Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certification is one of the most valuable federal procurement designations available. It opens access to set-aside contracts across every federal agency, not just the VA. If you own a Michigan-based business and have a service-connected disability, this certification belongs in your contracting toolkit.
Here is a clear breakdown of what SDVOSB requires, how the application works, and what it unlocks specifically in Michigan.
What SDVOSB certification is
SDVOSB is a federal designation administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration. It allows contracting officers at federal agencies to reserve contract opportunities exclusively for businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans.
The VA has its own parallel program called the VA Veterans First Contracting Program (also called VOSB Verification). Until 2023, the VA ran its own separate verification system called CVE (Center for Verification and Evaluation). That system has been consolidated. The SBA now administers certification for both the governmentwide SDVOSB program and VA-specific contracts through a single portal: vetcert.sba.gov.
One certification, one application. If you are VA-eligible, SBA VetCert covers it.
Eligibility requirements
You must meet all of the following:
Service-connected disability. At least one owner must have a service-connected disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. There is no minimum disability percentage. A 0% rating with a service-connected condition qualifies.
51% ownership by service-disabled veterans. One or more service-disabled veterans must own at least 51% of the business. For corporations, that means 51% of all classes of stock. For LLCs, 51% of the membership interest.
Day-to-day control. The service-disabled veteran must manage the business and hold the highest officer position (CEO, president, managing member, or equivalent). Long-term decisions must also rest with the veteran owner. Outside investors or non-veteran partners cannot hold veto rights over ordinary business decisions.
Small business size. Your business must qualify as small under the SBA size standard for your primary NAICS code. Size standards vary by industry and are measured either by revenue (ranging from $8 million to over $47 million for most service industries) or by employee count (typically 500 to 1,500 employees for manufacturing). Look up your NAICS code at size.sba.gov to confirm.
SAM.gov registration. You must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) before applying. SAM registration is free and must be renewed annually.
How to apply through SBA VetCert
The application is at vetcert.sba.gov. The process follows these steps:
- Register on the portal. Create an account at vetcert.sba.gov using the same email tied to your SAM.gov registration.
- Gather your documents. You will need: VA disability rating letter or DoD disability determination, business formation documents (articles of incorporation or organization, operating agreement, bylaws), federal tax returns for the most recent three years, personal financial statements for each owner with 20% or more ownership, résumés of key officers, and a copy of your SAM.gov registration.
- Complete the eligibility questionnaire. The portal walks you through questions about ownership structure, control, and veteran status. Answer accurately. Misrepresentation is a federal offense.
- Submit and wait for SBA review. The SBA has a statutory 60-day review window. In practice, straightforward applications with clean documentation often move faster. Complex ownership structures or missing documents extend the timeline.
- Respond to any requests for additional information (RFIs). The SBA may ask for clarification. Respond promptly; delays reset your queue position.
- Certification decision. If approved, your certification appears in SAM.gov automatically. Certifications are valid for three years, with an annual review requirement.
Realistic timeline from application submission to approval: 60 to 90 days for a straightforward case. Budget more time if your business has multiple owners, outside investors, or a complex ownership structure.
What SDVOSB certification unlocks
Governmentwide SDVOSB set-asides. Under the National Defense Authorization Act, federal agencies must set aside contracts for SDVOSBs when two or more qualified firms can compete at a fair price. In FY2023, the federal government awarded approximately $27 billion in SDVOSB set-aside contracts across all agencies.
VA Veterans First Contracting Program. The VA is required by law (38 U.S.C. § 8127) to give priority to Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, with SDVOSBs ranked above VOSBs. The VA spent over $11 billion with VOSBs and SDVOSBs in FY2023. Your SBA VetCert certification automatically covers VA contracts.
Sole-source awards. Contracting officers can award contracts directly to a certified SDVOSB without competition for awards up to $5 million for services and $7.5 million for manufacturing. No competitive bid required.
Subcontracting opportunities. Prime contractors with federal contracts over $750,000 (or $1.5 million for construction) must submit subcontracting plans. Many specifically seek SDVOSB subcontractors to meet their plan goals.
Michigan-specific context
Michigan has meaningful federal contracting activity that SDVOSB-certified businesses can pursue directly.
Key federal buyers in Michigan. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District manages infrastructure contracts across the Great Lakes region. The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has procurement activity tied to Defense installations in the state. The VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit both operate under the VA Veterans First program, which your SDVOSB certification directly covers. The Michigan Army National Guard and Air National Guard also generate local contracting opportunities.
Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Located in Harrison Township, Selfridge is an active installation with ongoing support services contracting. If your business provides facilities support, logistics, maintenance, or professional services, Selfridge generates relevant opportunities.
Great Lakes Naval Station proximity. While the station itself is in Illinois, it is the primary induction center for Michigan recruits and generates regional support contracting.
USASpending.gov. Search by place of performance (Michigan) filtered to SDVOSB set-aside type to find exactly what agencies are buying in your industry and at what dollar amounts. This is public data and free to use.
Free help from the Michigan APEX Accelerator
The Michigan APEX Accelerator (funded through MEDC, Michigan Economic Development Corporation) provides free one-on-one counseling to help Michigan businesses pursue federal contracts. Their advisors can walk you through SAM.gov registration, help you prepare your VetCert application documents, review your capability statement, and match you with relevant contracting opportunities.
You do not need a referral. Find your nearest Michigan APEX Accelerator center through the APEX Accelerator national directory at apexaccelerators.us, or through MEDC's website at michiganbusiness.org. This service costs nothing.
Michigan state-level certifications that complement SDVOSB
Michigan does not have a state-specific SDVOSB equivalent, but the state runs several complementary programs worth pursuing in parallel.
Michigan Unified Certification Program (MUCP). This is Michigan's DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) certification, which applies to federally funded transportation projects (highways, transit, airports). MDOT administers it. DBE is separate from SDVOSB and covers different contract types.
SWaM-equivalent programs. Michigan does not have a formal SWaM program, but some state agencies track veteran-owned business participation. Check with the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) for current state procurement preferences.
MBE and WBE certifications. If you also qualify as a minority- or woman-owned business, Michigan-based MBE and WBE certifications through NMSDC or WBENC affiliates (NMSDC Great Lakes Minority Supplier Development Council, or WBENC's regional affiliate) can open corporate supplier diversity programs alongside your federal certifications. These do not compete with SDVOSB; they run in parallel and expand your market.
The practical sequence
- Confirm your VA disability rating is current and on file.
- Register or renew in SAM.gov.
- Pull together your business formation documents and three years of tax returns.
- Contact the Michigan APEX Accelerator for a pre-application review session.
- Submit at vetcert.sba.gov.
- While waiting, set up your USASpending.gov searches for Michigan-based SDVOSB opportunities in your NAICS codes.
SDVOSB certification does not guarantee contracts. It creates access. The businesses that convert that access into revenue are the ones that identify specific buyers, show up with relevant past performance, and build relationships before opportunities are posted.
