How Disabled Veterans Can Win Government Contracts

The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) is a program that allows small businesses to self-certify as service-disabled veteran-owned businesses providing them increased opportunities to win government contracts. Significantly and permanently impaired veterans may be assisted in the daily business operations by a spouse or permanent caregiver.

Should a competitor challenge a small business' standing as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business the case must be referred to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for resolution.

Even though having your firm certified as an SDVOSB business can help increase your competitiveness in winning government contracts, there are exclusions from SDVOSB set-aside rules, including: Federal Prison Industries; Javits-Wagner-O'Day organizations; existing IDIQ contracts; federal supply schedule sources; requirements currently in the 8(a) program; and commissary sales.

Two types of SDVOSB justification includes sole source and set aside, which are reviewed below.

The SDVOSB Sole source justification may be used if the Contracting Officer (CO) determines that: a SDVOSB concern is a responsible contractor with respect to performance; there is not a reasonable expectation that 2 or more small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans will submit offers for the contracting opportunity; the anticipated award price of the contract (including options) will not exceed $5 million in the case of a contract opportunity assigned in NAICS codes for manufacturing; or $3 million in the case of any other contract opportunity; and the contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price.

To use the SDVOSB sole source, business owners should conduct market research, document findings, and, of course, negotiate as customary. Noncompetitive SDVOSB procedures may be used below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold.

The SDVOSB Set-Aside justification may be used if the CO determines that there is a reasonable expectation that not less than 2 small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans will submit offers and that the award can be made at a fair market price.

To use the SDVOSB set aside business owners should conduct market research, publish requirement as customary, and make note of their Service-disabled Veteran-owned Set-Aside status. The contract will be awarded on the basis of competition restricted to small business concerns owned and controlled by service disabled veterans. If only one offer is received, the CO may award if price is reasonable. If no offers are received, CO must cancel and compete as a small business set-aside.

Brian Cook is a freelance writer whose articles on government contracting have appeared on many websites. You can find more of these at http://www.contractsecrets.com

---

The Key to Creating Total System Empowerment

In this paper, I will:1. provide a framework for creating... Read More

Why Small Businesses Need Both A Logo And An Identity System

Experts urge small business owners to "brand" their business ?... Read More

Environmental Pressure Washing in Pennsylvania

If you run a mobile car wash, mobile fleet washing... Read More

Can Your Business Run Without You?

What would happen if you decided to take an extended... Read More

Why is My Restaurant Not Full Every Monday Night?

In a quest for customers and to keep those customers,... Read More

Be Nice to Your Payroll Department

Ok, so next to the taxman, your company payroll department... Read More

Reverse Merger: Have They Taken the Reverse out of Reverse Merger?

Are the promoters and consultants destroying the market for Reverse... Read More

Does Your Small Business Marketing Suffer From The Bulldog Effect?

If you're an entrepreneur responsible for your own small business... Read More

The Business Autopsy: A Fact Of Life

Last week we discussed the importance of performing an autopsy... Read More

Do You Need the Help of a Virtual Assistant?

Running a business, whether large, small or in your home,... Read More

How to Start Home Based Travel Businesses

Home based travel businesses are no longer the wave of... Read More

How to Give FREE Advice and Make Money

When is advice free and when should you charge for... Read More

Tell Me The Reasons Why I Should Believe You?

Have you ever heard the phrase, 'PREPONDERANCE OF PROOF'?I recently... Read More

Small Business Checks ? Money Saving Options

When you go into business for yourself, there are many... Read More

Expanding Franchisee Advice

Franchisor expansion policies are not as simple as one might... Read More

How To Plant Seeds of Success With Small Business Ideas

Think of all of your business ideas as tiny seeds... Read More

How to Achieve Real Success in Business: Five Breezy Tips

Achieving real success should be the goal of any good... Read More

How to Successfully Avoid Becoming One of The 80% of Small Businesses That Will FAIL

It's a commonly quoted statistic: 80% of all small businesses... Read More

Where to Find a Cash Windfall of $10,000 to $1,000,000 -- You Never Knew You Had

There is a rather famous true story called "Acres of... Read More

Financial Strategies for a Mobile Car Wash Business Plan

Writing a business plan for a mobile car wash is... Read More

Small Business Credit Card Advantages

Obtaining a business credit card enables the small business owner... Read More

Winning in Business - Lessons from Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong this week won an unprecedented 7th Tour de... Read More

Small Business Marketing - Clarify Success

When you hear the word "success" does it bring on... Read More

Franchise Companies Come and Go

Each day we hear of companies entering the franchising industry.... Read More

More Business Card Marketing

If you are worried about how many different business cards... Read More

SBIR vs STTR

SBIR vs. STTR: If you are participating in the SBIR... Read More

Family Business and Conflicts

What is a Family Business? A family business is basically... Read More

Your Ideal Client ? A Key Concept for Solo and Small Business Marketing

"I don't know the key to success, but the key... Read More

Starting A Concrete Cleaning Pressure Washer Business

Concrete cleaning can be a lucrative business to start. Here... Read More

Postcard Marketing Your Small Business

One of the best marketing strategies a business or organization... Read More

Why Do Most Online Small Businesses Fail?

Search Engines account for almost 90% of all web traffic!In... Read More

The Responsibility Conundrum - Where art Thou?

Mr/Ms, 'not me' is often on holidays in your business.... Read More

Lawyers Everywhere Telling Regulators What Laws to Make

The Federal Trade Commission decided to sit down and revamp... Read More