SBA’s new Veteran Small Business Certification Program is scheduled to begin operations and accept new applications in January 2023.

The VSBCP will be the federal agency’s primary vehicle for veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses certifications – important classifications that enable them to qualify for sole-source and set-aside federal contracting awards.

Updates in the new program include:

• Firms verified by CVE as of Jan. 1, 2023, will automatically be granted certification by the SBA for the remainder of the firm’s eligibility period.

• All firms verified by VA as of the Jan. 1, 2023, transfer date will receive a one-year extension to their eligibility giving an extra year to get recertified under the SBA system.

• The extension will allow SBA to process applications from new entrants into the program and grow the base of certified firms. New applicants certified by SBA after Jan. 1, 2023, will receive the standard three-year certification period. Along with the recertification extension, the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act grants a one-year grace period for self-certified SDVOSBs until Jan. 1, 2024.

• During the grace period, businesses have one year to file an application for SDVOSB certification and may continue to rely on their self-certification to compete for non-VA SDVOSB set-asides.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, both veteran and service-disabled veteran small business owners will need to be certified to compete for federal contracting set-asides, unless an application from a self-certified firm is pending an SBA decision.

For the latest information on the Veteran Small Business Certification program, visit www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/veteran-assistance-programs or email cvetransfer@sba.gov.