How SDVOSB Can Help a Business Grow

by Sharon Rousseau Personal Blogger

Summary: A small business is owned by a service-disabled veteran when a service-disabled veteran controls at least 51% of the company. The company's daily operations must also be under the direct supervision of a service-disabled veteran.

The SDVOSB is a business operated by a former member of the U.S. military that has been injured in combat. The company should be considered small by Small Business Administration standards. It should be owned and controlled by a service-disabled veteran or group of service-disabled veterans.

Creation of the SDVOSB Program

The SDVOSB program was established on 2004, 20 October, and President George W. Bush signed Executive Order 13360. It outlined the role federal agencies were to play in providing federal contracting and subcontracting services.

Under Public Law 106-50 law, the federal agencies are to award three per cent of their best contracts to SDVOSB companies. Larger contractors also have other SDVOSB subcontracting goals.

There are no federal requirements for this certification. The SDVOSB owner only has to represent their status through contractual negotiations. Still, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has established a formal process for ensuring that a small business does indeed meet all requirements for the SDVOSB program.

A small business owned by a service-disabled veteran can be a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business. They should have certification through the VA to assure clients and customers that a small business has been thoroughly vetted to meet all the requirements.

Qualifications for the SDVOSB

During active duty, a veteran who has been disabled must meet several small business requirements to earn consideration as a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business. To begin, disabled veterans must:

Certify their military service by presenting their Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. This will prove that the veteran served in the armed forces.
Validate their service-related disability by presenting related documentation. This can take the form of a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or a discharge paper from the veteran's branch of the military. Either of these documents must state the veteran has a service-related disability.

Disabilities are not evaluated in terms of severity. In other words, even though there is a disability rating scale of 0 – 100, veterans with any service-related disability can qualify for the SDVOSB program. What matters is that they are disabled and not the degree to which they have been disabled.

Benefits of Businesses Participating in the SDVOSB Program

There are several benefits if you work with a business classified as an SDVOSB. The government sets aside specific contracts for the SDVOSB program exclusively; working with an SDVOSB guarantees you access to contracts that would otherwise be unavailable.

Working with an SDVOSB also increases the odds that your company will partner with a dedicated team. Many who have served their nation in active duty are known for their dependability and follow-through. The business will be doing service as well to those who have served. There are many better ways to give thanks to veterans than by doing business with them and helping them adapt to life in the private sector.

Besides, your company may find itself with additional customers and marketing opportunities available to SDVOSBs only. Your company works with an SDVOSB that can draw in veterans, military families, and those who wish to support them as potential customers.