Which set-asides can you bid on? Eligibility checker
Answer six quick questions to see which federal small-business set-aside programs — 8(a), WOSB/EDWOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone — your business may qualify for, what each unlocks, and how to get certified.
Not sure? Use the size standard checker first.
SBA presumes certain groups are socially disadvantaged; others may show it with evidence.
Currently: personal net worth under $850K, 3-year average AGI under $400K, and total assets under $6.5M (excluding primary residence and the firm). Confirm current figures with SBA.
Check an address at the SBA HUBZone map.
Guidance only — not a certification or legal determination. Eligibility for every program depends on SBA rules, ownership/control documentation and, for most programs, formal SBA certification. Thresholds (including the economic-disadvantage caps) are set by SBA and change. Confirm current requirements at sba.gov.
Why set-asides are the fastest on-ramp to federal work
The federal government commits to awarding a meaningful share of contract dollars to small businesses every year, with sub-goals for women-owned, service-disabled-veteran-owned, HUBZone and 8(a) firms. That demand is the reason set-asides exist — and why a certified small business often competes against a handful of peers instead of the whole market. Bidding where you’re eligible is the single biggest lever on your win rate.
Each program reserves a different slice of work. Confirm you’re small first with the size standard checker, then use this checker to map your ownership to the right programs, and read how each one works in the set-aside guides.
From eligible to awarded
Certification gets you into the room; a compliant, persuasive proposal wins the work. Once you know which lanes you can bid in, find live opportunities under your NAICS code, then let GovCon match, score and draft a Section L/M-aligned response. That’s the full loop — eligible, matched, scored, written.
Frequently asked questions
What is a set-aside?+
A set-aside is a federal contract (or part of one) reserved for a specific category of small business so larger firms can’t compete for it. Agencies use set-asides to meet statutory small-business goals. The main programs are the general Small Business set-aside plus four socioeconomic programs: 8(a), WOSB/EDWOSB, SDVOSB and HUBZone.
Can I just self-certify?+
Only for the general Small Business set-aside (via SAM.gov). The socioeconomic programs now require formal certification: WOSB/EDWOSB through SBA or an approved third-party certifier, SDVOSB through SBA’s VetCert, 8(a) through SBA application, and HUBZone through SBA. Self-certifying for an award you’re not certified for is a serious compliance risk.
Can my business hold more than one certification?+
Yes. Many firms qualify for several — for example a service-disabled-veteran-owned company that is also a HUBZone firm, or a woman-owned firm that is also 8(a). Each certification opens a different pool of set-asides, so stacking them widens the work you can pursue.
What are the 8(a) economic-disadvantage limits?+
As a guide, SBA currently looks for the disadvantaged owner’s personal net worth to be under $850,000, a three-year average adjusted gross income under $400,000, and total assets under $6.5 million — excluding equity in a primary residence and ownership in the applicant firm. SBA updates these figures, so confirm the current caps before applying. EDWOSB uses the same economic test.
How long does certification take?+
It varies. SAM.gov small-business self-certification is immediate. SBA programs take longer — HUBZone and WOSB processing runs weeks to a few months, and 8(a) is the most involved because of the development-program requirements. Start early; you can’t win a set-aside award before your certification is active.
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