Federal Set-Aside Program
Small Business Set-Aside (SB)
The foundational federal preference: contracts reserved exclusively for small businesses under the relevant NAICS size standard (FAR 19.5).
Who qualifies
- Your business is small under the SBA size standard for the solicitation’s NAICS code (employee count or average annual receipts)
- Registered and active in SAM.gov with the matching NAICS codes
- Not affiliated in a way that pushes you over the size standard
How to get certified
Small Business status is self-certified in SAM.gov — no separate application. Just register, select your NAICS codes, and confirm your size. Contracting officers rely on your SAM.gov representations.
Key benefits
- Acquisitions between the micro-purchase threshold and the simplified acquisition threshold are automatically reserved for small business
- Above that, COs set aside when there is a reasonable expectation of 2+ capable small-business offers (the "Rule of Two")
- Far less competition than full-and-open
Sole-source authority
Standard small-business set-asides are competed among small businesses; sole-source awards run through the socioeconomic programs (8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB).
Common questions
How do I know if my business is "small"?
Look up your primary NAICS code’s SBA size standard (an employee cap or a revenue cap). If you’re under it — counting affiliates — you’re small for that code. The same firm can be small under one NAICS and large under another.
Do I need a certificate to bid small-business set-asides?
No. Small Business is self-certified in SAM.gov. The socioeconomic programs (8(a), WOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone) do require SBA certification.
Related programs
Bidding a SB set-aside?
GovCon finds SB opportunities and drafts your proposal with AI, built for federal offerors. Explore the no-registration demo, then apply for access.
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See all federal set-aside programs, the NAICS code guides, or the contracting glossary.