VIP START (Veteran Institute for Procurement)
Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP)
Check before you apply: details change often, so confirm on the official page before you apply.
- Who it's for
- Owners of for-profit veteran-owned small businesses (VOSB/SDVOSB) in business at least one year, with revenue in the past year, an owner working full time in the company, a live website and an active SAM.gov registration
Open to: veterans. - Cost
- Free
- Free with no benefit?
- Yes: no GI Bill, VR&E or VET TEC benefit needed.
- What you get
- Free three-day (27+ hour) federal contracting course for veteran-owned small businesses: requirements to do business with primes and the government, strategic planning in the federal market, accounting, budgets and rates, plus a network of government and industry contacts. 1,537 companies have graduated since 2016. A credit card holds your seat and is charged $1,000 only if you cancel late
- Type
- Course
- Credential strength
- 2/5: Entrepreneurship training with a certificate of completion and network; most useful to founders.
- Duration
- 3 days (27+ hours)
- Format
- In person (In person in Potomac, MD)
- Location
- Bolger Center, Potomac, MD
- Deadline
- Upcoming classes: Oct 20-22, 2026; Jan 26-28, 2027; Mar 2-4, 2027; Jun 8-10, 2027 (apply; waitlist, first-come)
- Next start
- Oct 20, 2026
- Jobs it can lead to
- Small Business Owner; Federal Contracting Manager
- Notes
- Late cancellation means after the date in your acceptance email. Travel and lodging costs are not stated. A fee applies only to repeat a class.
- Official page
- nationalvip.org/start
- Last checked
- Oct 7, 2026