Instructions for requesting Verification of your firm as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) or a Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) are as follows:

Registered businesses, or businesses wishing to register in the Vendor Information Pages (VIP) database for the purpose of securing opportunities in the Veterans First Contracting Program, must fill out an electronic Verification application (VA Form 0877) located at the top of the VIP profile.

• Once a VIP profile is created, go back in under the Update a Business Profile link located on the left side of the page at https://www.vip.VetBiz.gov.
• Once the business profile is opened, there is a link at the top of the profile page, in blue letters, entitled, Veteran-Owned Business Verification Needed.  Please click on the link provided to start the Verification process.
• This leads to a screen entitled, VA Form 0877 E-Signature Instructions.  This screen will provide you with a listing of the necessary information required to complete the electronic VA Form 0877.  Failure to complete the form will result in being unable to register business as a Verified Veteran-Owned or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business.

As the registering agent for a business, you must complete your portion of the form and, if you are not at least 51% owner of your business, the other Veteran business partner(s) must also complete and sign their own Verification form(s).

The acceptable method for submitting your VA Form 0877 is via the electronic form.  In unusual cases, the Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) may authorize an individual to fax the VA Form 0877.

• This method will only be used when requested, and authorized in writing.
• If you wish to request authorization to fax your VA Form 0877, you must submit a signed, dated, letter via email to vip@va.gov explaining the reason(s) why you cannot use the electronic VA Form 0877.
• CVE will reply, in writing, of its decision on your request to fax the VA Form 0877.
• If written permission is received to fax the VA Form 0877, it is very important for you to print out and save the transmittal confirmation sheet for your fax.
• Once the form is received by CVE, an electronic acknowledgement will be dispatched.

Surviving spouses of 100% service-connected disabled Veterans, or a Veteran who died as direct result of his/her service-connected disability, may register the business as if they were a Veteran.

The enforcement penalties for misrepresentation of your Veteran-Owned Small business are as follows:  “Any business concern that is determined by the Secretary to have misrepresented the status of that concern as a small concern owned and controlled by Veterans or as a small business concern owned and controlled by Service-Disabled Veterans for purposes of this subsection shall be debarred from contracting with the Department for a reasonable period of time, as determined by the Secretary.”  [38 U.S.C. Section 8127 (g)]

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will not recognize your Small Business as Veteran-Owned or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned if you do not submit the information and your profile is not Verified as a Veteran-Owned or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned business.

You must be registered in VIP before submitting a VA Form 0877.  In order to process VA Form 0877 in a timely manner, it is important for you to read and comply with the following instructions.  Not adhering to these instructions may delay processing of VA Form 0877.  If you are a Service-Disabled Veteran, and you are not receiving compensation from the VA, before submitting your VA Form 0877, we strongly encourage you to call your local VBA Regional Office at (800) 827-1000 and ask them to verify that your Service-Disabled Veteran status is updated in your BIRLS record.  This applies to all levels of service rating, to include 0%.

The most common reasons for delay of the Verification Process are listed below.  Please review these before completing your form to prevent a delay in processing your application.  Also review the Common Form 0877 Mistakes and how you can avoid them!

• Not reading VA Form 0877 for complete instructions
• Not entering Business Name in Name of Company block under PART III
• Not completing your full name (i.e., A. Smith instead of Andrew Smith)
• Not sending in a complete Social Security Number (SSN) or leaving the SSN blank
• Entering non-Veteran SSN information.  We are not collecting non-Veteran SSNs.
• Not checking the appropriate box for “status”
• Not indicating percentage of ownership for each individual owner Ownership total does not equal 100%
• Not listing all owners
• Not signing your name in the Signature block
• Not dating your signature in the Date Signed block
• Business name in Name of Company on VA Form 0877 doesn’t match the business name listed in the VIP profile
• Veteran’s name doesn’t match Veterans Benefit Administration records (Veteran record hasn’t been updated with VBA, i.e., name change due to marriage)
• Submission of multiple VA Form 0877s for the same business sent on different days
• For businesses with more than seven (7) owners, the majority Veteran business owner should sign all additional VA Forms 0877 to expedite application processing

Access the VIP to begin the Verification process.