Veteran-owned small businesses certified by the Veterans Affairs Department to compete for billions of dollars in government contracts will get their certifications automatically extended by one year as part of a transition in the certification process.
The move, announced by the Small Business Administration, comes as the SBA takes over responsibility for certifying veteran-owned small businesses from the VA, which has for years run its own certification program as part of the Vets First Verification Program through the Center for Verification and Evaluation. The SBA will officially take over the responsibility to certify veteran-owned small businesses, which helps qualify them for federal contracting set-asides and other programs, on Jan. 1, 2023.
What the SBA change means for veteran-owned businesses
The one-year extension will give the SBA time to ensure a smooth transition and make sure veteran-owned small businesses won’t be left scrambling while the agency works on certifying new businesses, the agency said in a press release.
