Original research · RFPCapture

2026 Federal Small-Business / Set-Aside Benchmark

Program-family analysis of SAM.gov set-aside labels across 71,161 dated federal opportunities in the RFPCapture catalog.

Published 2026-09-04 · Last updated 2026-09-04 · Posting dates 2011-07-06 to 2026-09-04

Headline finding. Among 71,161 dated catalog notices, 44,283 (62.2%) carried a set-aside designation, 6,746 (9.5%) were unrestricted / no set-aside used, and 20,132 (28.3%) had a blank/unspecified set-aside field.

Dataset
Program families are mapped from the raw SAM.gov set_aside string using documented substring/FAR patterns. Blank fields are unspecified — never treated as unrestricted. Socio-economic certification beyond the notice set-aside label is not claimed.
Sample size
71,161 dated notices after excluding 3,094 without authoritative posted date.
Date range
Authoritative posting dates 2011-07-06 to 2026-09-04.
Source provenance
Program-family rollups are RFPCapture-derived from public set_aside strings. Not official SBA or SAM.gov statistics.
Last updated
2026-09-04 · Published 2026-09-04

Executive summary

Set-aside 44,283 · Unrestricted 6,746 · Unspecified 20,132 of 71,161 dated notices. Blank fields are never treated as unrestricted.

Key findings

  1. Among 71,161 dated catalog notices, 44,283 (62.2%) carried a set-aside designation, 6,746 (9.5%) were unrestricted / no set-aside used, and 20,132 (28.3%) had a blank/unspecified set-aside field.
  2. Total Small Business set-aside was the largest named program family (36,476, 51.3% of dated notices).
  3. SDVOSB set-aside: 4,908 notices (6.9%).
  4. WOSB set-aside: 1,655 notices (2.3%).
  5. HUBZone set-aside: 225 notices (0.3%).
  6. 8(a) set-aside / sole source: 553 notices (0.8%).
  7. EDWOSB set-aside: 38 notices (0.1%).
  8. Median response window: set-aside notices 11 days (n=43,795) vs unrestricted 14 days (n=6,553).
  9. DEPT OF DEFENSE › DLA LAND AND MARITIME posted the most set-aside notices (4,987).
  10. Among 4,109 IT-eligible notices (documented NAICS/PSC rules), 928 were set-aside, 1,243 unrestricted, and 1,938 unspecified.

What the data shows right now

  • Among 71,161 dated catalog notices, 44,283 (62.2%) carried a set-aside designation, 6,746 (9.5%) were unrestricted / no set-aside used, and 20,132 (28.3%) had a blank/unspecified set-aside field.
  • Total Small Business set-aside was the largest named program family (36,476, 51.3% of dated notices).
  • SDVOSB set-aside: 4,908 notices (6.9%).
  • WOSB set-aside: 1,655 notices (2.3%).
  • HUBZone set-aside: 225 notices (0.3%).
  • 8(a) set-aside / sole source: 553 notices (0.8%).
  • EDWOSB set-aside: 38 notices (0.1%).
  • Median response window: set-aside notices 11 days (n=43,795) vs unrestricted 14 days (n=6,553).

Cite with care

  • Program families are mapped from notice set-aside strings — not firm certification registries.
  • Unspecified ≠ unrestricted.
  • Figures are RFPCapture-derived, not official SBA/SAM statistics.

Program families

Set-aside program family volume
  • Total Small Business set-aside36,476
  • Blank / unspecified set-aside field20,132
  • Unrestricted / no set-aside used6,746
  • SDVOSB set-aside4,908
  • WOSB set-aside1,655
  • 8(a) set-aside / sole source553
  • Buy Indian / ISBEE set-aside353
  • HUBZone set-aside225
  • Other set-aside (classified, not in named programs)75
  • EDWOSB set-aside38
Program family counts
ProgramCountShare of dated notices
Total Small Business set-aside36,47651.3%
Blank / unspecified set-aside field20,13228.3%
Unrestricted / no set-aside used6,7469.5%
SDVOSB set-aside4,9086.9%
WOSB set-aside1,6552.3%
8(a) set-aside / sole source5530.8%
Buy Indian / ISBEE set-aside3530.5%
HUBZone set-aside2250.3%
Other set-aside (classified, not in named programs)750.1%
EDWOSB set-aside380.1%
Raw SAM set-aside labels (top)
LabelCountShare
Small Business Set Aside - Total19,06426.8%
Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)17,35124.4%
No Set aside used6,7469.5%
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Set-Aside (FAR 19.14)2,9764.2%
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set Aside1,8592.6%
SBA Certified Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program Set-Aside (FAR 19.15)1,2701.8%
Women-Owned Small Business3620.5%
8(a) Set-Aside (FAR 19.8)2590.4%
8a Competed1760.2%
Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise1750.2%
Historically Underutilized Business (HUBZone) Set-Aside (FAR 19.13)1110.2%
HUBZone Set Aside1080.2%
Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise (ISBEE) Set-Aside (specific to Department of Interior and Indian Health Services)920.1%
Buy Indian Set-Aside (specific to Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Services)860.1%
8(a) Sole Source (FAR 19.8)690.1%
8(a) Sole Source490.1%
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Sole Source (FAR 19.14)480.1%
Small Business Set Aside - Partial390.1%
SBA Certified Economically Disadvantaged WOSB (EDWOSB) Program Set-Aside (FAR 19.15)300%
Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside (specific to Department of Veterans Affairs)270%

Where set-asides concentrate

Top agencies by set-aside notice volume
AgencySet-aside countShare of set-asides
DEPT OF DEFENSE › DLA LAND AND MARITIME4,98711.3%
DEPT OF DEFENSE › DLA LAND AND MARITIME3,8208.6%
DEPT OF DEFENSE › DLA AVIATION3,2817.4%
DEPT OF DEFENSE › W6QM MICC-FT DRUM2,8646.5%
DEPT OF DEFENSE › DLA TROOP SUPPORT1,2722.9%
COMMERCE, DEPARTMENT OF › DEPT OF COMMERCE NOAA4921.1%
DEPT OF DEFENSE › NAVSUP WEAPON SYSTEMS SUPPORT MECH4611%
AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF › USDA ARS AFM APD4261%
DEPT OF DEFENSE › NAVFACSYSCOM MID-ATLANTIC3780.9%
VETERANS AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF › 262-NETWORK CONTRACT OFFICE 22 (36C262)3410.8%
DEPT OF DEFENSE › DLA MARITIME - PUGET SOUND2480.6%
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION › NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER2430.5%
DEPT OF DEFENSE › NAVSUP FLT LOG CTR PUGET SOUND2290.5%
VETERANS AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF › NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMIN (36C786)2290.5%
VETERANS AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF › 257-NETWORK CONTRACT OFFICE 17 (36C257)2220.5%
Top NAICS by set-aside notice volume
NAICSSet-aside countShare of set-asides
NAICS 2362202,1914.9%
NAICS 3325101,3683.1%
NAICS 2382201,2692.9%
NAICS 3364131,0682.4%
NAICS 3327221,0352.3%
NAICS 3329117491.7%
NAICS 5617306471.5%
NAICS 2382106321.4%
NAICS 2379906071.4%
NAICS 8113105971.3%
NAICS 3399915831.3%
NAICS 2373105781.3%
NAICS 3344195721.3%
NAICS 3366114741.1%
NAICS 3329994731.1%
Top agencies by set-aside volume
Top NAICS by set-aside volume
Dated notices by posting month
  • 2026-0820,970
  • 2026-0720,629
  • 2026-0617,148
  • 2026-054,100
  • 2026-093,311
  • 2026-041,109
  • 2026-03701
  • 2025-08621
  • 2025-07484
  • 2025-09460
  • 2026-02450
  • 2026-01383
  • 2025-12303
  • 2025-11193
  • 2025-10161
  • 2025-0638
  • 2025-0518
  • 2024-1210
  • 2024-087
  • 2024-107
  • 2024-116
  • 2018-065
  • 2025-015
  • 2025-045

Response windows by set-aside bucket

Median days posted → deadline
BucketSampleMedian days
Set-aside43,79511
Unrestricted6,55314
Unspecified19,54613
Program family medians (n≥25)
ProgramSampleMedian days
Other set-aside (classified, not in named programs)759
Buy Indian / ISBEE set-aside35110
Total Small Business set-aside36,10111
SDVOSB set-aside4,82411
WOSB set-aside1,64612
Blank / unspecified set-aside field19,54613
HUBZone set-aside22013
Unrestricted / no set-aside used6,55314
8(a) set-aside / sole source54014
EDWOSB set-aside3814

run_utc and created_at_utc are never used. Authoritative posting dates come from opportunities.posted_date, raw_json, or sam_summary_json.

IT slice crossover

Using the same documented IT NAICS/PSC rules as the 2026 Federal IT Opportunity Benchmark: 4,109 IT notices — set-aside 928, unrestricted 1,243, unspecified 1,938. Browse live federal opportunities after reviewing program mix, or track new notices with free SAM.gov opportunity alerts.

Original research

Methodology

Data source
RFPCapture shared federal opportunity catalog. Set-aside analysis uses the opportunities.set_aside field as published from SAM.gov (and grant rows when present).
Date range
Authoritative posting dates 2011-07-06 to 2026-09-04.
Sample size
71,161 dated notices after excluding 3,094 without authoritative posted date.
Program classification
Families: total_small_business, sdvosb, wosb, edwosb, hubzone, eight_a, buy_indian_isbee, unrestricted, unspecified, other_set_aside. Specific programs match before generic total small business. Raw SAM labels retained in a separate table.
Inclusion / exclusion
Included: titled notices with authoritative posted date. Excluded: missing authoritative posted date. Blank set-aside ≠ unrestricted.
Response window
Calendar days from authoritative posted date to deadline; <0 or >730 discarded. Medians reported by bucket and by program family (n≥25).

Source notes

Public-source figures come from SAM.gov, Grants.gov, or other primary listings stored in the catalog. RFPCapture-derived figures are analysis products computed from those fields and are labeled separately.

  • Public sourceSAM.gov set_aside fieldRFPCapture shared federal opportunity catalog. Set-aside analysis uses the opportunities.set_aside field as published from SAM.gov (and grant rows when present).
  • RFPCapture-derivedProgram-family rollupsFamilies: total_small_business, sdvosb, wosb, edwosb, hubzone, eight_a, buy_indian_isbee, unrestricted, unspecified, other_set_aside. Specific programs match before generic total small business. Raw SAM labels retained in a separate table.
  • RFPCapture-derivedUnsupportedFirm-level small-business certification status beyond the notice set-aside label Incumbent / awardee socio-economic status Award dollars by set-aside program Win rates by set-aside program

Citation kit

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Study title
2026 Federal Small-Business / Set-Aside Benchmark
Publisher
RFPCapture
Publication date
2026-09-04
Last updated
2026-09-04
Dataset size
71,161 dated notices after excluding 3,094 without authoritative posted date.

Short research summary

Among 71,161 dated catalog notices, 44,283 (62.2%) carried a set-aside designation, 6,746 (9.5%) were unrestricted / no set-aside used, and 20,132 (28.3%) had a blank/unspecified set-aside field. Dataset: 71,161 dated notices after excluding 3,094 without authoritative posted date.. Publisher: RFPCapture. Canonical: https://www.rfpcapture.com/research/2026-federal-set-aside-benchmark.

Recommended citation

RFPCapture. 2026 Federal Small-Business / Set-Aside Benchmark. September 4, 2026. Retrieved from https://www.rfpcapture.com/research/2026-federal-set-aside-benchmark.

Headline statistics

Dataset: Program families are mapped from the raw SAM.gov set_aside string using documented substring/FAR patterns. Blank fields are unspecified — never treated as unrestricted. Socio-economic certification beyond the notice set-aside label is not claimed.. Cite the canonical URL with each statistic.

  1. Among 71,161 dated catalog notices, 44,283 (62.2%) carried a set-aside designation, 6,746 (9.5%) were unrestricted / no set-aside used, and 20,132 (28.3%) had a blank/unspecified set-aside field.

  2. Total Small Business set-aside was the largest named program family (36,476, 51.3% of dated notices).

  3. SDVOSB set-aside: 4,908 notices (6.9%).

  4. WOSB set-aside: 1,655 notices (2.3%).

  5. HUBZone set-aside: 225 notices (0.3%).

  6. 8(a) set-aside / sole source: 553 notices (0.8%).

  7. EDWOSB set-aside: 38 notices (0.1%).

  8. Median response window: set-aside notices 11 days (n=43,795) vs unrestricted 14 days (n=6,553).

  9. DEPT OF DEFENSE › DLA LAND AND MARITIME posted the most set-aside notices (4,987).

  10. Among 4,109 IT-eligible notices (documented NAICS/PSC rules), 928 were set-aside, 1,243 unrestricted, and 1,938 unspecified.

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