VBE Certification for Manufacturing Companies

For businesses that are at least 51% owned by one or more veterans.

Manufacturing offers significant opportunities for certified diverse suppliers. Here's why certification matters:

OEM Requirements: Major automotive companies (Ford, GM, Toyota) and aerospace companies (Boeing, Lockheed Martin) have aggressive diverse supplier targets.

Tier 1 Subcontracting: Large Tier 1 suppliers must flow diversity requirements down the supply chain.

Made in USA: Federal and corporate "Buy American" requirements create opportunities for domestic diverse manufacturers.

Supply Chain Resilience: Post-pandemic, corporations are diversifying supply chains and seeking domestic diverse suppliers.

Long-term Contracts: Manufacturing relationships tend to be longer-term than services, providing revenue stability.

Automotive OEMs alone spend over $150 billion annually with suppliers, with significant portions targeted to diverse businesses.

Must be at least 51% owned by veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.

VBE eligibility requires veteran status, honorable discharge, and genuine 51% ownership and control. There is no disability requirement.

Veteran status

• Must have served in the U.S. Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or Space Force
• Discharge must be under honorable conditions: honorable discharge, general under honorable conditions, or medical separation
• Other-than-honorable and dishonorable discharges do not qualify
• Reservists and National Guard members who completed active duty service qualify if discharge meets the above standard

Ownership

• At least 51% unconditionally owned by one or more veterans who are U.S. citizens
• Ownership must reflect genuine equity, not a nominal arrangement created to qualify
• For corporations: veterans must own at least 51% of all voting stock
• For LLCs: veterans must hold at least 51% of membership interests without override provisions that give non-veteran members effective control

Control: management and operations

• Veteran owner(s) must hold the highest officer position (President, CEO, or Managing Member)
• Veteran owner(s) must control day-to-day operations and make long-term strategic decisions
• Management authority cannot be effectively delegated to non-veteran individuals through employment agreements or informal arrangements

Business requirements

• For-profit enterprise operating in the U.S.
• No specific years-in-business minimum, though newer businesses may be asked for additional evidence of operations
• Independent business: not a subsidiary or affiliate where a non-veteran entity exercises control

Step 1: Locate your DD-214 before anything else Your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) is the foundational document for VBE certification. It must clearly show your character of discharge. If you need a replacement, request it through the National Archives milrecs.militaryrecords.archives.gov (allow 3-4 weeks for standard requests). Start here if there's any doubt about your DD-214 status.

Step 2: Gather your full document package Before opening the NaVOBA application, collect: DD-214, articles of incorporation or organization, operating agreement or bylaws showing the veteran owner's percentage and management authority, stock certificates or membership ledger, government-issued photo ID, two to three years of business tax returns, current financial statements (P&L and balance sheet), business license, and a representative signed contract or purchase order. Complete preparation prevents mid-session delays.

Step 3: Create your NaVOBA account and complete the application at navoba.org Register at navoba.org/certification/ and work through the application. Sections cover veteran status documentation, ownership structure, management authority, and business profile. Be precise and consistent; any discrepancy between application answers and uploaded documents will trigger a follow-up request.

Step 4: Pay the application fee NaVOBA fees scale with company size, tiered from $350 to $2,000. Verify the current fee schedule at navoba.org before starting the application. Payment is generally required before review begins.

Step 5: NaVOBA review NaVOBA staff reviews the application and supporting documents. For some applicants this includes a follow-up request for clarification or additional documentation. Respond within any stated deadline to avoid delays.

Step 6: Certification decision NaVOBA targets a decision within 30-60 days of a complete application. Once certified, you are listed in NaVOBA's veteran supplier database and can begin using the VBE certification mark.

Federal Manufacturing Opportunities

Key agencies purchasing manufactured goods:

• Department of Defense (DoD): Largest federal buyer of manufactured goods
• Defense Logistics Agency (DLA): Military supplies and equipment
• General Services Administration (GSA): Office products, furniture, equipment
• NASA: Aerospace manufacturing and components

Key Requirements

• Buy American Act: Many federal purchases require domestic manufacturing
• Berry Amendment: Certain DoD purchases must be 100% US-made
• CMMC: Cybersecurity requirements for defense manufacturing

Small Business Set-Asides: Manufacturing NAICS codes have specific size standards - many "small" manufacturers are substantial operations.