If you are a service-disabled veteran running a business in New Hampshire, SDVOSB certification is one of the most concrete advantages the federal government offers. It opens a dedicated contracting lane worth tens of billions of dollars per year. The process is fully federal, handled through a single SBA portal, and the certification is free.
Here is what you need to know to get it.
What SDVOSB certification is
SDVOSB stands for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business. It is a federal certification administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The federal government sets a statutory goal of awarding at least 3% of all federal prime contract dollars to SDVOSBs each year. In practice, that 3% target applies to hundreds of billions in annual federal spending.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) runs a parallel program called the Veterans First Contracting Program, which gives SDVOSBs and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) priority access to VA-specific set-aside contracts. The VA is one of the largest federal purchasers in the country, and its set-aside program is exclusively for verified veteran-owned firms.
Eligibility requirements
To qualify for SDVOSB certification, your business must meet all of the following:
Service-disabled veteran ownership. At least 51% of the business must be unconditionally owned by one or more service-disabled veterans. "Service-disabled" means the veteran has a service-connected disability rating from the VA or Department of Defense. The disability rating does not have to be a specific percentage; any rating qualifies, including 0%.
Control. A service-disabled veteran must control the day-to-day management and long-term decision-making of the business. If the veteran has a permanent and severe service-connected disability that prevents them from managing the business, their spouse or permanent caregiver may qualify.
Small business size. Your business must qualify as small under the SBA size standards for your primary NAICS code. Size standards vary by industry: some are measured by annual revenue (for example, $8 million for general construction services), others by employee count (500 employees for many manufacturing NAICS codes). You can look up your size standard using the SBA's Size Standards Tool at sba.gov.
U.S. citizenship. All qualifying owners must be U.S. citizens.
For profit. The business must be a for-profit legal entity.
How to apply: the SBA VetCert portal
As of January 1, 2023, all SDVOSB and VOSB certifications are handled exclusively through the SBA's VetCert portal at vetcert.sba.gov. The VA no longer runs its own separate verification program. One certification now covers both SBA governmentwide set-asides and VA-specific set-asides.
The application process works like this:
- Register in SAM.gov. Your business must have an active registration in the System for Award Management at sam.gov. This is the federal contractor database. Registration is free but takes 7–10 business days to activate. You will need your UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) before applying.
- Create an account at vetcert.sba.gov. Log in using Login.gov credentials.
- Complete the application. You will provide information about business ownership, the veteran's service record, and your current business operations. You will upload supporting documents: DD-214, VA disability rating letter, business formation documents, operating agreement or bylaws, and financial records demonstrating ownership percentages.
- SBA review. SBA reviewers may issue a Request for Information (RFI) if they need clarification or additional documents. Respond promptly; delays in responding extend your timeline.
- Certification decision. If approved, your certification is recorded in SAM.gov and you can begin competing for set-aside contracts. Certification is valid for 10 years, with an annual attestation required to confirm your continued eligibility.
Typical processing time is 60–90 days from submission of a complete application, though it can run longer if there are ownership structure questions.
What it unlocks
SDVOSB certification makes you eligible for two categories of set-aside contracts:
Governmentwide SDVOSB set-asides. Any federal agency can restrict a contract competition to certified SDVOSBs. Contracting officers use SDVOSB set-asides when there is a reasonable expectation that at least two SDVOSB firms can compete at a fair price. You will see these opportunities posted on SAM.gov under the "SDVOSB" set-aside type.
VA Veterans First set-asides. The VA gives certified SDVOSBs and VOSBs priority over all other set-aside categories for VA contracts, including over 8(a) and HUBZone firms. VA set-asides are exclusively for veteran-owned firms. Given the VA's scale, this can be a significant source of contract revenue for eligible businesses.
Federal buyers active in New Hampshire
New Hampshire has a measurable federal contracting footprint despite its size. The largest federal installation in the state is the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery (which sits on the Maine side of the border but is closely linked to the Seacoast economy). The Air National Guard at Pease Air National Guard Base in Portsmouth is another active federal presence.
The Department of Defense is the dominant federal buyer in the state. The Army Corps of Engineers New England District, headquartered in Concord, awards engineering and construction contracts across the region. The VA Medical Center in Manchester is the primary VA healthcare facility in New Hampshire and a direct target for SDVOSB set-aside contracts in medical services, IT, and facility maintenance.
You can search active contract opportunities in New Hampshire using the SAM.gov search interface, filtering by place of performance (state: NH) and set-aside type (SDVOSB or VOSB).
Free help from the New Hampshire APEX Accelerator
The New Hampshire APEX Accelerator provides free procurement counseling to small businesses pursuing federal contracts. APEX counselors can review your application documents before you submit, help you identify active contract opportunities that match your capabilities, walk you through SAM.gov registration, and prepare you for the VetCert review process.
APEX Accelerators are funded by the Department of Defense and have no cost to the business. Working with an APEX counselor before submitting your VetCert application reduces the likelihood of receiving a request for more information during review.
New Hampshire state-level veteran certifications
New Hampshire does not currently have a standalone state veteran-owned business certification with set-aside contracting requirements equivalent to the federal SDVOSB program. However, the state does recognize veteran-owned status in some procurement preferences for state contracts.
For state and local government contracting in New Hampshire, the most relevant complementary certification is the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, administered through the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. DBE certification is required to compete on federally funded transportation contracts in the state. If you are a veteran with a service-connected disability and meet the DBE financial eligibility thresholds (personal net worth under $2.047 million, excluding primary residence), you may qualify.
For corporate supply chain work, the National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC) offers a private-sector veteran-owned business certification that many Fortune 500 supplier diversity programs accept.
Realistic timeline
Allow 3–5 months from decision to certification. That accounts for gathering documents, completing SAM.gov registration if you are not already active, preparing and submitting the VetCert application, and SBA review time. If your ownership structure is straightforward (a sole owner with clear DD-214 and VA rating documentation), the process moves faster. Businesses with multiple owners, holding companies, or complex equity arrangements take longer.
Start your SAM.gov registration before you begin the VetCert application. The two-week activation window is dead time you do not need to lose mid-process.
Next step
Go to vetcert.sba.gov and create your account. Before you start the application, pull your DD-214, VA disability rating letter, and your most recent business formation documents. If you want a document review before submitting, reach out to the New Hampshire APEX Accelerator for a free counseling session.
