Set-Aside Contract
A set-aside is a federal or state contract reserved for a specific category of small business, so qualifying firms compete only against each other instead of against large companies. The most common federal set-asides are Total Small Business, 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB/EDWOSB, and SDVOSB. The government has a statutory goal of awarding at least 23% of prime contract dollars to small businesses each year.
Set-asides are the single most powerful lever in government contracting because they shrink your competition. When a contracting officer "sets aside" a requirement, only businesses in the named category may bid — so a certified firm is competing against a handful of peers rather than the entire market.
The main federal set-aside types
- Total Small Business — reserved for any qualifying small business (no further certification beyond your SAM.gov small-business self-certification).
- [8(a)](/glossary/8a-program) — socially and economically disadvantaged firms (SBA certification required).
- [HUBZone](/glossary/hubzone) — firms in Historically Underutilized Business Zones (SBA certification required).
- [WOSB / EDWOSB](/glossary/wosb) — women-owned and economically disadvantaged women-owned firms (SBA certification required).
- [SDVOSB](/glossary/sdvosb) — service-disabled veteran-owned firms (SBA VetCert required).
Self-certifying is not enough
For 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB/EDWOSB, and SDVOSB, you must hold an SBA-recognized certification before you can win those set-aside awards. Only Total Small Business set-asides rely on your SAM.gov self-certification alone.
How to find set-aside contracts
Once you know your certifications, filter for them. In SAM.gov Hunter you can filter federal and state opportunities by set-aside type alongside NAICS code, agency, and deadline — and every result is fit-scored, so you only spend time on bids you can actually win. For a deeper walkthrough of each program, see our guide to set-aside codes.
Filter federal & state opportunities by your set-aside type and NAICS — free.
Try set-aside search →Frequently asked questions
What does "set-aside" mean in government contracting?
A set-aside is a contract reserved for a specific category of small business (such as Total Small Business, 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, or SDVOSB) so those firms compete only against each other, not against large companies.
Do I need a certification to win a set-aside?
For a Total Small Business set-aside you only need your SAM.gov small-business self-certification. For 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB/EDWOSB, and SDVOSB you need the corresponding SBA-recognized certification before you can win those awards.
Can a business qualify for more than one set-aside program?
Yes. A firm can hold several certifications at once — for example an 8(a) firm that is also woman-owned and HUBZone-certified — which widens the pool of set-aside opportunities it can pursue.