The federal government spends billions of dollars on goods and services each year. A lot of that money is spent through a competitive bidding process. Programs have been put in place to assist some small businesses with the process, allowing them a better chance to compete for those federal dollars.

• Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program. The federal government seeks to award at least 3% of all federal contracting dollars to such businesses annually, so this program helps with meeting that target. This federal contracting program offers assistance to small business owners who are service-disabled veterans. Eligible small businesses must be over 50% owned/controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans, have day-to-day operations and long-term goals managed by at least one service-disabled veteran and have a service-connected disability.
• Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contracting Program. The federal government seeks to award at least 5% of federal contracting dollars to women-owned small businesses annually. Through this SBA program, the Office of Women’s Business Ownership provides support to women entrepreneurs by offering business training, counseling, federal contracts and access to credit and capital. Their goal is to offer equal opportunities for all women in business.
• 8(a) Business Development Program. The purpose of this program is to assist small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged entities. This is achieved by limiting competition for certain government contracts to businesses participating in the 8(a) business development program. To participate a business must be certified as an 8(a) entity.
• HUBZone Program. This program aids businesses in underutilized business zones by making them more competitive in regard to some government contracts. Businesses that join the HUBZone program can compete for set-aside contracts as well as receive preference on others, including a 10% price evaluation preference in open contract competitions.
• Local and State Government Investment Report, September 2021

• Federal Government Contracting: What You Need To Know
• Introduction to Government Procurement  (narrated presentation, 18 minutes)
• Introduction to Government Procurement (slides of above video)
• Federal Contracting Assistance Programs – SBA.gov
• SBA’s Government Contracting Area Directors
• NAICS Codes: The Key to Government Marketing – Census.gov
• Capability Statement Template
• Sample Capability Statement
• Capability Statement Explained
• Federal System For Award Management (S.A.M.) Learning Center
• Government Contracting Acronyms
• Doing Business with the VA
• Vets First Verification Program – US Dept of Veteran Affairs
• SBA’s Certification Programs
• SBA’s Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Contracting Programs
• SBA’s Woman-Owned Small Business Contracting Program
• SBA’s HUBZone 8(a) Small Business Contracting Program
  • HUBZone Program Updates 10-08-2020, some flexibilities expire 03/31/2021
• SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee Program
• SBA Surety Bond Guarantee Program for Government Construction Projects

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The Florida Veterans Business Outreach Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with Gulf Coast State College and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.