Federal Set-Aside Program
Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)
A small business owned and controlled by veterans — recognized primarily through the VA’s "Vets First" contracting preference.
Who qualifies
- At least 51% owned and controlled by one or more veterans
- The veteran controls day-to-day management and long-term decisions
- Small under the solicitation’s NAICS size standard
How to get certified
Certify through the SBA VetCert program. VOSB status is used mainly at the VA, where verified veteran-owned firms receive priority under the Vets First Contracting Program.
Key benefits
- Priority at the VA under Vets First (after SDVOSBs)
- Eligibility for VA VOSB set-aside and sole-source opportunities
Sole-source authority
At the VA, VOSB sole-source is available within the Vets First priority framework, generally up to the same $4.5M/$7M thresholds.
Common questions
Is VOSB useful outside the VA?
The formal VOSB set-aside is a VA preference. Government-wide, the veteran preference that carries weight is SDVOSB (service-disabled).
Related programs
Bidding a VOSB set-aside?
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See all federal set-aside programs, the NAICS code guides, or the contracting glossary.