Acquiring your GSA Contract is the first step, Next, you must learn how to use it properly, and for a small business that means taking advantage of the set-aside programs that the government put into place.

The Socio-Economic Indicators signify the business size and business status of the contractor.

s - Small business.
o - Other than small business.
w - Woman Owned business.
v - Veteran Owned Small business.
dv - Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small business.
d - SBA Certified Small Disadvantaged business.
8a - SBA Certified 8(a) Firm.
h - SBA Certified HUBZone Firm.

After acquiring your GSA Contract, you will have gained a large advantage over your competitors, but with a Socio-Economic Indicator, you can have even more advantages within the government contracting market. Some of the preference programs are easy to achieve and some are a very long process. It is important to remember that providing solutions for the government in a reliable manner is always going to take you farther than an economic indicator. However, using a set-aside to your advantage can make the difference in a close race for a project.

Related: Subcontracting in the Federal Market