USFCR Blog

Understanding Federal Set-Asides: Guide for Small Businesses

Each year, the federal government aims to reserve approximately 23% of its contracting budget specifically for small businesses. These opportunities, known as federal set-asides, allow various types of small businesses to compete in the federal marketplace. But what exactly are set-asides, and how can your business qualify?

Federal set-asides refer to the percentage of federal spending reserved for small businesses, ensuring fair competition and participation. The federal government offers set-aside categories based on business types, allowing small businesses with diverse backgrounds and capabilities to qualify. Below, we’ll explain the key federal set-asides and the qualifications required.

On this week's episode of USFCR Academy Live, we're covering subcontracting. Join us on Wednesday, 2/26, at 2 PM ET by signing up on our webinar page.

On this week's episode of USFCR Academy Live, we're covering subcontracting. Catch the latest episode every Wednesday at 2 pm ET on Facebook. 

The System for Award Management, commonly referred to as "SAM," was implemented in July 2012. SAM is an online system that helps both government and non-government entities manage their federal awards. 

Catch the newest episode of USFCR Academy Live every Wednesday at 2 PM ET on Facebook. 

This month on USFCR Academy Live, we are covering the basics of understanding the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). FAR is a set of regulations issued to make a standard set of processes for government acquisitions. 

Check out the new episode of USFCR Academy Live every Wednesday at 2 PM ET on Facebook. 

As the new year approaches, you may consider a personal resolution. However, it's also a great time to consider a resolution for your efforts in government contracting. Here are some questions a vendor should ask themselves when preparing their goals for contracting. This week's USFCR Academy Live webinar will also cover time management. 

Where to watch: USFCR Academy Live Facebook Group 

While navigating through government contracting, you will come across multiple points of contact (POCs). Dealing with all of them can be confusing. Here are some of the government points of contact you will encounter and their functions.

Where to watch: USFCR Academy Live Facebook Group 

When to watch: 11/4/19 @ 2 pm ET 

Market research is crucial for success in government contracting. After all, you should know who is buying what so you can find your target customers. If you're considering contracting with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), here's a list of the top 10 industries for HHS contracts from the previous fiscal year.

The information used to write this blog post was extracted from the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS). This list comprises the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes associated with each top industry.

Let's start the countdown.