Service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) matter more to federal pursuits than they used to. The FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act raised the government-wide goal for awards to SDVOSBs from 3 percent to 5 percent of prime contract and subcontract dollars. For a prime contractor, the right SDVOSB partner can strengthen a small-business participation plan, help meet subcontracting goals and add real capability to the team. The wrong one adds risk.
Here is a practical way to find, vet and work with an SDVOSB teaming partner.
Start with the work, not the certification
Before you search, write down what the partner needs to deliver: the labor categories, the scope of work, the place of performance, any clearance requirements and the NAICS code on the solicitation. A partner that only brings a certification rarely helps you win. A partner that brings capability in a defined part of the work strengthens your technical approach as well as your small-business story.
Where to look
- SBA small business search: search by NAICS code, keyword and certification. Each certified firm has a profile with its UEI, CAGE code and SAM.gov status.
- SAM.gov: confirm the entity registration is active and review its NAICS codes and representations.
- Agency small business offices: each agency's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) hosts industry days and knows the capable firms in its market.
- APEX Accelerators: regional centers funded by the Department of Defense that help small businesses work with the government and can make introductions.
- Industry days and matchmaking events: the fastest way to meet firms already working with your target agency.
Verify before you commit
Since 2023, SBA has certified SDVOSBs through its Veteran Small Business Certification program, and awards to self-certified firms no longer count toward the government's SDVOSB goals. Check each candidate partner against a short list:
- Current SBA SDVOSB certification, verified on SBA's own site rather than a logo on a slide
- Active SAM.gov registration, with a UEI and CAGE code
- Small under the size standard for the NAICS code on this solicitation
- Capacity and relevant experience for the part of the work you need, with commercial and federal experience clearly separated
- A capability statement that matches what the firm tells you in person
Understand how the rules shape the team
When a large business is the prime, work performed by an SDVOSB subcontractor counts toward the prime's small-business subcontracting goals. When the SDVOSB is the prime on a set-aside, limitations on subcontracting rules require the SDVOSB and similarly situated firms to perform a minimum share of the work. Agree early on which structure fits the opportunity, and have your contracts team confirm the details for each solicitation.
Put the teaming agreement in writing
A good teaming agreement answers the questions that cause trouble later:
- Workshare: which tasks, labor categories and share of the work each party performs
- Exclusivity: whether either party can join another team for the same opportunity
- Proposal roles: who writes which sections and who provides past performance and résumés
- Staffing: how candidates are sourced, approved and replaced
- What happens if the award is protested, reduced or never made
Keep the partnership real after award
The strongest teams keep the small business visible in delivery: a named role on the program, regular performance reviews and honest reporting on workshare. That record becomes past performance for both firms and makes the next pursuit easier.
How Maayu Government Solutions works with primes
Maayu Government Solutions is an SBA-certified SDVOSB that brings veteran talent for IT, cybersecurity, engineering and cleared roles, plus AI voice and workflow solutions delivered with people in charge. Our capability statement lists our UEI, CAGE code and NAICS codes, and you can verify our certification on the SBA small business search.