Postedly's paid review service currently covers California state and local opportunities. This federal guide is reference material only; Postedly does not currently sell audits of federal set-aside notices.
Read the exact set-aside and NAICS designation
Federal set-asides can be open to qualifying small businesses generally or limited to an SBA contracting program identified in the notice. Capture the set-aside type, assigned NAICS code, size standard, place of performance, notice status, response date, and contracting officer from the official SAM.gov record.
Do not substitute the company's preferred NAICS code for the one assigned to the procurement. If the code or size standard appears inconsistent with the principal purpose, follow the current official protest or appeal rules and deadline rather than ignoring the designation.
- Save the official notice and solicitation identifiers.
- Confirm the current amendment and response status.
- Record the assigned NAICS code and stated size standard.
- Identify whether the set-aside is total, partial, or program-specific.
Calculate size with affiliation in view
SBA size standards vary by industry and are generally based on employees or annual receipts. SBA also explains that affiliates must be included under its rules. Ownership is not the only affiliation issue; the power to control and other relationships can matter.
Use the current SBA size tool, regulations, and qualified advice for a defensible determination. Preserve the measurement period, entities considered, calculation owner, and approval. A knowingly false size representation carries serious consequences, so uncertainty is a Verify gate rather than a sales assumption.
Verify program certification and SAM representations
Program-specific set-asides can require current certification or status under the applicable SBA program. Entity registration and representations in SAM also need to be active and accurate for the procurement. A submitted application, lapsed registration, or marketing label does not establish eligibility.
Match legal names, Unique Entity ID, ownership and control facts, program status, NAICS representations, exclusions, and solicitation certifications. Allow time for official systems and reviews; do not wait until the final proposal day to discover a registration problem.
- Verify status in the designated official system.
- Record renewal and expiration dates through anticipated award.
- Reconcile proposal statements with current representations.
- Escalate changes in ownership, affiliates, or control before certification.
Test limitations on subcontracting and delivery control
SBA rules can limit how much set-aside contract performance is paid to subcontractors that are not similarly situated, with treatment varying by contract category and circumstances. Supply opportunities can also raise the nonmanufacturer rule. The current solicitation and applicable rules determine the test.
Build a workshare model before naming the team. Separate the prime's work, similarly situated subcontractor work, other subcontractor work, materials, and contract-category assumptions. A desirable partner cannot cure a delivery structure that fails the applicable performance requirement.
Evaluate competitiveness inside the smaller pool
Eligibility only grants the right to compete. The buyer still evaluates the response under the stated method, and other qualified small businesses may have stronger past performance, vehicles, pricing, clearances, locations, or agency relationships.
Research the agency, requirement, incumbents where officially visible, award history, likely competition, and the company's discriminating evidence. If the only reason to Chase is the set-aside label, the opportunity is not yet qualified.
- Map directly comparable contracts and reference permission.
- Confirm every key person, facility, clearance, and credential.
- Model the complete cost of federal clauses and reporting.
- Set a capture action tied to a buyer or requirement fact.
Document an eligibility-backed bid decision
Chase when official status, size, registration, representations, workshare, scope, schedule, and evidence are supported. Verify when a named eligibility or delivery question can be resolved before the internal cutoff. Involve qualified counsel or advisors when affiliation, status, performance, or protest issues are material.
Pass when the assigned size standard is not met, certification or registration will not be current, the team cannot satisfy the performance model, a mandatory vehicle or clearance is missing, or the economics fail after compliance. Preserve the reason so future federal searches exclude the same mismatch.
Official starting points
Sources to verify before acting
Procurement rules, dates, forms, and portal records can change. Use these official sources and the current solicitation.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is every small company eligible for every set-aside?
No. Eligibility depends on the solicitation, assigned NAICS size standard, SBA size and affiliation rules, any program-specific status, and current federal representations.
Does an active SAM registration prove small-business status?
No. SAM registration and representations are important, but the procurement-specific size standard, affiliates, program certification, and current facts still need review.
Can a small prime subcontract all of the work?
Do not assume so. SBA limitations on subcontracting and related rules can apply based on the set-aside and contract category. Model the intended workshare against current official requirements.
Does Postedly certify federal eligibility?
No. Postedly can surface the relevant official evidence and unresolved gates. SBA, SAM, the contracting agency, applicable rules, and qualified advisors control formal eligibility questions.
This guide is general business information, not legal, procurement, certification, tax, or compliance advice. The current official solicitation and buyer instructions control.