On January 9, 2023, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) new Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) portal was launched. This portal allows veteran owned small businesses (VOSB) and service-disabled veteran owned small businesses (SDVOSB) to certify their eligibility for VOSB and SDVOSB set-aside prime contracts.
Previously, businesses could self-certify their VOSB and SDVOSB status or they could receive certification by the Veterans Administration to pursue sole source or set-aside contracts with the Department of Veterans Affairs (under the former CVE program). As part of consolidation and restructuring efforts implemented in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), businesses that want to qualify for VOSB and SDVOSB set-aside contracts must now all be certified through the SBA Vet Cert portal.
To get certified, businesses should go to veterns.certify.sba.gov and upload the required information so the SBA may confirm their set-aside status. However, if you are a small business that previously certified with the Department of Veterans Affairs through CVE, you will have until that certification expires to re-certify on SBA, but SBA recommends starting the process early to allow time to get the new certification before you need it.
Have questions about the new certification rules? Fluet attorneys are here to help!
