Small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy and are a critical component of government purchasing. The Small Business Administration (“SBA”) and the Government Services Administration (“GSA”) believe every small business should have equal access to federal opportunities.

However, small disadvantaged-businesses and certain socio-economic categories, especially in underserved communities have historically faced inequities in award opportunities.

The goal has been to develop government programs to help these small businesses overcome the challenges of successfully doing business with the federal government by assisting them to:

Win a fair share of federal contracts
Qualify for exclusive set-aside and sole-source contracts
Partner with established contractors to win contracts
Get business mentoring and education to learn how federal contracting works

To help advance equality and support underserved communities across the federal government the SBA has established the following contracting goals.

Small business category	Contracting dollar award goal
Women-Owned Small Business	5%
8(a) Business Development Program	5%
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business	3%
Small Business in a HUBZone	3%

To help provide a level playing field for all small businesses, the government limits competition for certain contracts under $250,000 to small businesses. The goal for total small business awards is 23% of all federal government awards.

These contracts are often referred to as “small business set-asides,” and they help small businesses compete for and win federal contracts. Some set-asides are open to any small business, but those referred to in the table are only open to certified small businesses that qualify for their socio-economic designation.

Participation in these small business contracting assistance programs requires a formal certification process. FedBiz Access works with contractors and organizations to help them do business with governmental agencies by ensuring their registrations and certifications are current, complete, and compliant.

FedBiz services help businesses establish their foundation with the federal government, as well as state and local government agencies, through their initial registration and certification filings, as well as targeted market research to find the right buyers.

FedBiz Access helps companies build a clear path from registration to award.