If you're a veteran-owned small business in Texas — whatever industry you're in — this is the single biggest procedural change to know about right now: self-certification as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) no longer exists. A lot of guidance still circulating online is out of date on this point.
What you have to do instead
To qualify for SDVOSB or VOSB set-aside contracts today, your business needs to be certified by the SBA through its VetCert program, applied for through the MySBA Certifications platform (certification.sba.gov). Without that certification, your awards don't count toward SDVOSB set-asides or agency contracting goals — even if you're genuinely veteran-owned.
Who qualifies
- At least 51% ownership by one or more veterans (VOSB) or service-disabled veterans (SDVOSB)
- The veteran owner(s) must control day-to-day management and long-term decision-making — not just hold equity
- The business must qualify as small under SBA's size standard for its primary NAICS code
- The business must be registered and active on SAM.gov — certification and registration are separate steps, and you need both
SDVOSB specifically requires the qualifying veteran to have a service-connected disability rating; VOSB has no disability requirement, just veteran ownership and control. Typical supporting documents include a DD-214 or VA disability rating letter, formation documents showing ownership percentages, and records demonstrating who actually runs the business day to day.
How long it takes
Processing has been running 60 to 90 days in practice — plan well ahead of any bid deadline rather than starting the application once you've already spotted an opportunity you want. If you're not yet SAM.gov registered, that has to happen first; see our guide on registering on SAM.gov.
Why it matters specifically in Texas
VA medical and facility work across Texas falls under the VA's Heart of Texas Health Care Network (VISN 17), and VA contracting operates under the Veterans First Contracting Program — often called the "Rule of Two." If a VA contracting officer can identify two or more verified veteran-owned firms capable of doing the work, the contract has to be set aside for them, ahead of other small business categories. For a certified SDVOSB or VOSB small business — in construction, facilities services, IT, or any other line of work the VA needs — that's a real, structural advantage on opportunities specific to VA sites in the state.
If you're not veteran-owned, none of this blocks you — most federal and Texas state opportunities are open to any qualifying small business, in any industry. Certification is an edge for firms that have it, not a gate for firms that don't.
Certification guidance is part of what's covered in the Bid Ready Program Starter Package if you'd rather not navigate the MySBA application alone.