Veteran-Owned Business Contracting: Get Contract Ready!

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Below you will find the step-by-step process utilizing FREE RESOURCES to prepare your new Veteran-owned business for government contracting:

NAICS Codes

Determine Your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes which identify the goods and services your LLC Contract-Ready business entity will provide.

https://www.census.gov/naics/

Obtain EIN

Apply for your Employer Identification Number Online:

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/get-an-employer-identification-number

Set Yourself Up For Contracting:

Step 1

Once you have your EIN and NAICS Codes, register your entity and obtain a Unique Entity ID and CAGE code.

Click the following link to view a registration tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ6LM69niuk

Register your business entity here:

https://sam.gov/entity-registration

Step 2

Once you have your Unique Entity ID and CAGE Code, secure your Federal Veteran-owned Business (VOB) or Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Business (SDVOB) Certifications. Some Veterans may also qualify for Federal 8a, HUBZone, Women-owned, or Economically Distressed Women-owned business certifications.

View SBA Certifications Webinar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nug7Ik-p3V8

Apply for your SBA Certifications here:

https://certifications.sba.gov/

***STOP HERE! EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2025 YOUR SBA VETERAN-OWNED OR SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS CERTIFICATION WILL QUALIFY MANY VETERANS FOR STEP 3. PROCEED TO STEP 3 ONCE YOU RECEIVED YOUR VOB OR SDVOB CERTIFICATION FROM SBA.***

Step 3

Apply for your Texas Historically Underutilized Business certification if you are a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans that is certified as a veteran-owned small business by the United States Small Business Administration in accordance with Senate Bill 390 (89th Leg., 2025). This certification makes you eligible to bid on State of Texas and certain political subdivisions contract solicitations.

Click here to view Texas Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Webinar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi_l9y4AEkk

Click here to apply for your Texas HUB certification:

https://texashub.gob2g.com/

Step 4

Apply for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and/or local Small/Minority/Women/Veteran Business Enterprise (S/W/M/VBE) certifications. (Choose only the agency that serves your local area)

Greater San Antonio

https://sctrca.org/

Greater Houston

https://www.houstontx.gov/obo/

Greater Austin

https://austintexas.mwdbe.com/

Corpus Christi and Coastal Bend

https://ccrta.gob2g.com/

Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex/North Texas

https://nctrca.org/

All other areas of Texas

https://txdot.txdotcms.com/

Step 5

Once steps 1 through 4 are complete, register with your local APEX Accelerator to learn how to locate and bid on solicitations and obtain procurement technical assistance. Completing Steps 1 through 4 before contacting your APEX Accelerator will save you a great deal of time.

(Choose only the agency that serves your local area)

Greater San Antonio/Greater Austin/Hill Country/SW Texas

https://apexaccelerator.iedtexas.org/

Corpus Christi and Coastal Bend

https://www.delmar.edu/apexaccelerator/

Rio Grande Valley

https://www.utrgv.edu/ptac/

Greater Houston/SE Texas

https://www.uhapex.uh.edu/apex/default.asp

Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex/North Texas

https://www.uta.edu/research/centers/cross-timbers

NW Texas/Permian Basin/Panhandle

https://www.nwtapex.org/

Greater El Paso

https://www.elpasococ-events.org/mission

Once you have completed ALL OF THE ABOVE and feel prepared to excel, consider enrolling in the General Services Administration FAST Lane program. Learn more at:

https://www.gsa.gov/technology/it-contract-vehicles-and-purchasing-programs/multiple-award-schedule-it/fast-lane-making-it-easier