What Are Set-Asides, and Why Do They Matter for Small Businesses?

Government contracts often feel out of reach for small businesses. Set-asides change that. They reserve specific contracts for small businesses and other qualified groups, helping level the playing field against larger competitors.

If you’re starting in government contracting, understanding set-asides can be key to finding real, winnable opportunities; GovSoft makes that easier.

What Are Set-Asides?

Set-asides are contracts the government reserves for businesses that meet certain qualifications. These include:

• Small businesses
• Women-owned businesses
• Service-disabled veteran-owned businesses
• HUBZone-certified businesses

Instead of competing against every company, eligible businesses compete only among a smaller, qualified pool.

Why Set-Asides Matter for You

For small businesses, set-asides are not just helpful; they can be essential.
Here’s why:

• Real Opportunities You Can Compete For:
  Without set-asides, many contracts would simply go to the biggest bidders. Set-asides create space for smaller firms to win meaningful government work.
• Faster Path to Growth:
  Winning even a single federal contract can boost your reputation, finances, and business relationships, setting the stage for long-term success.
• Focus Your Efforts:
  Instead of chasing every available contract, you can focus your time and energy on opportunities that are actually within reach.

How GovSoft Uses Set-Asides to Support Your Contracting Journey

GovSoft was built to make government contracting easier for any type of business.
One way we do that is by using set-asides intelligently across multiple parts of the platform:

1. Filters Opportunities by Eligibility

When you search for new contracts in GovSoft, you can filter results by set-aside type. That means you only see contracts you qualify for based on your business.

2. Saves Time in Contract Search

Instead of spending hours digging through endless listings, GovSoft narrows down the results and you get a clean list of contracts that match your filters.

3. Improves Your Win Rate

Bidding on set-asides that your business qualifies for significantly increases your chances of success. GovSoft helps you target contracts where you’re a strong contender, not just a hopeful bidder.

4. Match AI

GovSoft’s Match AI analyzes your profile and ranks opportunities based on best fit , so you can focus on bids where you’re most likely to succeed and build a smarter, more strategic approach to contracting.

5. Daily Alerts to Stay Ahead

In GovSoft you can set daily notification alerts based on the set-aside types included in your saved filters, so you never miss new opportunities that could fit your business.

Where You’ll See Set-Asides in GovSoft

Set-asides aren’t hidden in a corner of GovSoft, they are an active part of the platform in several major areas:

• Federal Contract Searches: Apply set-aside filters when searching for new opportunities.
• Awarded Contracts: Analyze past awards based on set-aside types to refine your strategy.

GovSoft isn’t just another tool, it’s your reliable partner in getting started, getting organized, and getting contracts.

By making set-asides easily accessible, we help businesses of all types to feel ready to take action.

Get ready to find the right opportunities faster with GovSoft.