SBA VetCert Application Readiness Checklist
Since January 1, 2023 the SBA is the single governmentwide certifier of SDVOSBs through the VetCert portal. A clean application clears review far faster than one that triggers requests for more information. Walk this checklist before you submit so every document the case manager will ask for is already assembled and every eligibility test is already met.
Who Should Run This
- Veterans applying for SDVOSB certification for the first time
- Firms re-applying after a denial or a lapse
- Consultants assembling a VetCert document package
Veteran status & disability
You have a VA service-connected disability rating letter (any percentage, including 0%).
SDVOSB status requires a service-connected disability; there is no minimum rating, so even a 0% service-connected rating qualifies the veteran. The VA rating letter is the proof SBA looks for.
You can document veteran status with a DD-214 or equivalent.
Proof of military service (typically the DD-214) establishes the 'veteran' half of 'service-disabled veteran.'
Business & governance records
Corporate formation documents are current and signed (articles, bylaws, or operating agreement).
SBA reviews the governing documents to confirm the veteran's ownership and control are real and unconditional, not just stated on a cover sheet.
Ownership records show at least 51% direct, unconditional veteran ownership.
Stock ledgers, membership schedules, or partnership records must reconcile to the 51% test of 13 CFR 128.12 — run the Ownership & Control Self-Audit first.
Governing documents give a service-disabled veteran the highest officer role and day-to-day control.
No supermajority or negative-control provisions should let a non-veteran block ordinary business decisions (13 CFR 128.13).
Federal registrations & portal access
Your SAM.gov registration is active with a current Unique Entity ID (UEI).
An active SAM.gov registration is a prerequisite; the entity and its UEI must match the applicant in VetCert.
You have a Login.gov account tied to the VetCert portal (veterans.certify.sba.gov).
VetCert authentication runs through Login.gov; set this up before you start so the session doesn't stall mid-application.
The applicant business qualifies as small under its primary NAICS size standard.
SDVOSB set-asides are a small-business program — the firm must be small under the relevant NAICS size standard (13 CFR Part 121). Confirm with the Size Standard Calculator.
Where Firms Fail This Audit
- Submitting before SAM.gov registration is active, which blocks the application from progressing.
- Uploading an outdated operating agreement that contradicts the current ownership you're claiming.
- Assuming a disability rating below a threshold disqualifies you — any service-connected rating, including 0%, qualifies.
- Mismatched legal names or UEIs between SAM.gov and the VetCert application.
Frequently Asked
Who certifies SDVOSBs now?
Since January 1, 2023, the U.S. Small Business Administration is the single governmentwide certifier through the VetCert program (13 CFR Part 128). The VA no longer runs a separate SDVOSB verification for federal procurement eligibility.
Is there a minimum disability rating to qualify as an SDVOSB?
No. SDVOSB status requires a service-connected disability, but there is no minimum percentage — even a 0% service-connected rating qualifies, as long as the disability is service-connected and documented by the VA.
How long is an SBA VetCert certification valid?
An approved certification is valid for three years, provided the firm continues to meet the eligibility requirements and reports material changes. Firms recertify before the term ends to stay eligible for set-asides.
Primary Sources
- 13 CFR Part 128 — Veteran Small Business Certification
- SBA — Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert)
Self-audit aid, not legal advice. SDVOSB rules are still settling after the 2023 transfer of certification to the SBA, and federal acquisition dollar thresholds are periodically adjusted for inflation — verify current figures and procedures against the cited authority and your contracting officer before acting.
Change log (1)
- LaunchedPublished printable, source-cited self-audit checklists for SDVOSB ownership & control, the limitations on subcontracting, joint ventures, the VetCert application package, recertification & status maintenance, and set-aside bid readiness — each with an ItemList of the checks plus FAQPage, Dataset, and BreadcrumbList structured data, primary-source citations, and cross-links into the regulation explainers, how-to guides, glossary, FAQ, and calculators.