Reference

SDVOSB Regulations Explained

The SDVOSB program runs on a handful of regulations and statutes. These plain-English explainers take one authority at a time — what it says, who it applies to, its key provisions, and the pitfalls that trip firms up — so you can read the rule without wading through the full CFR. Every page is grounded in the controlling authority and cross-linked to the glossary, how-to guides, and FAQ.

Last updated Update cadence: Quarterly, plus on regulatory changes

Compiled from: 13 CFR Parts 125, 128 & 134 · Federal Acquisition Regulation (Title 48 CFR, Subpart 19.14 and Part 52) · 38 U.S.C. § 8127 (VA Veterans First Contracting)

Change log (1)
  1. LaunchedPublished plain-English regulation explainers for 13 CFR Part 128 (VetCert), FAR Subpart 19.14, 13 CFR § 125.6 (limitations on subcontracting), 38 U.S.C. § 8127 (Veterans First), FAR 52.219-27, and 13 CFR Part 134 Subpart J (status protests) — each with a key-provisions table, common pitfalls, FAQPage and Legislation structured data, primary-source citations, and cross-links into the glossary, how-to guides, FAQ, and comparisons.

Certification

13 CFR Part 128 — Veteran Small Business Certification Program13 CFR Part 128 is the SBA rule that defines who qualifies as an SDVOSB and runs the VetCert certification program that replaced VA verification on January 1, 2023.

Set-Aside Procurement

FAR Subpart 19.14 — Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Procurement ProgramFAR Subpart 19.14 tells contracting officers how to set work aside for SDVOSBs or award it sole-source — the acquisition-side companion to SBA's eligibility rules.
FAR 52.219-27 — Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole-Source Award to, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business ConcernsFAR 52.219-27 is the solicitation clause that puts offerors on notice that a competition is restricted to certified SDVOSBs and spells out the eligibility and performance conditions for award.

Performance

13 CFR § 125.6 — Limitations on Subcontracting13 CFR § 125.6 is the 'limitations on subcontracting' rule — how much of a set-aside an SDVOSB must perform itself, measured by the share of the award it may pay to non-similarly-situated subcontractors.

VA Program

38 U.S.C. § 8127 — Veterans First Contracting Program (Department of Veterans Affairs)38 U.S.C. § 8127 is the statute behind the VA's 'Veterans First' program — it requires the VA to prioritize SDVOSBs and VOSBs and gives them a unique set-aside hierarchy found nowhere else in government.

Disputes

13 CFR Part 134, Subpart J — Rules of Procedure for SDVO Status Protests and Appeals (SBA OHA)13 CFR Part 134, Subpart J sets the rules for SDVOSB status protests and appeals before SBA's Office of Hearings and Appeals — who can challenge a firm's SDVOSB status, when, and how it is decided.

From rule to pipeline

Once you know the rules, the step-by-step how-to guides turn them into action — and the weekly Brief turns certification into a stream of set-aside opportunities.

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