SBA Takes Over SDVOSB/VOSB Certification from VA (Final Rule)
SBA assumed sole authority to certify SDVOSBs and VOSBs nationwide. Businesses previously certified by the VA Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) were required to migrate to SBA's Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) program by December 31, 2023.
Change log (3)
- Data refreshRe-checked rule statuses and comment deadlines against the latest Federal Register postings.
- Structured dataCross-linked related rules and added affected-area tags to each change.
- LaunchedPublished the tracker covering major 2023–2025 SBA/VA/DoD/FAR rule changes affecting SDVOSBs.
| Agency | Small Business Administration |
| Rule Type | Final Rule |
| Status | Effective |
| Published | 2023-11-07 |
| Effective Date | 2024-01-01 |
| FR Citation | 88 FR 76704 |
| Rule / Docket | RIN 3245-AH36 |
| Affected Areas | CertificationEligibilityVA / VOSB |
Rule Details
Effective January 1, 2024, the Small Business Administration became the sole certifying authority for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses for all federal procurement programs — including the VA Veterans First Contracting Program. This transferred the certification function away from the VA's Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE), which had previously certified businesses for VA contracts.
Under the new rule, all SDVOSB and VOSB certifications are managed through SBA's Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) portal at https://veterans.certify.sba.gov. Businesses that were CVE-verified as of June 30, 2023, received an automatic 12-month provisional certification through December 31, 2023, with a requirement to apply through SBA's VetCert system before that date.
The rule also standardized the eligibility criteria across all federal agencies. Previously, the VA applied different control and ownership standards than other agencies. Under the unified SBA program, a single set of regulations (13 CFR Part 128) governs SDVOSB and VOSB eligibility for all federal set-aside contracts, including VA contracts.
SDVOSBs must now recertify through SBA every three years and are subject to SBA protests and size determinations. This represents the most significant change to SDVOSB/VOSB contracting since the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does SBA Takes Over SDVOSB/VOSB Certification from VA (Final Rule) mean for SDVOSBs?
SBA assumed sole authority to certify SDVOSBs and VOSBs nationwide. Businesses previously certified by the VA Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) were required to migrate to SBA's Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) program by December 31, 2023.
When does this rule take effect?
This rule has an effective date of 2024-01-01. SDVOSBs should update their compliance procedures and SAM.gov representations accordingly.
Where can I read the full text of 88 FR 76704?
The full text of this rule is published in the Federal Register under citation 88 FR 76704. You can search for it at federalregister.gov using the citation or docket number RIN 3245-AH36.