Set-Aside Contracts for Small Business
Set-aside contracts are government procurement opportunities reserved exclusively for small businesses. In the US, the Small Business Administration (SBA) oversees programs that direct a portion of federal spending to small, disadvantaged, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses.
Definition
A set-aside contract limits competition to a defined group of small businesses. The contracting officer “sets aside” the opportunity so that only qualifying firms can bid. This ensures small businesses receive a fair share of government procurement dollars and are not always outcompeted by large corporations.
Types of set-aside programs
The US federal government operates several set-aside programs: Total Small Business Set-Aside (any small business), 8(a) Business Development (socially and economically disadvantaged firms), HUBZone (businesses in historically underutilized areas), SDVOSB (service-disabled veteran-owned), and WOSB (women-owned small businesses). Each program has specific eligibility criteria and certification requirements.
How set-asides work in practice
Contracting officers apply the “Rule of Two”: if they expect at least two small businesses can provide the goods or services at a fair price, the opportunity should be set aside. Set-aside notices are published on SAM.gov with the applicable program designation. The SBA sets size standards (by revenue or employee count) per NAICS code.
Finding set-aside contracts with Jorpex
Jorpex monitors SAM.gov and other procurement portals for set-aside opportunities. Include terms like “small business set-aside,” “8(a),” “HUBZone,” or “SDVOSB” in your keyword filters to specifically target set-aside contracts matching your certifications.