How Veteran Set-Asides and SBA VetCert Work on Public Construction

A contractor's website can say "veteran-owned" and still be ineligible for a single veteran set-aside. Ownership describes who owns the company. Set-aside eligibility depends on a certification issued by a specific program, and each public buyer decides which programs it honors. This guide explains how those programs work for public construction, as of October 2026. It describes the programs in general and does not describe any certification held by 214 Veteran Solutions.

Veteran-owned is not the same as certified

There are three separate questions to ask about any firm claiming veteran status on a public job:

1. Ownership. Is the business owned and controlled by one or more veterans? That alone does not qualify it for a set-aside.

2. Certification. Has a program, such as SBA VetCert or the Texas Comptroller's VetHUB program, reviewed and certified the firm?

3. Fit. Does the solicitation in front of you actually reserve the work for that category, and does the firm qualify as small for the NAICS code on that contract?

Federal work: SBA VetCert

The U.S. Small Business Administration's veteran certification page explains that certification of veteran-owned small businesses (VOSB) and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB) moved from the Department of Veterans Affairs to SBA on January 1, 2023. SBA describes the eligibility basics:

• Veterans must own and control the business, with SBA requiring majority ownership.

• The owners must be identified by VA as veterans; for SDVOSB status, the veteran must be rated service-disabled by VA.

• The business must be small under the size standard for the NAICS codes in its SAM.gov profile.

The two labels open different doors. SBA says certified SDVOSBs can compete for sole-source and set-aside contracts across the federal government, while certified VOSBs can compete for set-asides at VA under its Vets First program. SBA also states there is no self-certification provision for VA set-aside and sole-source awards, and that the self-certification grace period for subcontracting and goaling ended December 22, 2024. In plain terms, a firm that has not been certified should not be presenting itself as set-aside eligible.

The VetCert site lists the same core requirements, including registration as a small business in SAM.gov, and says certified firms can be verified through SBA's Small Business Search, which shows the firm's name, UEI and NAICS codes. Applications go through MySBA Certifications.

Registration and size come before any of it

No federal award happens without an active SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity ID. Size is the second gate. SBA's size standards page explains that SBA assigns a size standard to each NAICS code, measured by employees or average annual receipts depending on the industry. A construction firm can be small under one code and not another, so the code on each solicitation matters.

Texas state work: VetHUB

State agencies use a separate program. The Texas Comptroller's VetHUB page describes Veteran Heroes United in Business as a certification of service-disabled veteran-owned businesses intended to increase their state contracts and subcontracts. The Comptroller's certification process page lists these requirements:

• proof that the applicant owner holds majority ownership and controls day-to-day operations

• a service-related disability rating at or above the minimum the Comptroller sets

• a for-profit business with its principal place of business in Texas

The Comptroller says the program operates under Texas Government Code Chapter 2161, that certification lasts about four years while the firm stays eligible, and that review can take up to 90 days. An SBA certification and a VetHUB certification are separate; holding one does not grant the other.

City, county and school district projects

Local public owners in and around San Antonio set their own rules. Some give evaluation credit for small or veteran-owned participation; some use regional certification agencies; some have no veteran preference at all. The solicitation is the only reliable answer, so read its evaluation criteria and required forms before you count on a designation.

How owners and primes should check a claim

• Ask which program certified the firm, and for the certificate or listing.

• Look the firm up yourself in SBA's Small Business Search or the Texas vendor search.

• Confirm the certification covers the contract's NAICS code and is current.

• Separate certification from capability. A certificate proves eligibility, not schedule control, safety planning or payroll compliance such as Davis-Bacon certified payroll.

For firms preparing to compete, a tight construction capability statement should list only designations you can prove. Owners planning interior work on a public or private site can also review the tenant improvement process. 214 Veteran Solutions is a veteran-owned general contractor in San Antonio that plans and manages projects and coordinates licensed trade contractors; our government construction page explains how we approach public work.

If you are scoping a public or institutional project and want to talk it through, book an estimate consultation.

Frequently asked questions

Can a VOSB compete for set-asides at any federal agency?

SBA says certified SDVOSBs can compete for set-aside and sole-source contracts across the federal government, while certified VOSBs can compete for set-asides at VA under its Vets First program.

Can a veteran-owned firm still self-certify for a set-aside?

Not for VA set-aside or sole-source awards, according to SBA, and the self-certification grace period for subcontracting and goaling ended December 22, 2024.

How do I verify a contractor's veteran certification?

Ask which program issued it, then look the firm up yourself: SBA's Small Business Search for VetCert, or the Texas Comptroller's vendor search for VetHUB. Check that it is current and covers the contract's NAICS code.

Does an SBA certification count for Texas state contracts?

Not automatically. Texas VetHUB is a separate Comptroller certification with its own requirements, including a principal place of business in Texas.