Veteran-Owned Small Business (VSBE) Certification
VSBE Certification at a Glance
What is it? A free certification for veteran-owned small businesses competing for State-funded contracts with VSBE goals.
Who's eligible? Small businesses at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more veterans.
How do I apply? Register in eMMA, verify your veteran status, and complete the VSBE application in eMMA.
How long does it last? Three years. There is no cost to certify or to recertify.
Program benefits
Maryland's Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) Program sets a statewide goal that at least 3 percent of State procurement goes to certified veteran-owned small businesses. More than 50 State agencies and units participate, and more than 1,100 businesses are certified.
The VSBE Program was established in 2010 and is administered by the Office of Small, Minority, & Women Business Affairs (OSBA) at the Maryland Department of Social and Economic Mobility (DoSEM).
Important note: VSBE certification makes your business eligible for contracts with VSBE goals, but it does not guarantee an award. You still need to find opportunities, submit competitive bids, and deliver the work.
Am I eligible?
Your business can be certified as a VSBE if it meets all of the following requirements.
Am I eligible for VSBE certification?
One or more veterans must own at least 51 percent of the business and control its management and daily operations.
For this program, a veteran is an individual who is verified as having served on active duty in the Uniformed Services of the United States, other than for training, and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.
Your business must meet the size standards set by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in 13 C.F.R. 121.201 for its industry.
Only for-profit small businesses can be certified.
How to apply
How to get certified as a VSBE
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Register for an eMMA account
Create a free vendor profile in eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA), the State's procurement system. All VSBE applications are submitted through eMMA.
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Verify your veteran status
Verify through one of two paths: the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families, using the VSBE Veteran Verification Form, or the U.S. Small Business Administration's Veteran Small Business Certification program. Accepted documents include DD Forms 214, 215, and 5016, National Guard Bureau Forms 22 and 23, and VA rating decisions or benefit letters.
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Submit your VSBE application
Log in to eMMA and complete the VSBE application, a set of eligibility questions under the Documents section of your profile. Providing false information can lead to suspension or debarment, a voided contract, or criminal or civil penalties.
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Recertify every three years
Your certification is valid for three years. Renew it in eMMA before it expires. There is no cost to recertify.
After you are certified
Your VSBE certification number, which begins with VB, is listed in your eMMA account, and your business is searchable in the public vendor database. Search eMMA for solicitations that carry VSBE goals.
Notify OSBA within 30 days of any change that affects your eligibility, such as a change in ownership or control.
For a free one-on-one session on your eMMA profile, commodity codes, and finding opportunities, email [email protected].
Find your next contract
FAQs
VSBE FAQs
Yes. The programs are separate, and a business that meets both sets of requirements can hold both certifications. A veteran-owned Certified Small Business (CSB) also qualifies for a higher price preference under the Small Business Preference Program.
Notify OSBA within 30 days of any change that affects your eligibility, such as a change in ownership or control.
Questions about VSBE certification?
Email [email protected] or call 410-697-9600 for help with eMMA registration, veteran verification, or your VSBE application.