SDVOSB certification is a federal designation that sets aside a portion of government contracting dollars specifically for businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans. The federal government has a statutory goal of awarding 3% of all prime contract dollars to SDVOSBs each fiscal year. In FY2023, actual awards exceeded $20 billion. For Nebraska-based veterans who own small businesses, this certification can open doors to contracts at Offutt Air Force Base, the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, and dozens of other federal buyers operating in the state.
What SDVOSB certification is
SDVOSB stands for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business. It is a federal certification program administered by the Small Business Administration. Certified businesses can compete for sole-source and set-aside contracts that non-certified businesses cannot bid on. Two separate contracting vehicles exist: SDVOSB set-asides are available government-wide across all federal agencies, while VOSB (Veteran-Owned Small Business) set-asides are used primarily within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Before January 2023, the VA ran its own separate verification program. The SBA consolidated both programs into VetCert. Now a single SBA certification covers both VA and non-VA federal opportunities.
Eligibility requirements
Three conditions must be met before you apply.
Service-connected disability. At least one owner must have a service-connected disability rating from the VA or a determination from the Department of Defense. There is no minimum disability percentage required. A 10% rating qualifies just as well as a 100% rating.
Veteran ownership of 51% or more. The service-disabled veteran must unconditionally own at least 51% of the business. For corporations, this means 51% of all voting stock. For partnerships, 51% of the partnership interest. For LLCs, 51% of the membership interest. Ownership through trusts or other indirect arrangements is permitted under specific conditions, but the SBA scrutinizes those structures carefully.
Unconditional control. The service-disabled veteran must control day-to-day operations and long-term decision-making. This person must hold the highest officer position. The SBA looks at actual control, not just titles on paper. If a non-veteran has veto rights, board control, or effectively runs the business, the application will not pass.
Small business under SBA size standards. Size standards vary by NAICS code. Most service businesses are measured by annual revenue (typically $8 million to $47 million depending on the industry), while manufacturing and some technical services are measured by employee count. You can look up the exact standard for your NAICS code at sba.gov/size-standards before you apply. You must certify as small at the time of each contract award, not just at the time of certification.
U.S. citizenship. Every qualifying service-disabled veteran owner must be a U.S. citizen.
How to apply: SBA VetCert portal
The application is submitted through vetcert.sba.gov. The process is entirely online. You will need an active SAM.gov registration before you start; if you do not have one, create it first because SBA pulls data from SAM during review.
Documents you will need to gather before starting:
- DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty)
- VA rating decision letter or DoD disability determination
- Business formation documents (articles of incorporation, operating agreement, or partnership agreement)
- Ownership documentation showing the veteran's percentage interest
- Proof of U.S. citizenship (passport or birth certificate)
- Personal financial statements for all owners with 20% or more ownership
- Most recent three years of federal tax returns for the business and all majority owners
Once submitted, the SBA typically completes review within 60 to 90 days. You may receive a request for additional information during that window, which pauses the clock. Straightforward applications with clean ownership structures tend to resolve on the faster end.
If your application is declined, you have 30 days to appeal to the SBA's Office of Hearings and Appeals.
What contracts it unlocks
SDVOSB certification gives you access to two types of preferential contracting:
Set-aside contracts. Contracting officers can restrict competition on any contract to SDVOSB-certified firms when there is a reasonable expectation that two or more SDVOSBs will submit offers at a fair price. No other firms can bid.
Sole-source contracts. For contracts up to $5 million (goods and services) or $7 million (manufacturing), contracting officers can award directly to a single SDVOSB without competition, provided the price is fair and reasonable.
VA-specific set-asides. The VA applies a tiered preference system called the Rule of Two. VA contracting officers must first check if two or more SDVOSBs can fulfill the requirement before opening competition to other small businesses or full-and-open competition. The VA obligates billions of dollars annually under this hierarchy. The VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System in Omaha is a direct buyer under this system.
Nebraska federal buyers and installations
Nebraska has several federal installations and agencies that contract regularly under SDVOSB and small business set-asides.
Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue is the home of U.S. Strategic Command. It is one of the largest federal buyers in the state, with contracts spanning facilities maintenance, IT services, engineering support, environmental services, and professional services. Many of these contracts fall under size standards where a small Nebraska business can compete.
VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System operates facilities in Omaha, Lincoln, and Grand Island. The VA's internal preference for SDVOSBs is the strongest in the federal government. If you serve the healthcare, facilities, or professional services sectors, the VA system is a high-priority target.
USDA agencies including the Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service have significant Nebraska footprints and contract for data, consulting, and support services.
Federal Bureau of Prisons operates the Federal Correctional Institution in Leavenworth (across the border) and has administrative procurement activity in the region.
You can identify active contracts and spending patterns by searching your NAICS codes at usaspending.gov and filtering to Nebraska.
Nebraska state-level certifications
Nebraska does not have a direct state-level equivalent to SDVOSB. The state does not operate a separate veteran-owned business certification for state procurement set-asides.
Nebraska does operate a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program for transportation-related contracts funded by the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration. DBE certification is administered through the Nebraska Department of Transportation. If your business does any road, bridge, transit, or aviation-related work, DBE certification is worth pursuing in parallel with SDVOSB.
For construction, professional services, and commodities sold to the state, Nebraska uses competitive bidding without formal preference set-asides for veteran-owned firms at the state level.
Combining SDVOSB with MBE, WBE, or DBE certification
If you are a service-disabled veteran who also qualifies as a minority- or women-owned business, stacking certifications is a real strategic advantage.
MBE certification through the National Minority Supplier Development Council gives you access to corporate supplier diversity programs. The Nebraska affiliate of NMSDC is the Heartland MSDC, based in Omaha. Corporate buyers in the region actively use Heartland MSDC's database to find certified suppliers.
WBE certification through WBENC (Women's Business Enterprise National Council) opens similar corporate channels. The regional partner certifying in Nebraska is the Women's Business Enterprise Council West.
DBE certification is administered by the Nebraska DOT and is federally required to be counted toward federal transportation contract goals.
These certifications do not overlap or conflict. Many business owners hold three or four simultaneously. Each one opens a different buyer channel.
Timeline summary
| Step | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| Gather documents | 1 to 3 weeks |
| SAM.gov registration (if new) | 1 to 2 weeks |
| SBA VetCert application review | 60 to 90 days |
| Total from start to certified | 3 to 5 months |
Get free help from Nebraska PTAC
The Nebraska PTAC (Procurement Technical Assistance Center), housed at the University of Nebraska, provides free one-on-one counseling to businesses pursuing federal certification and government contracts. Their advisors can review your application before submission, help you identify active contract opportunities at Offutt and the VA, and walk you through the SAM.gov registration if it is your first time.
Contact the Nebraska PTAC through the University of Nebraska's Center for Rural Affairs or directly through the APEX Accelerators network at aptac-us.org. Appointments are available in person and virtually.
If you are starting from scratch, the PTAC is the right first call before you spend hours in the VetCert portal.
