Set-aside

A US federal tender that only small businesses, or a category of them such as 8(a) or service-disabled veteran-owned firms, may bid on. Set-asides are a major route in for small IT firms.

Also called: Small business set-aside

Related terms

8(a) Business Development Program

A US Small Business Administration program for small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged people. 8(a) firms can win set-aside and sole-source federal contracts.

NAICS code

The North American Industry Classification System code that describes what a business does. US federal tenders name one NAICS code, which sets the small-business size limit; 541511 is custom computer programming.