Win VA Vets First contracts and stackable veteran-owned preferences across every federal agency.
Eligibility — are you VOSBs?
Sourced from the official program page
- At least 51% owned and controlled by one or more veterans (any service period)
- Veterans must manage day-to-day operations and strategic decision-making
- Veteran must hold the highest officer position
- Small business under SBA size standards for primary NAICS code
- Must be certified through SBA VetCert (replaced VA CVE verification in 2023)
- For VA Vets First contracts: VetCert certification + active SAM registration
Contracting advantages for VOSBs
Why VOSBs have a structural edge on federal opportunities.
- VA Vets First Contracting Program — VA must consider VOSBs after SDVOSBs and before non-set-aside competitors
- VOSB set-aside contracts at the VA (other agencies only set-aside for SDVOSBs)
- Sole-source authority at the VA up to $5M (services) or $7M (manufacturing)
- Stackable with other certifications (8(a), WOSB, HUBZone)
- Federal goal: 5% of contract dollars to small disadvantaged businesses, of which VOSBs count
- Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) network for free counselling
Where VOSBs typically compete
Typical contract value: $100K – $5M per award (VA), variable elsewhere
Top NAICS codes
Top contracting agencies
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) — primary VOSB user
- Department of Defense (DOD)
- Department of the Army
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- GSA Federal Acquisition Service
- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Challenges VOSBs face
The friction points we hear most from VOSBs doing federal work.
- VOSB-specific set-asides exist only at the VA — outside VA, you compete on full-and-open or other category set-asides
- Demonstrating "control" of operations to defend bid protests
- Distinguishing VOSB from SDVOSB on solicitations (often conflated by buyers)
- Tracking VA Forecast of Contracting Opportunities alongside SAM.gov
How WinAContract helps VOSBs
What we built specifically for the VOSB workflow.
- Combined VA Vets First + SAM.gov search filtered to VOSB and SDVOSB opportunities
- AI drafts proposal narratives with veteran-owned capability language
- Pipeline view tracks every VA opportunity from sources sought through award
- Past-performance library tagged with VA references for fast pull-through into new bids
Frequently asked
What is the difference between VOSB and SDVOSB?
SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business) requires the owner-veteran to have a service-connected disability rating from the VA. VOSB only requires veteran status. SDVOSBs have broader set-aside eligibility (every federal agency) while VOSB set-asides exist only at the VA.
Do I need to be SBA VetCert certified?
For VA Vets First contracts: yes, mandatory since January 2023. For self-promotion as veteran-owned (without bidding on set-asides): no, but you cannot claim VOSB set-aside eligibility without it.
Does veteran status increase my chances on full-and-open bids?
Indirectly. Large primes often need veteran-owned subcontractors to meet their subcontracting plans, so being a registered VOSB increases your subcontracting opportunities — even without a set-aside.
How long is SBA VetCert certification valid?
Three years. Recertify before expiry to maintain set-aside eligibility — SBA does not send automatic renewal reminders.
Join the VOSBs waitlist
Free pre-launch access notification — no card required. We'll let you know the moment VOSB-specific features ship.