you talk to.
- Days 30 to 60: build a target list Pick three to five agencies that buy what you sell. Save SAM.gov searches for your NAICS. Pull the last awards in your code and note which primes won them.
- Days 45 to 75: contact primes and partners Reach out through SubNet listings and GSA's directory. Find one or two certified veteran firms whose work complements yours.
- Days 60 to 90: bid small Respond to small, simplified buys you can deliver well and price honestly. A clean $12,000 job builds the past performance that larger awards depend on.
Common first-year mistakes
- Paying a third party to register in SAM.gov.
- Listing dozens of NAICS codes you can't perform.
- Letting the SAM registration lapse at 365 days.
- Chasing a multimillion-dollar award with no past performance.
- Expecting VOSB status to bring set-asides outside the VA.
What tends to work
- Free registration, done early, renewal on the calendar.
- A few NAICS codes matched to real capability.
- VetCert submitted in the first month.
- An APEX Accelerator counselor reviewing your first bids.
- Subcontracts and small buys first, then bigger awards.
Make your firm findable
Primes and other veteran firms use eVeteran to find certified partners. Make sure your listing shows your trade, location, and how to reach you.
Get your business listed See listing plansQuestions homeowners actually ask
Does it cost money to register in SAM.gov?
No. GSA states that registration in SAM.gov is always free and that the government will never ask you to pay to register, update, or renew. Third-party companies may offer paid help, but it is never required.
What is the SDVOSB contracting goal now?
At least 5% of federal prime and subcontract dollars each year. The FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act, enacted December 22, 2023, raised it from 3%.
Can a VOSB that is not service-disabled get set-aside contracts?
At the Department of Veterans Affairs, yes. The Veterans First Contracting Program sets aside work for VOSBs after SDVOSBs. Elsewhere in government, the FAR set-aside program covers SDVOSBs only. A VOSB still competes for regular small business set-asides.
What are the micro-purchase and simplified acquisition thresholds?
Per FAR 2.101, the micro-purchase threshold is $15,000 and the simplified acquisition threshold is $350,000. Buys between the two are set aside for small business when two or more competitive small firms are expected.
Do I need VetCert, or can I self-certify?
You need SBA certification. VetCert replaced VA verification on January 1, 2023. SDVOSB sole-source awards and VA Veterans First awards require it. SBA does not charge to apply.
Where can I get free help with my first bid?
Your local APEX Accelerator (formerly a PTAC) offers no-cost counseling on registration, certifications, and bids. Find the office that serves you at apexaccelerators.us.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.