What is a set-aside certification in government contracting?

Set-aside certifications for federal contracting are specific certifications a business (or individual) can apply for when looking to get in to federal contracting. 23% of federal contracting dollars are allocated towards Federally Certified Small Businesses via set-aside contracts and “No Bid Contracts”, meaning your business could be eligible to participate in contracts without bidding. There are four main “Set-Aside Certifications” which are; Woman-Owned, Veteran-Owned, HUBZone, and 8(a) Minority-Owned,