Set-Asides
Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)
A federal program for small businesses owned by veterans (without the service-disabled requirement of SDVOSB).
Definition
VOSB firms must be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more veterans, with the veterans controlling daily operations. VOSB certification (administered by SBA effective 2023) enables eligibility for VA-administered Vets First set-asides and counts toward agency small-business contracting goals.
When it applies
Outside of VA contracting, VOSB designation is less impactful than SDVOSB — the government-wide 3% set-aside applies to SDVOSB specifically. VOSB is most relevant for vendors selling to VA, where Vets First gives VOSB priority before competition opens to non-VOSB firms.