DVBE vs SDVOSB: which certification applies to your purchase

These two get conflated constantly, including by vendors who should know better. They are separate programs and holding one says nothing about holding the other.

	California DVBE	Federal SDVOSB
Administered by	CA Dept. of General Services (OSDS)	U.S. Small Business Administration
Applies to	California state contracting	Federal contracting
Participation goal	3% of state contract dollars	3% federal government-wide goal
Key mechanism	SB/DVBE Option; bid incentives	Set-aside and sole-source authority
Verified through	Cal eProcure	SBA VetCert / SAM.gov

Practical implications

A DVBE certification does not make a firm eligible for a federal SDVOSB set-aside. An SDVOSB certification does not create California participation credit. If your solicitation requires one specifically, the other will not substitute.

Local agencies — cities, counties, special districts — are governed by neither. They typically operate their own local or veteran preference programs with separate registration.

Where we stand

• California DVBE — certified. ID 2053715, current through July 2028.
• California Small Business (Micro) — certified. Current through July 2028.
• Federal SDVOSB — in process. SBA VetCert application submitted and under review. Not yet awarded. We do not represent SDVOSB status on federal solicitations until it is.

We update this page when status changes. If you need current verification before issuing an order, check SAM.gov and Cal eProcure directly rather than taking our word for it.

Common questions

Can a business hold both DVBE and SDVOSB?

Yes. They are separate certifications with separate applications, and many veteran-owned firms hold both.

Does DVBE certification help with federal contracts?

Not directly. DVBE is a California state program. Federal set-asides for veteran-owned firms require SBA SDVOSB certification.