Federal set-asides explained (SBA, 8(a), WOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone)

Set-asides reserve certain contracts for specific categories of small business. Knowing which ones you qualify for, and which one a given opportunity requires, is often the difference between a winnable bid and a wasted one.

The main programs

Total small business set-aside: reserved for small businesses under the opportunity's NAICS size standard.
8(a) Business Development: for firms owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; a nine-year program.
WOSB / EDWOSB: Women-Owned / Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business.
SDVOSB: Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business.
HUBZone: firms located in, and employing people from, Historically Underutilized Business Zones.

Why it matters for fit

A set-aside opportunity you don't qualify for can't be won. No amount of capability changes that.
A set-aside you do qualify for shrinks the competition dramatically, which is one of the strongest inputs to whether a contract is worth pursuing.

Verify before you rely on it

Certifications have eligibility rules and expiry. Confirm your status in SAM.gov and the relevant program before building a pursuit around it.
This is general information, not legal or eligibility advice.

See how a set-aside changes your odds on a specific contract.

Score an opportunity free

General information for federal contractors, not legal advice. Verify program details against SAM.gov and the relevant agency.