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Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization

Small Business FAQs

(Additional Information)

  1. I am a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business or a Veteran-Owned Small Business; can I use the SDVOSB/VOSB certification trademark?

  2. How do I know if I meet the size standards for a Small Business?

  3. What is a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code?

  4. How do I know what my NAICS codes are?

  5. Can I correct or add North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes on my company's profile after the application has been submitted?

  6. What NAICS Codes should I submit?

  7. I am not considered a Small Business for some NAICS codes, am I still eligible for your program?

  8. Will my DBA be listed on my Determination Letter?

  9. How will my application be affected if I have a "Doing Business As" or DBA?

  10. What if my representative does not provide proof of DBA registry with the appropriate state/county entity?

  11. How should I report a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and/or Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) suspected of fraud?

  12. Where do I correctly list my NAICS Codes in my online VIP profile?

1.  I am a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business or a Veteran-Owned Small Business; can I use the SDVOSB/VOSB certification trademark?

Only firms who have received an approval determination as a result of their application to the Center for Verification and Evaluation are legally allowed to use VA’s registration of the mark. The mark may only be used during the period designated in the determination letter.

For additional clarification, please see the Use of the SDVOSB/VOSB Certification Trademark Fact Sheet.

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2.  How do I know if I meet the size standards for a Small Business?

We suggest that you schedule an appointment with the closest Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC).  This is a help organization funded by the Defense Logistics Agency to ensure Small Businesses understand Federal procurement rules.  The business coach will explain to you rules governing the size standards.  The business coach will also direct you to information on the internet where you can learn more details.

In a few instances, your business coach will recommend that you seek advice from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to determine if you meet the Small Business criteria for your industry.  We recommend you do this jointly with the PTAC business coach.  SBA contact information can be located at http://www.sba.gov/.  To find your closest PTAC, please visit http://www.aptac-us.org/new/.

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3.  What is a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code?

A NAICS Code (pronounced Nakes) is a code designated by the North American Industry Classification System.  Federal contractors are required to register their NAICS codes for each product or service they plan to sell to the Government.  This is linked to the size standards which govern the Small Business set-asides and all subset categories.  The Verification Program requires businesses to register their NAICS codes in the VetBiz.gov Vendor Information Pages database to determine eligibility.

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4.  How do I know what my NAICS codes are?

  • You can use the search feature at http://www.census.gov/naics.  In the “2007 NAICS Search” box on the left side of that page, enter a keyword that describes your kind of business.  A list of primary business activities containing that keyword and the corresponding NAICS codes will appear.  Choose the one that most closely corresponds to your primary business activity, or refine your search to obtain other choices.
  • Rather than searching through a list of primary business activities, you may also view the complete 2012 NAICS structure with codes and titles by clicking on “For 2012 NAICS” on the left-hand column from the NAICS main webpage.  Then click on the two-digit sector code to see all the NAICS codes under that sector.  Then choose the six-digit code of your interest to see the corresponding definition, as well as cross-references and index items, when available.
  • If you know your old SIC code, you can also find the appropriate 2002 NAICS code by using the detailed conversion (concordance) between the 1987 SIC and 2002 NAICS codes available in Excel format for download at the “Concordances” link on this website.

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5.  Can I correct or add North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes on my company's profile after the application has been submitted?

Once an application has been submitted, no changes to the company’s profile can be made until the Initiation Team identifies a NAICS Code discrepancy.  Once a discrepancy has been found and there are no other points of failure in the application, applicants will be issued a five (5) day conditional approval letter which will allow them to make the necessary corrections to the NAICS Codes listed on the company profile.

For more information please see the NAICS Code Submission Fact Sheet

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6.  What NAICS Codes should I submit?

The selection of NAICS Codes is a decision that each company must make on its own.  However, all NAICS Codes listed on a company’s profile must be ‘small’ based on the NAICS Code sized standards adopted by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

For more information please see the NAICS Code Submission Fact Sheet

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7.  I am not considered a Small Business for some NAICS codes, am I still eligible for your program?

You cannot be Verified as a Veteran-Owned Small Business if you are not considered a Small Business under the North American Industry Classification System.  However, if you are considered small under other NAICS codes, you may omit the codes for which your business does not qualify, and list only those under which you are considered small.

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8.  Will my DBA be listed on my Determination Letter?

A company’s DBA will be listed on their Determination Letter if the DBA is properly registered with the state or county as applicable, is listed on all submitted documentation to include VA Form 0877, Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization, as well as listed on the company’s VIP profile.
If the profile name and 0877 name and the name on any business documentation do not match, and/or there is no evidence that the DBA has been registered in the state or county; only the Legal Name will be listed on the Determination Letter.
For more information see the DBA Processes Fact Sheet.

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9.  How will my application be affected if I have a "Doing Business As" or DBA?

Companies with a DBA must ensure the DBA is registered with the state or county and listed on all submitted documents and the company’s VIP profile.  If both the legal business and the DBA name match on all documentation and the business’ VIP profile, the application should be processed in a normal time frame.

If the profile name and name on documentation do not match, and/or there is no evidence that the DBA has been registered in the state or county; it may take longer to receive a determination.
For more information see the DBA Processes Fact Sheet.

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10.  What if my representative does not provide proof of DBA registry with the appropriate state/county entity?

The DBA will not be included in the determination letter.  For more information see the DBA Processes Fact Sheet.

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11.  How should I report a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and/or Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) suspected of fraud?

For more information please see the Reporting Fraud Fact Sheet

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12.  Where do I correctly list my NAICS Codes in my online VIP profile?

The field titled Business Type is the only location to list NAICS Codes in a VIP profile.

For more clarification, read the Listing NAICS Codes Correctly in Vendor Information Pages (VIP) Fact Sheet.

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