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CertificationsVOSB
Small Business Administration (SBA) · Federal Set-Aside Program
🦅

VOSB
Certification

Veteran ownership certification — VA's Veterans First program priority.

The Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) program provides veteran business owners with preferential access to federal contracting — especially at the VA under the Veterans First Contracting Program. Unlike SDVOSB, VOSB does not require a service-connected disability, opening the program to all honorably discharged veterans.

Program At a Glance
Annual set-aside value
$15B+
Contracts per year
7,000+
Avg contract value
$2.1M
Processing time
30–60 days
Certification length
Annual recertification required
Annual renewal
Required
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Overview

What is the VOSB?

VOSB certification recognizes small businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by veterans. While VOSB set-asides are primarily used at the VA, the certification signals veteran ownership across all federal procurement and qualifies firms for the VA's Veterans First priority system — where SDVOSB and VOSB firms are preferred over all others.

Why It Matters

The competitive advantage

The VA is one of the largest buyers in the federal government — spending over $25B annually. Its Veterans First Contracting Program mandates that contracting officers check for SDVOSB and VOSB vendors before opening competition to other small businesses or the general market. Every healthcare, IT, construction, and facilities contract at the VA is an opportunity.

Eligibility Requirements

Do you qualify?

1
Veteran ownership
At least 51% owned by one or more veterans — individuals who served in the active military, naval, or air service and were discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.
2
Veteran management control
Veteran owner must manage daily operations and make long-term decisions.
3
Small business status
Must meet SBA size standards for primary NAICS code.
4
US citizenship
Veteran owner must be a US citizen.
5
DD-214 required
Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214) required to document veteran status.
Benefits

What you unlock

$25B+ VA pool
VA Veterans First priority
VA contracting officers must look for VOSB vendors before non-veteran small businesses.
$15B+ pool
VOSB set-aside contracts
Compete for VA contracts restricted to VOSB firms.
Lower barrier
Easier than SDVOSB
No disability requirement — any veteran with honorable discharge qualifies if they meet ownership and size criteria.
Stackable
Stacks with other certs
VOSB can be combined with HUBZone, WOSB, or other certifications.
How to Apply

Step-by-step application

1
Gather your DD-214 and any discharge upgrade documentation if applicable
2
Register in SAM.gov with accurate veteran ownership information
3
Gather business documents: ownership agreements, operating agreement, bylaws
4
Apply through certify.sba.gov
5
SBA reviews — typically 30–60 days
Annual recertification required
Apply at certify.sba.gov
Common Mistakes

What trips people up

Applying for VOSB when SDVOSB is available — SDVOSB provides stronger preferences if you qualify
Not having the DD-214 before starting the application
Confusing general discharge with honorable discharge — conditions of discharge matter
Missing annual recertification
Not separating VOSB and SDVOSB applications when both apply
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Q: Should I apply for VOSB or SDVOSB if I have a service-connected disability?
Apply for SDVOSB. It provides everything VOSB does plus additional advantages — higher sole-source thresholds and stronger VA preference. SDVOSB is always the better choice if you have a service-connected disability.
Q: Does VOSB work outside the VA?
VOSB set-asides are primarily a VA program. Governmentwide SDVOSB set-asides are more widely used. However, VOSB certification is still valuable for VA-specific opportunities and for signaling veteran ownership to other agencies.
Q: Does a general discharge qualify for VOSB?
SBA requires discharge under conditions other than dishonorable. A general discharge under honorable conditions typically qualifies. Other-than-honorable, bad conduct, and dishonorable discharges do not qualify without a successful discharge upgrade.

$15B+ in VOSB contracts.
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