If you are a service-disabled veteran who owns a small business, the United States wants to do business with you.

In fact, by law, the federal government has a goal of awarding at least 3 percent of the total value of all its prime contracts and subcontracts to service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs). Federal contracting officers also have the authority to restrict competition on some projects to SDVOSB concerns only. Although this provides significantly more opportunities for SDVOSB concerns, standards still must be met before the opportunity can be set-aside.

How are Set-Asides Chosen?

First, the contracting officer must have a reasonable expectation that at least two responsible SDVOSB concerns will submit offers. Second, market research must show that the award can be made at a fair market price. If market research indicates the opportunity would be a good candidate to be set-aside for SDVOSBs, the contracting officer then has the discretion to proceed with restricting competition to SDVOSBs.

There are several ways contracting officers perform market research to determine if two or more SDVOSB concerns will submit offers. Many contracting officers start by looking in the Small Business Administration’s Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) database at web.sba.gov/pro-net/search/dsp_dsbs.cfm to see if any SDVOSB concerns are available to fulfill the government’s need.

These searches are often based on North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes, so it is important that you choose the correct NAICS code(s) that represents your business product or service.

You can validate your NAICS code selection at www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html.

You’ll also want all of your socioeconomic designations, including SDVOSB, to correctly display in the DSBS. For your profile to accurately display in DSBS, you must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov.

Another method contracting officers use to determine if two or more SDVOSB concerns are available is to issue a Sources Sought. A Sources Sought is essentially a solicitation of interest and capability.

Contracting officers will typically utilize the Federal Business Opportunities website, www.fbo.gov, also known as “FedBizOpps.” You can find Sources Sought and other contract opportunities in FedBizOpps by conducting a filter search using a particular NAICS code or keyword. Using the advanced search feature, you can determine which opportunities are being set-aside for SDVOSB concerns.

Ensure Eligibility as an SDVOSB

Although other parameters involving partnerships and joint ventures exist, your business must be at least 51 percent unconditionally and directly owned by one or more service-disabled veterans who control the management and daily operations of the business. Your company also must meet the size standard of the NAICS code assigned to the procurement you wish to pursue.

With the exception of contract opportunities with the Department of Veterans Affairs, status as a SDVOSB concern is generally satisfied through self-certification. For a full list of the eligibility criteria, visit the SBA SDVOSB website at www.sba.gov/content/service-disabled-veteran-owned-small-business-concerns-sdvosbc