SDVOSB certification is one of the more valuable designations in federal contracting. It creates a dedicated procurement lane: federal agencies have statutory goals to award 3% of prime contract dollars to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses each fiscal year. For North Dakota businesses with a qualifying veteran owner, it opens both VA-specific and governmentwide set-asides. Here is what you need to know to pursue it.
What SDVOSB certification actually is
A Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business is a small business where at least 51% is unconditionally owned and controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans. The disability must be connected to military service and documented by the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. "Control" means the veteran manages day-to-day operations and holds the highest officer position in the company.
The SBA administers the VetCert program, which is the single federal certification for SDVOSB status. Prior to January 2023, the VA ran its own separate verification program. That program was consolidated into SBA VetCert under the National Defense Authorization Act. If you certified through the old VA CVE portal, you need to re-certify through SBA VetCert.
Eligibility requirements
Before you apply, confirm you meet all four criteria:
Service-disabled veteran ownership at 51% or more. The veteran must own at least 51% of the business. For LLCs, that means 51% of membership interests. For corporations, 51% of all stock. The ownership must be unconditional — no agreements that could transfer control away from the veteran.
Active VA or DoD disability rating. The veteran must have a service-connected disability rating from the VA, or be rated by the DoD as having a service-connected disability. The rating can be 0% or higher. Zero percent ratings qualify as long as the disability is officially service-connected.
Small business under SBA size standards. You must qualify as a small business under the SBA's North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) size standards for your primary industry. Size standards vary by NAICS code — some use annual revenue thresholds (commonly $8 million to $47 million), others use employee counts. The SBA's size standards tool at sba.gov lets you look up the threshold for your specific code.
U.S. citizenship. The veteran owner must be a U.S. citizen.
How to apply through SBA VetCert
The application portal is at vetcert.sba.gov. The process is paperless and conducted entirely online.
Start by creating an account and connecting your SAM.gov registration. Your business must be actively registered in SAM.gov before you can apply — if you are not registered, do that first. SAM.gov registration is free and takes roughly one to two weeks for initial processing.
Once your account is set up, you will upload documentation to verify veteran status and service-connected disability, ownership structure, and control of the business. Typical documents include your VA rating decision letter, DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), business formation documents (operating agreement, articles of incorporation, or partnership agreement), and any relevant shareholder or member agreements.
The SBA reviews applications and may request additional documentation. Processing times vary, but most applicants see a decision within 60 to 90 days. Certifications are valid for three years, after which you must re-certify.
One practical note: inconsistencies between your business documents and SAM.gov registration are the most common reason for delays. Make sure your legal business name and EIN match exactly across all documents before you submit.
What contracts SDVOSB certification unlocks
SDVOSB certification opens two distinct contracting lanes.
VA VOSB/SDVOSB set-asides. The Department of Veterans Affairs is required to give priority to veteran-owned businesses under the VA's Veterans First Contracting Program. For VA contracts, SDVOSB businesses are first in line. The VA sets aside contracts for SDVOSB businesses before opening to the broader pool. In fiscal year 2024, the VA awarded over $12 billion to veteran-owned small businesses.
Governmentwide SDVOSB set-asides. Any federal agency can set aside contracts exclusively for SDVOSB businesses. The government's statutory goal is 3% of prime contract dollars annually. Agencies regularly issue solicitations restricted to SDVOSB firms across construction, IT services, professional services, logistics, and many other categories. Your SBA VetCert certification satisfies the requirement for all of these.
To find active SDVOSB set-aside opportunities, search SAM.gov and filter by set-aside type. The System for Award Management is where all federal contract opportunities above $25,000 are posted.
North Dakota federal contracting landscape
North Dakota has a smaller federal contracting footprint than states with major metropolitan areas, but a few agencies and installations drive consistent demand.
Minot Air Force Base is the state's largest federal installation. It hosts the 5th Bomb Wing and the 91st Missile Wing, and generates procurement activity across construction, facility maintenance, logistics, and professional services. Ellsworth is in South Dakota, but Minot-based vendors frequently compete on SDVOSB set-asides across the northern plains region.
The Department of Veterans Affairs. The Fargo VA Medical Center and the Grand Forks VA Clinic serve veterans across the state. Both facilities procure medical supplies, facility services, IT support, and administrative services. As SDVOSB contracts at VA facilities give you the first-look advantage under Veterans First, these facilities are a logical starting point.
The Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District covers North Dakota and manages significant infrastructure projects in the Missouri River basin. Construction and environmental services firms should track their solicitations.
USDA and Bureau of Indian Affairs. Given North Dakota's agricultural economy and tribal land presence, these agencies are active buyers in the state. SDVOSB set-asides appear across program management, technical assistance, and IT categories within both agencies.
State-level certifications that complement SDVOSB
North Dakota does not have a standalone state-level SDVOSB equivalent, but the state operates a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program administered by the North Dakota Department of Transportation. DBE certification is specifically tied to federally-funded transportation projects — highways, transit, and aviation — and has income and net worth limits that SDVOSB does not.
If your business operates in construction or transportation services, DBE certification is worth pursuing alongside SDVOSB. The two programs have separate applications and separate benefits, but many North Dakota contractors hold both.
For businesses owned by women or racial/ethnic minorities, North Dakota NDDOT also administers WBE and MBE certification through the DBE program. Federal contracting programs like SDVOSB and state DBE/MBE/WBE certifications operate independently, so holding multiple designations increases the number of set-asides you qualify for.
Get free help from the North Dakota APEX Accelerator
The North Dakota PTAC (Procurement Technical Assistance Center) operates through the University of North Dakota and is part of the nationwide APEX Accelerator network. Services are free.
APEX counselors can help you register in SAM.gov, review your VetCert application before submission, identify active SDVOSB set-aside solicitations that match your NAICS codes, and prepare capability statements. For businesses pursuing their first federal contract, working with a North Dakota APEX Accelerator counselor before submitting your VetCert application is worth the time.
Estimated timeline
- SAM.gov registration: 1 to 2 weeks (required before VetCert application)
- VetCert application preparation and document gathering: 1 to 3 weeks
- SBA review and decision: 60 to 90 days
Plan for three to five months from start to certification if you are starting from scratch. If your SAM.gov registration is already active and your business documents are organized, you can compress the preparation phase significantly.
Once certified, your SDVOSB status appears in SAM.gov and is visible to contracting officers searching for eligible vendors. Update your SAM.gov profile to reflect your certification and make sure your NAICS codes accurately represent the work you do.
