Janitorial set-aside contracts: how they work
A set-aside is a federal contract that only certain kinds of small business may bid on. Cleaning and grounds work is set aside often, because many small firms can do it. If your company qualifies for one of the programs below, you compete against a shorter list of bidders. This page explains each program in plain terms, with a link to the rule or SBA page behind it. For the bidding steps themselves, see how to bid on federal janitorial contracts.
It explains how the programs work. It is not legal advice about whether your company qualifies; SBA decides that, and your state's free APEX Accelerator can help you apply.
How to tell what a notice is set aside for
Every SAM.gov notice has a "Set Aside" field. It says "Total Small Business", names one of the programs below, or is blank (full and open competition). The solicitation repeats it, usually with a clause such as 52.219-6 (small business set-aside) or the program's own clause. If you don't hold the status named, you can't win that award as the prime contractor.
1. Small business set-aside
The widest one: any company that is small under the size standard for the notice's NAICS code (561720 for janitorial, 561730 for landscaping) can bid. There is no separate certification; you represent your size in your SAM.gov registration.
- Between the micro-purchase threshold ($15,000) and the simplified acquisition threshold ($350,000), a purchase is set aside for small business by default, unless the contracting officer doesn't expect offers from small businesses (FAR 19.502-2(a); thresholds in FAR 2.101).
- Above $350,000, the "rule of two" applies: it must be set aside when the contracting officer expects offers from at least two responsible small businesses at fair market prices (FAR 19.502-2(b)).
The government-wide goal is at least 23% of federal contracting dollars to small businesses (SBA). Check your size with SBA's size standards tool, counting affiliated companies' receipts too.
2. The four socioeconomic programs
Above the simplified acquisition threshold, the contracting officer must first consider these programs before an ordinary small business set-aside, and there is no order of precedence among them (FAR 19.203). Unlike the small business set-aside, each needs a certification, applied for free at SBA Certifications.
HUBZone
For small businesses in historically underutilized business zones. The firm must be at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens (or certain community, cooperative or tribal entities), have its principal office in a HUBZone, and have at least 35% of its employees living in a HUBZone. The goal is 3% of federal prime contract dollars, and certified firms also get a 10% price evaluation preference in full and open competitions (SBA: HUBZone program). The 35% residency rule matters for cleaning firms, whose crews are most of the headcount. SBA's HUBZone map shows which addresses qualify, and it is updated from time to time.
Service-disabled veteran-owned (SDVOSB) and VetCert
At least 51% owned and controlled by veterans with a VA service-connected disability rating, and small under the size standard. Certification is through SBA's VetCert program, which took over from the VA on January 1, 2023. The goal is at least 5% of federal contracting dollars. The VA's own "Veterans First" set-asides and sole-source awards require certification; self-certification was never allowed there (SBA: veteran programs). VA clinics and medical centers buy a lot of custodial work, so this one comes up often in cleaning notices.
Women-owned (WOSB and EDWOSB)
At least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens, with women managing day-to-day operations and making long-term decisions; EDWOSB adds personal net worth, income and asset limits. WOSB set-asides are only allowed in NAICS industries where SBA has found women-owned firms underrepresented, so check SBA's eligible-codes list for 561720 or 561730 before counting on it. Certification is through SBA Certifications, directly or with one of SBA's approved third-party certifiers. The goal is 5% (SBA: WOSB program).
8(a) Business Development
A nine-year program for small businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens who are socially and economically disadvantaged, with personal limits that SBA lists as net worth of $850,000 or less, adjusted gross income of $400,000 or less and assets of $6.5 million or less. A firm can take part only once. Agencies can set contracts aside for 8(a) firms or award them directly, and a requirement SBA has accepted into 8(a) stays there unless SBA releases it (SBA: 8(a) program; FAR 19.203(c)). The program's rules have been under review; read SBA's current 8(a) page before applying.
3. You have to do most of the work yourself
Winning a set-aside and then handing the work to a large or non-qualifying cleaning company is not allowed. On a set-aside services contract, the prime may not pay more than 50% of what the government pays for performance to subcontractors that don't share its status; work those subcontractors pass further down still counts toward the 50% (FAR 52.219-14). For a cleaning contract, where labor is most of the cost, that means your own employees do most of the cleaning.
4. Before you bid on a set-aside
- Your SAM.gov registration is active and shows you as small for the notice's NAICS code.
- If the notice names a program, your certification is already approved, not just applied for. Certification takes time, so apply well before the notices you want.
- The solicitation may ask for proof of status in the offer itself (for example, a VetCert listing for a VA set-aside). Check its instructions.
- You can staff the work with your own employees within the 50% limit.
Where we fit
Set-aside notices are posted on SAM.gov every day and are easy to miss. The free weekly list sends you the open janitorial and grounds solicitations, with each notice's set-aside type, plus upcoming rebids, your state first. The bid desk ($149 a month, 14-day trial) adds a go/no-go note on each one, and we can draft the response when you decide to bid.
Checked October 20, 2026 against the linked pages. Thresholds and size standards change; the linked official pages are the authority.