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Home/Glossary/Certificate of Competency
Certification

Certificate of Competency

Definition

A Certificate of Competency (COC, FAR 19.6) is an SBA determination that a small business is capable of performing a specific contract, overriding the contracting officer's non-responsibility finding. The CO must refer any small business found non-responsible to SBA, which conducts its own investigation. If SBA issues a COC, the CO must award to that small business.

Why does Certificate of Competency matter?

is a certification concept federal contractors and grant writers run into across solicitations, regulations, and award filings

Source: Bureauify editorial review·Last updated 2026-06-06 by Bureauify

Where this matters in federal contracting

Certificate of Competency is a federal-contracting certification or socio-economic status. Contractors qualifying under Certificate of Competency can pursue opportunities specifically reserved for that category — but only after registration and verification through the relevant authority (SBA, VA, GSA, or the agency itself). The competitive advantage from a Certificate of Competency certification is real, but conditional: it depends on the registration being current, the eligibility being maintained, and the work fitting within the certification's scope. Many small contractors leave Certificate of Competency opportunities on the table because they assume the bar is too high or the administrative overhead too painful; in practice the largest barrier is usually the awareness gap, not the qualification gap. The related terms above name the adjacent certifications Certificate of Competency most commonly stacks with.

What can I do?

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Related Terms

FARSBA

More certification terms

8(a)SDVOSBVOSBWOSBEDWOSBHUBZoneCMMCSDBATOIATOFAC-CFAC-COR

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Certificate of Competency in government contracting?▾
A Certificate of Competency (COC, FAR 19.6) is an SBA determination that a small business is capable of performing a specific contract, overriding the contracting officer's non-responsibility finding. The CO must refer any small business found non-responsible to SBA, which conducts its own investigation. If SBA issues a COC, the CO must award to that small business.
Why is Certificate of Competency important for government contractors?▾
Certificate of Competency is a certification or designation in the federal contracting ecosystem. Businesses with this certification may qualify for set-aside contracts and other preferential procurement programs.

Find Certificate of Competency-related opportunities

Search active federal contracts and solicitations related to Certificate of Competency on Bureauify.

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