Compliance Toolkit

SDVOSB Compliance Deadlines & Key Dates

SDVOSB status is lost as often to a calendar lapse as to a substantive problem — a SAM.gov registration that expired, a certification term that ran out, a recertification that was never filed, or a protest filed a day late. This reference puts every recurring deadline in one place: what starts the clock, how long you have, what happens if you miss it, and the regulation that controls. Keep these dates on a calendar so a quiet deadline never costs you an award.

Last updated Update cadence: Quarterly, plus on regulatory changes

Compiled from: 13 CFR Parts 121, 125, 128 & 134 · Federal Acquisition Regulation (Title 48 CFR, Subpart 19.14 and Part 52) · SBA VetCert and SAM.gov program guidance

Change log (1)
  1. LaunchedPublished the compliance deadline reference covering the SAM.gov annual renewal, the three-year VetCert certification term, long-term-contract recertification windows, the SDVOSB status-protest filing deadline, and the date set-aside eligibility is measured — each with an ItemList of key dates plus FAQPage, Dataset, and BreadcrumbList structured data, primary-source citations, and cross-links into the how-to guides, regulation explainers, compliance checklists, glossary, and FAQ.

Registration

SAM.gov Registration Renewal DeadlineA SAM.gov entity registration is valid for one year and must be renewed annually — a lapse makes a firm ineligible for award, no matter how current its SDVOSB certification is.Renew every 12 months

Certification

SBA VetCert Certification Term & Recertification DeadlineAn SBA VetCert SDVOSB certification is valid for three years; you recertify before the term expires to keep set-aside eligibility, and you report material changes to SBA as they happen.Valid for three years

Performance & Recertification

Long-Term Contract Recertification WindowsOn long-term contracts, a firm must recertify its size and status near the fifth year and before later options — and within a short window after a merger, acquisition, or novation that affects status.Recertify near year five & at each option

Protests & Appeals

SDVOSB Status Protest Filing DeadlineAn SDVOSB status protest is generally due within five business days of the triggering event — file late and SBA dismisses it as untimely, no matter how strong the merits.File within 5 business days

Bidding

When SDVOSB Eligibility Is Measured for a Set-AsideFor most set-asides, SDVOSB status and size are determined as of the date you submit your initial offer including price — so your certification and size have to be in order before the proposal goes in, not after.Fixed as of your offer

Know the date, then do the work

These deadlines tell you when; the compliance checklists tell you whether you're ready, and the how-to guides show you how to get there before the clock runs out.

Run a Compliance ChecklistBrowse How-To Guides →