What government contract opportunities are available to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses?
SDVOSBs can pursue federal set-asides, possible sole-source awards, and eligible joint ventures, but only when SBA status and FAR rules are met.
AI-assisted and automatically checked against the linked primary sources.
What SDVOSB opportunities does FAR Subpart 19.14 create?
According to FAR Subpart 19.14, the SDVOSB Program provides federal contracting assistance to service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns and applies to federal agencies with contracting officers. The most direct opportunity is a set-aside: a contracting officer may restrict competition to eligible SDVOSBs when market research shows a reasonable expectation that two or more eligible concerns will submit offers and award can be made at a fair market price. The subpart also says contracting officers shall consider SDVOSB set-asides before SDVOSB sole-source awards or small-business set-asides. For a set-aside award, the officer must verify that the offeror is designated in SAM as an SBA-certified SDVOSB, or falls within the legacy application status tied to applications filed on or before December 31, 2023. The rule also allows certain joint ventures to qualify if they meet the stated small-business, certification, and SBA joint-venture requirements. Not every requirement is eligible, however: the subpart excludes several categories, including orders under indefinite-delivery contracts, orders against Federal Supply Schedules, and requirements being performed by an 8(a) participant unless SBA releases them.
- SDVOSBs have a clear pathway to compete for federal set-asides under FAR Subpart 19.14.
- Contracting officers must check SAM and SBA certification status before allowing award consideration.
- Eligible joint ventures can compete if they meet the cited small-business and joint-venture rules.
- Some work is excluded, including certain IDIQ orders, Federal Supply Schedule orders, and some 8(a)-performed requirements.
Process
- 1
Review the official SDVOSB rule
Start with FAR Subpart 19.14 to confirm the program, applicability, and exclusions.
- 2
Confirm your status in SAM
Make sure the concern is designated in SAM as an SBA-certified SDVOSB, or fits the legacy application status described in the rule.
- 3
Check for exclusions
Verify whether the requirement is barred from the SDVOSB Program, including IDIQ orders, Federal Supply Schedule orders, or protected 8(a) work.
- 4
Support set-aside competition with market research
Use market research to show a reasonable expectation of two or more eligible SDVOSBs and a fair market price.
Important Note
If SBA denies certification or finds a concern ineligible, the concern must update its SDVOSB status in SAM within 2 days of the final decision.
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