The Small Business Administration has created a government-wide certification program for veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses participating in bids for federal contracts.
SBA reevaluated and rewrote its regulations to establish the program in compliance with the National Defense Authorization Act, according to a Federal Register notice.
VOSBs and SDVOSBs were previously certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Center for Verification and Evaluation. To be eligible for sole source or set-aside federal contracts outside VA, the Small Business Act only required self-certification from such companies. The new rule essentially transfers VA’s evaluation duties to SBA.
SBA will launch the Veteran Small Business Certification Program on Jan. 1. VOSBs and SDVOSBs have a one-year grace period to apply for certification or continue to self-certify. For companies that were verified by VA before January, the original expiration date of their accreditation will be honored.
