Federal set-aside eligibility quick-check
Answer a few questions and see which federal small business programs your business may fit, what is still missing, and the official SBA page for each. It runs in your browser and nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
Based on SBA's program rules in 13 CFR parts 121, 124, 126, 127 and 128 and SBA's program pages. Reviewed Nov 9, 2026.
What each program requires, at a glance
| Program | Main requirements | Certification | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small business set-aside | Small under the NAICS code in the solicitation, registered in SAM.gov. | None. You represent your size in SAM.gov. | SBA size standards |
| 8(a) Business Development | Small; at least 51% unconditionally owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged U.S. citizens; good character; potential for success (generally two years in business, with waivers possible). Nine-year program term. | SBA application (free) | SBA 8(a) Business Development program |
| HUBZone | Small; at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens (or certain tribes and community organizations); principal office in a HUBZone; at least 35% of employees live in a HUBZone. | SBA application (free) | SBA HUBZone program |
| WOSB / EDWOSB | Small; at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens; EDWOSB also requires economic disadvantage. WOSB set-asides are limited to industries SBA has designated. | SBA certification (free) | SBA WOSB Federal Contract program |
| VOSB / SDVOSB | Small; at least 51% owned and controlled by veterans (SDVOSB: service-disabled veterans). | SBA VetCert (free) | SBA veteran contracting programs (VetCert) |
Programs can stack. A woman-owned firm in a HUBZone that is also under the size standard could hold WOSB and HUBZone certifications and bid on either kind of notice. Browse the live notices for each type on our set-asides by type page, and read the longer guides on 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB and EDWOSB and SDVOSB.
What to do next
- Register (or renew) your entity at SAM.gov, which is free. Our step-by-step guide walks through it.
- Apply for any certification you fit at the SBA Certifications portal. It's free; be wary of paid "certification" services.
- Get free help from your local APEX Accelerators (free government contracting help) or SBA district office (Find your SBA district office).
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need an SBA certification to bid on a small business set-aside?
- No. Total and partial small business set-asides only require that you are small under the NAICS code in the solicitation and registered in SAM.gov. The 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, EDWOSB and SDVOSB programs each require SBA certification, which is free to apply for at certifications.sba.gov.
- Is this quick-check an eligibility determination?
- No. It reads back your answers against the main published requirements of each program and points you to the official SBA page. SBA decides certification, and each program has more conditions than we list here.
- What if I qualify for more than one program?
- Many firms do. Each certification is a separate application, and a contracting officer can only use a program's set-aside when its own rules are met, so it is common to hold two or three and bid on whichever notices come up.
- What if I am over the size standard?
- Set-asides will be closed to you for that NAICS code, but subcontracting to a prime and full-and-open competitions are not. Our guide to subcontracting under large primes is a good next read.
SetAside Signal is an independent publication, not a government agency. This quick-check summarizes published program rules and is not an eligibility determination or legal advice. SBA decides certification. Confirm every requirement on the official pages linked above.