You earned the uniform. The government then wrote rules that reward it with real dollars — and most veteran-owned firms never claim them.
The government must spend a set share with veteran firms — and just raised the target
Federal agencies have a hard, dollar-denominated goal for buying from service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs). In 2024 that goal was raised by two-thirds — meaning more set-aside work reserved specifically for firms like yours. In a single recent year, agencies awarded $31.9B to SDVOSBs — a pool reserved before open competition even begins.
At the VA, you go to the front of the line
The VA’s Veterans First program requires its contracting officers to consider verified veteran-owned firms before any other type of business:
A GSA Schedule is how you actually capture it
Set-aside rights only pay off if agencies can buy from you fast. A GSA Schedule is the pre-negotiated “open door” the government already trusts and buys through. Stack it with your veteran status and you sit in the smallest, least-competitive pool with the fastest path to award — while non-veteran competitors fight it out in full & open bids.
Sources: U.S. SBA; NDAA FY2024 (SDVOSB goal raised 3% → 5%); federal award data. | gsascheduleservices.com
