How does set aside work in a contract?
Eligibility is limited to firms meeting specific small business or socio-economic criteria; non-eligible proposals are rejected.
Set-aside works by limiting eligibility for a contract to firms that meet specific small business or socio-economic criteria. The contracting officer includes set-aside language in the solicitation, and only qualified firms can submit offers as primes, although they may subcontract to others within regulatory limits. During evaluation, proposals from non-eligible firms are rejected as non-responsive. For awardees, the contract still follows normal performance, reporting, and quality rules; the set-aside only affects who can compete.
GovCon in a Box helps you respond effectively to set-aside contracts by mapping your certifications to relevant solicitations, highlighting teaming opportunities, and using our RGA tool to score your fit. This ensures you spend time on set-aside opportunities where you can honestly compete and perform.
GovCon in a Box can help
Our tools help you find set-aside opportunities that match your certifications, connect with teaming partners, and build a capture pipeline focused on winnable work.