Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Verification and Evaluation certifying body logo

Certifying Body

Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Verification and Evaluation

Federal Agency · Nationwide · Verified · Federal recognition

Cost

Free

Processing

60-120 days

Renewal

Every 3 years

Free

Organization overview

What VA CVE is and what it does.

The VA Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) verifies the
ownership and control of Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) and Service-Disabled
Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB).

Eligibility rules

Who can apply for VA CVE certification.

Ownership
51% owned by Veterans or Service-Disabled Veterans

VOSB: 51% owned and controlled by Veterans.
SDVOSB: 51% owned and controlled by Service-Disabled Veterans with documentation of service-connected disability.

Background

A short history of VA CVE.

The VA's Vets First Verification Program was established to ensure
that only eligible veteran-owned businesses receive VA set-aside contracts.

Member benefits

What VA CVE certification gets you.

Verified businesses can compete for VA set-aside contracts and
may receive preference in VA procurement. The verification is also recognized
by other federal agencies and some private sector companies.

Buyer recognition

Who accepts VA CVE certification.

VA CVE verification is required for VA set-aside contracts
and is increasingly recognized by other federal agencies and private corporations.

Recognized for federal government contracting

Before you apply

Confirm you qualify for VA CVE before you start the application.

VA CVE certification takes weeks to process and a rejection adds weeks to the queue. The quiz cross-checks your ownership, location, revenue, and structure against VA CVE's eligibility rules and every other certification you might qualify for, so you can sequence applications instead of repeating the same paperwork.