Small Business Contracts

A small business set-aside reserves federal contracts exclusively for small businesses meeting SBA size standards, providing preferential access to government procurement opportunities. The federal government aims to award 23% of prime contracts to small businesses.

Qualification depends on your primary NAICS code. SBA sets size standards based on either annual receipts (typically $750K to $47M) or number of employees (typically 100-1,500). You must be independently owned, not dominant in your field, and at least 51% owned by U.S. citizens.

Small business status is self-certified in SAM.gov based on SBA size standards. No formal certification is required, but you must truthfully represent your status. False claims can result in penalties and debarment.

Use the SBA Size Standards Tool at sba.gov to look up your primary NAICS code. Size standards are reviewed periodically and may change. Always verify current standards before bidding on set-aside contracts.