> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.civiccontracts.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Small business set-asides

> Find federal small business and socioeconomic set-aside contracts in Civic AI — 8(a), WOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone, and other categories surfaced on every result.

Set-aside contracts limit competition to eligible small businesses or specific socioeconomic categories. Civic AI surfaces set-aside status on search results so you can prioritize opportunities you qualify for.

## Common federal set-aside categories

| Category                           | Who qualifies                                         |
| ---------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| **Small business (SB)**            | Meets SBA size standards for the NAICS code           |
| **8(a)**                           | SBA 8(a) Business Development program participants    |
| **WOSB / EDWOSB**                  | Women-owned or economically disadvantaged women-owned |
| **SDVOSB**                         | Service-disabled veteran-owned small business         |
| **HUBZone**                        | Located in a Historically Underutilized Business Zone |
| **Total small business set-aside** | Full-and-open restricted to small business only       |

## Search for set-aside work

Include set-aside language in your query:

* "SDVOSB set-aside cybersecurity contracts"
* "8(a) professional services — open solicitations"
* "WOSB IT contracts due this quarter"
* "HUBZone construction — federal"

Civic AI also displays set-aside tags on individual result cards even when you do not mention them in the query.

## Verify eligibility before bidding

<Warning>
  Set-aside eligibility is determined by your SAM.gov profile, SBA certifications, and the solicitation's exact requirements. Civic AI helps you **find** set-aside opportunities — always confirm you qualify on the official posting before submitting.
</Warning>

Steps to stay compliant:

1. Keep SAM.gov socioeconomic flags current
2. Maintain active SBA certifications (8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, etc.)
3. Read the solicitation's set-aside clause and NAICS size standard
4. Document teaming agreements if you bid as a joint venture

<Card title="Federal set-asides explained" icon="book-open" href="https://www.civiccontracts.com/blog/federal-set-asides-explained">
  Deep dive on 8(a), WOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone, and more.
</Card>

## Combine set-asides with NAICS strategy

Set-aside filters work best when paired with the right [NAICS and PSC codes](/reference/naics-psc). Agencies classify work by industry; your profile codes determine which opportunities appear in SAM.gov and which size standards apply.

## Related pages

* [Federal contracts](/find-opportunities/federal-contracts)
* [Small business contracts](https://www.civiccontracts.com/small-business-contracts) — product landing page
* [Saved searches and alerts](/saved-searches-and-alerts) — monitor set-aside niches automatically