Start here
Why this page exists
Jon Lynch Financial Group LLC (brand: Pillar) is a veteran-owned small business in Miami, Florida, founded in 2026 by Jonathan Lynch. We are currently pursuing SDVOSB certification through the SBA's Veteran Small Business Certification program — we are not yet certified, and nothing on this page should be read as a claim that we are.
This is not a sales pitch and it is not a contracting-officer reference. It is a reference for other veteran business owners who are weighing the same path we are. Because we are going through the application process ourselves, we are documenting the rules as we learn them — accurately, with links to the primary government sources, so you can verify everything yourself. Federal contracting rules change; every figure below is dated, and the authoritative source is always the linked .gov page, not this summary.
The honest status, stated plainly
Pillar is veteran-owned. Our SDVOSB application is in progress. Until the SBA grants certification, a firm like ours cannot win SDVOSB set-aside or sole-source awards and cannot count toward agencies' SDVOSB goals. We share that limitation openly because pretending otherwise is exactly the trap this page is meant to help fellow veterans avoid.
Part 1 — Getting certified
How a veteran-owned business gets SDVOSB certified (SBA VetCert)
SDVOSB and VOSB status is granted through the SBA Veteran Small Business Certification Program (VetCert), administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Per SBA's fact sheet, VetCert "allows service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) the opportunity to compete for federal sole-source and set-aside contracts across the federal government." The official starting point is www.sba.gov/vetcert.
It moved from the VA to the SBA in 2023
This is the single most common point of confusion. Certification authority was transferred from the Department of Veterans Affairs to the SBA on January 1, 2023, under the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act. This replaced the VA's former Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE). SBA began accepting applications in the new portal on January 9, 2023. If you find older guidance pointing you to the VA's CVE, it is out of date — apply through SBA.
Two separate tests: ownership AND control
People assume "51% owned by a veteran" is the whole story. It isn't. The regulations (13 CFR Part 128) impose two distinct tests:
| Test | What the regulation requires |
|---|---|
| Ownership (13 CFR 128.202) | One or more service-disabled veterans (for SDVOSB) — or veterans (for VOSB) — must unconditionally and directly own at least 51% of the business. |
| Control (13 CFR 128.203) | A qualifying veteran must control both long-term decision-making and day-to-day operations, must hold the highest officer position (usually President or CEO), and generally must devote full time to the business during normal operating hours. |
The firm must also qualify as a small business under the SBA size standard for at least one NAICS code in its SAM.gov profile (13 CFR 128.200). Sources: 13 CFR 128.200, 128.202, 128.203.
"Service-disabled" — and the no-minimum-rating reality
A "service-disabled veteran" is defined (13 CFR 128.102) as a veteran whom the VA's Veterans Benefits Administration has registered as having a service-connected disability. Critically, the regulation sets no minimum disability-rating percentage. A veteran with any VA-recorded service-connected rating — including a 0% (non-compensable) rating — can meet the "service-disabled" definition. This is a widespread misconception; there is no rating floor in the text. ("Veteran" itself takes the meaning given in 38 U.S.C. 101(2).) Source: 13 CFR 128.102. The difference between VOSB and SDVOSB is simply whether the qualifying veteran owner has a VA-recognized service-connected disability.
Before you apply: SAM.gov, UEI, and matching your VA record
- Register in SAM.gov first. You must have an active SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) before applying. Size eligibility is judged against the NAICS code(s) in your SAM profile. SAM.gov registration is free.
- Make your personal data match the VA exactly. SBA validates veteran / service-disabled status electronically against VA records. Your full legal name (first, middle, last, suffix), date of birth, and personal residential address must match what the VA has on file, or validation fails. SBA's guidance: fix your profile at va.gov first, and "DO NOT resubmit the SBA VetCert Application until all information has been reconciled." When VA records match, a separate DD-214 or rating-letter upload is generally not required.
Documents vary by entity type — there is no single universal checklist
SBA does not publish one fixed list; required documents depend on your entity type and your answers to specific questions. As a general guide from SBA's fact sheet tables:
| Entity | Typical documents |
|---|---|
| LLC | Articles of Organization (with amendments), state certificate of formation, Operating Agreement (with amendments), and minutes evidencing operating practices. |
| Corporation | Articles of Incorporation, by-laws (with amendments), state certificate, shareholder agreements, minutes, and the most recent stock ledger. |
| Partnership | Partnership Agreement plus proof of formation/existence (and minutes for LP/LLP). |
| Sole proprietorship | One of: IRS SS-4 EIN letter, fictitious/trade-name certificate, or most recent Schedule C. |
Situational documents may also apply — e.g., a marriage certificate (surviving spouse), a VA written determination of permanent and total service-connected disability plus caregiver appointment (caregiver applicant), a franchise agreement, an ethics letter (federal-employee household member at GS-13+), or a revocable trust agreement (trust-owned business). SBA reviewers may request additional documents case by case. Source: SBA VetCert Fact Sheet (April 2024).
Cost, timeline, and where to apply
- It is free. The SBA portal states plainly: "SBA does not charge any costs for applying to our programs." Be wary of third parties charging fees to "get" you the certification — the application itself costs nothing.
- Processing time (as of November 11, 2025): an average of about 12 days, after SBA cleared its backlog "down from more than 2,700 to zero actionable cases." For context, SBA reported timelines that "averaged 30 days when the program began" and "skyrocketed to 81 days by the end of 2024." Treat the 12-day figure as a dated snapshot, not a guaranteed turnaround — re-check the current number before relying on it. Source: SBA, Nov 11, 2025.
- Apply online via SBA's certification portal, reached from www.sba.gov/vetcert. Official support: [email protected] and 866-SBA-HELP (866-722-4357), Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. ET.
Part 2 — What it unlocks
Federal acquisition vehicles for SDVOSBs (a reference, not a credential)
Once SBA certifies a firm and that status is designated in SAM, several procurement vehicles open up. The purpose of this section is to teach the rules to veterans pursuing them — not to assert that Pillar qualifies for any of them today. Where set-asides are "discretionary," remember that a goal is a target, not a reserved pool of money; actual contracts are reserved only on specific procurements when the Rule of Two is met.
VA "Veterans First" — the most favorable, and mandatory (38 U.S.C. 8127–8128)
On VA procurements, the contracting officer considers verified SDVOSBs first, then VOSBs, then other small businesses — these set-asides take precedence over other FAR Part 19 set-asides. The Supreme Court in Kingdomware Technologies v. United States (2016) held that 38 U.S.C. 8127(d) is mandatory: the VA must set a contract aside for SDVOSBs/VOSBs whenever the Rule of Two is met (a reasonable expectation of two or more eligible, capable, certified offers at a fair and reasonable price, above the micro-purchase threshold). VA sole-source authority to SDVOSBs runs up to $5 million. This is VA-only — do not generalize it to other agencies. Source: VAAR Subpart 819.70.
Government-wide SDVOSB set-asides — discretionary (FAR Subpart 19.14)
Outside the VA, FAR Subpart 19.14 applies to all federal agencies, but set-asides are discretionary: a contracting officer may (not must) set an acquisition aside for SDVOSBs when, based on market research, there is a reasonable expectation that (1) offers will come from two or more SDVOSB concerns and (2) award can be made at a fair market price (FAR 19.1405 — the "Rule of Two"). Effective January 1, 2024, the firm must be SBA-certified and designated as SDVOSB in SAM to receive a 19.14 award. Source: FAR Subpart 19.14 and FAR 19.1405.
SDVOSB sole-source thresholds (FAR 19.1406)
A government-wide SDVOSB sole-source award (no competition) is allowed when the conditions are met and the anticipated award price, including options, does not exceed $8.5 million for a manufacturing NAICS code or $5 million for any other NAICS code. These figures reflect the inflation-adjustment final rule (published Aug 27, 2025; effective October 1, 2025), which raised the prior $7M/$4M caps. Because these amounts are adjusted for inflation periodically, re-verify the exact dollar figure against FAR 19.1406 before relying on it.
The 5% goal — current, raised from 3%
The federal government has a statutory government-wide goal to award at least 5% of prime contract and subcontract dollars to SDVOSBs each year (15 U.S.C. 644(g)(1)(A), as amended by the NDAA for FY2024). This raised the prior 3% figure; older FAR/agency text that still cites 3% lags the statute. The VA sets its own, higher goals — at least 15% of its contract dollars to SDVOSBs and at least 17% to VOSBs each year (in place since FY2019). Both are annual goals, not guaranteed reservations — individual contracts are set aside only via the Rule of Two. Sources: CRS IN12313; SBA veteran contracting; VA OSDBU goals (FY2019).
Two self-certification deadlines that have already passed (don't conflate them)
These are two separate dates, and they are commonly merged by mistake:
- Set-aside & sole-source self-certification ended December 31, 2023. After this date a firm must hold an SBA VetCert certification (not self-certify) to win SDVOSB sole-source/set-aside awards.
- Subcontracting & goaling self-certification ended December 22, 2024. After this date, only SBA-certified firms count toward agencies' SDVOSB goaling and subcontracting credit.
Both are now in the past. The practical implication for a firm still pursuing certification (like Pillar): you cannot yet count toward SDVOSB goals or win SDVOSB set-asides until SBA grants certification. Source: SBA VetCert Fact Sheet.
Part 3 — Finding where you can win
Competitive-intelligence niches: a deep dive
The hardest part for a new firm isn't certification — it's figuring out where a small, certified SDVOSB can realistically win. This section is the competitive-intelligence playbook we're studying ourselves. None of it requires certification to learn; it's the homework you do while your application is pending.
Pick the right NAICS — because the contract's NAICS is what counts
The contracting officer assigns one NAICS code (and its size standard) per solicitation — the single industry that best describes the principal purpose of the work (FAR 19.102). To win a specific set-aside you must be small under that contract's assigned NAICS, not merely under your own primary code. The competitive-intelligence move: choose your primary NAICS deliberately, and target solicitations whose assigned NAICS is where you are both small and genuinely competitive. SBA size standards (employee-count or average annual receipts, by industry) are codified at 13 CFR 121.201; check yours with the live SBA Size Standards Tool rather than relying on a hard-coded dollar figure (SBA has proposed receipts-based increases, so the numbers move). Source: FAR 19.102.
Work the sub-thresholds — where small businesses win by default
A genuine sweet spot for new firms is the band between the micro-purchase and simplified-acquisition thresholds, where acquisitions are automatically reserved for small business when the Rule of Two is met (FAR 19.502-2). As of the inflation-adjustment final rule effective October 1, 2025:
| Threshold | Current amount | Prior amount |
|---|---|---|
| Micro-purchase | $15,000 | $10,000 |
| Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) | $350,000 | $250,000 |
Below the micro-purchase threshold, agencies can buy directly; up to the SAT, simplified procedures and the small-business reservation apply. Note: always confirm the current micro-purchase and simplified-acquisition figures against FAR 2.101, as published thresholds are periodically adjusted. (Subcontracting-plan and related thresholds also rose on the same date; re-verify any dollar figure against acquisition.gov before relying on it.)
Respond to Sources Sought / RFIs — the highest-leverage, lowest-cost move
When an agency posts a Sources Sought notice or RFI, it is doing market research and has not yet committed to a set-aside. By responding and demonstrating capability, an SDVOSB helps the contracting officer form the "reasonable expectation" of two-or-more SDVOSB offers — which, at the VA, mandates a set-aside and, elsewhere, enables one. For a new or small firm, responding to these notices is the single highest-leverage, lowest-cost competitive-intelligence action. Find them on SAM.gov Contract Opportunities by filtering Notice Type to "Sources Sought" and "Special Notice," then save the search and turn on email alerts. Advanced Search also filters by Set-Aside Type (incl. SDVOSB), NAICS, agency, and place of performance.
Analyze agency spend and incumbents (USAspending / FPDS)
Every federal contract action is recorded in FPDS and flows to USAspending.gov, the official open-data source for federal spending. The workflow:
- Search by NAICS, agency, or recipient to learn which agencies actually spend money in your space.
- Identify the incumbent on a given line of work, what they were paid, and the period of performance / expiration — so you know when a recontract is coming up for bid.
- Check competition status (competed vs. sole-source, number of offers) to gauge how contested the work is. FPDS carries the richer action-level detail; USAspending is the friendlier front end.
This is how you find where real money flows and which recompetes are on the horizon. Primary sources: USAspending.gov (data via api.usaspending.gov) and FPDS.
Find certified vendors and your own future listing (DSBS / Small Business Search)
Once SBA certifies a firm, its VOSB/SDVOSB status is verified and visible in SBA's Small Business Search (the former Dynamic Small Business Search, DSBS) under "Government Certifications," and the SDVOSB designation flows to SAM, which contracting officers use to validate set-aside eligibility (FAR 19.1403(b)). For competitive intelligence, the same tool lets you study who else is certified in your NAICS — i.e., who you'd be competing against in a set-aside. Source: SBA Small Business Search.
The realistic on-ramp: subcontracting first, prime later
A 2026 startup with no federal past performance usually can't win a prime contract on day one. The realistic path is to build past performance as a subcontractor first. Large prime contractors on awards above the subcontracting-plan threshold (reported as $900,000 following the Oct 1, 2025 inflation adjustment — confirm the current figure against FAR Subpart 19.7 before relying on it) must maintain small-business subcontracting plans with a separate SDVOSB goal. Find this work through SBA's SubNet (note: SBA currently shows that posting new subcontracting opportunities is unavailable, though browsing existing listings still works), agency subcontracting directories, and — most reliably — free APEX Accelerator counseling. Then strengthen your one-page capability statement (core competencies, differentiators, relevant past performance with metrics, socioeconomic status once certified, and identifiers like UEI/CAGE/NAICS) and your CPARS performance record. Source: SBA prime & subcontracting.
Build relationships through agency OSDBUs
Every federal agency has an Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) whose job is to help small and SDVOSB firms find and win that agency's contracts through outreach, vendor sessions, matchmaking, and counseling. The competitive-intelligence sequence: use USAspending to identify which agencies buy your NAICS, then contact those agencies' OSDBUs to get on their radar, learn about upcoming requirements, and find subcontracting introductions. (Example: DOT OSDBU.)
The long game: a GSA Schedule
A GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract lets agencies buy from you at pre-negotiated pricing without full open competition once you're on Schedule. It is not a day-one option — eligibility typically requires roughly two years in business, documented past performance, financial stability, and an adequate accounting system — but it's a worthy goal once past performance exists. Source: GSA MAS roadmap.
Startup Springboard can help newer firms: GSA lets a business with under two years of corporate experience qualify for a MAS contract by substituting the documented individual experience of its owners, executives, and key personnel (along with financial-resource documentation) for the corporate track record. Confirm current eligibility and category scope on GSA’s page before relying on it. Source: GSA — Startup Springboard.
Part 4 — Verify it yourself
Primary sources & verification
This is YMYL material — money and a veteran's livelihood ride on getting it right. Don't take our word for any of it. Verify against the primary government sources below, and treat the linked .gov page as authoritative over this summary whenever they differ.
| Topic | Primary source |
|---|---|
| SBA VetCert program & veteran contracting overview | sba.gov/vetcert (veteran contracting assistance programs) |
| VetCert preparation, documents, costs, timeline (fact sheet) | SBA VetCert Fact Sheet (April 2024) |
| Current processing time / backlog status (dated Nov 11, 2025) | SBA announcement |
| Eligibility regulations (ownership, control, definitions) | 13 CFR 128.102 · 128.200 · 128.202 · 128.203 · eCFR Part 128 |
| VA "Veterans First" set-asides (mandatory; Kingdomware) | VAAR Subpart 819.70 |
| Government-wide SDVOSB program & Rule of Two | FAR Subpart 19.14 · 19.1405 · 19.1406 |
| Acquisition thresholds (micro-purchase, SAT) | FAR 2.101 |
| 5% SDVOSB goal (statutory) | CRS IN12313 |
| NAICS assignment & size standards | FAR 19.102 · SBA Size Standards |
| SAM.gov registration & UEI (free) | SAM.gov entity registration · GSA: register your business |
| Opportunity search & spend analysis | SAM.gov Opportunities · USAspending.gov |
| Certified-vendor lookup | SBA Small Business Search (DSBS) |
| Subcontracting & counseling | SBA prime & subcontracting |
A note from a firm still in the process
We built this reference because we needed it ourselves. If you're a fellow veteran navigating SBA VetCert, SAM.gov, and the federal market, you're welcome to reach out — not to hire us, just to compare notes. Jonathan Lynch, Founder, Jon Lynch Financial Group LLC (Pillar) · Miami, FL · [email protected] · (786) 777-8869. Always confirm current rules and dollar figures against the official .gov sources above — they govern, this page only summarizes.