Backed by the Billion Dollar Roundtable Members, NVBDC protects procurement integrity and drives billions in certified veteran business engagement.
Procurement fraud is not a theory—it’s a reality. In recent weeks alone, federal investigators have exposed a range of schemes exploiting veterans and government programs:
- A VA employee accepted thousands in cash kickbacks from veterans’ disability awards.
- A VA contracting officer created a fake company to steal over $500,000.
- A $20 million GI Bill scam recruited veterans for fake education benefits.
- A Texas nonprofit leader pocketed federal housing funds meant for homeless veterans.
These are not isolated incidents—they are a systemic threat to the integrity of government and corporate procurement alike. If fraud can infiltrate federal systems with layers of oversight, the risk for corporations relying on unverified veteran suppliers is even greater.
The Case for NVBDC in Corporate Procurement
Since 2013, National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC) has been the original and only organization that certifies service-disabled and veteran-owned businesses (SD/VOB’s) of all sizes, through a rigorous, auditable, and fully independent process designed to meet enterprise-level procurement standards.
In 2017, the Billion Dollar Roundtable (BDR)—an organization composed of 32 of the largest U.S. companies—evaluated NVBDC and approved it as the only veteran certification organization that meets its audit requirements. The BDR governance committee sets the benchmark for which certifications procurement teams can accept. Its decision was unambiguous: NVBDC stands alone when it comes to confirming a person’s true Veteran status and validating veteran ownership and operational control.
To be accepted by BDR standards, a business must be certified by one of only five organizations:
- National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC)
- National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)
- Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
- Disability:IN (limited to disabled persons)
- National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)
NVBDC is the original and only certification organization focused exclusively on service disabled and veteran-owned businesses (SD/VOB’s) OF ALL SIZES.
Trusted by the Procurement Leaders Driving America’s Economy
Among the 32 members of the Billion Dollar Roundtable, 28 are corporate partners of NVBDC, integrating NVBDC’s certification process into their own sourcing requirements. These companies include:
- General Motors
- Apple
- Lockheed Martin
- Boeing
- Procter & Gamble
- CVS Health
- Walmart
- Johnson & Johnson
- Ford Motor Company
… and more than 180 other corporations who may not be BDR members but still require or accept NVBDC certification.
These are companies whose procurement decisions move markets. Their endorsement of NVBDC is not symbolic—it’s operational. They rely on NVBDC to ensure that claims of veteran ownership are legitimate, documented, and auditable.
$4.3 Billion in Verified Procurement—and Growing
This is not about optics. This is about impact.
In 2023 alone, BDR member companies spent $4.3 billion with NVBDC-certified Service-Disabled and Veteran-Owned Businesses (SD/VOBs)—a verified procurement figure, not a guess or an estimate.
That spend directly fueled:
- 44,498 jobs
- $2 billion in payroll
- $3.7 billion in added value to U.S. GDP
This is the real return on investing in certified veteran-owned suppliers—not only protecting corporate integrity, but also strengthening the American economy.
NVBDC = Risk Mitigation + Economic Value
In a procurement environment where fraud, inflated claims, and reputational risk are daily concerns, NVBDC certification offers a defensive shield and a strategic advantage:
- Eliminates the risk of engaging with fraudulent veteran entities
- Meets the due diligence expectations of internal audit and compliance teams
- Simplifies verification for sourcing managers
- Ensures veteran-owned suppliers meet operational and ownership control requirements
NVBDC is not an association. It’s an infrastructure for procurement accuracy.
Expanded Services, Global Reach, and Supplier Development
Veteran-Led Startup Acceleration Program Launched
NVBDC has launched its Veteran-Led Startup Acceleration Program with support from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). This initiative provides:
- Founder development cohorts
- First-customer matchmaking
- AI-powered certification guidance (via LLM chatbot)
- AWS VOCs lead conversion tools
- Automated marketing systems (MailerLite, Constant Contact, etc.)
Supplier Mentoring Program (SMP)
In 2025, NVBDC will roll out its Supplier Mentoring Program (SMP)—a unique initiative designed to help certified SD/VOBs build the capacity, knowledge, and readiness to compete and win in supplier pipelines. This mentorship-based model:
- Pairs emerging veteran-owned businesses with experienced corporate procurement professionals
- Provides one-on-one and cohort-based training on procurement expectations
- Helps suppliers understand compliance, contracting, scalability, and positioning
More info at: nvbdc.org/smp
Strategic Federal Partnerships
NVBDC has expanded its capabilities to support international growth through strategic alliances with:
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
- The International Trade Administration (ITA) and its VetsGoGlobal initiative collaborate with veteran-owned businesses to identify and capitalize on export opportunities. ITA’s extensive global network spans across the United States and U.S. Embassies and Consulates in more than 70 countries. NVBDC is proud to be the only certification non-profit to have a signed agreement with the ITA, with specific deliverables.
- The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM)
These partnerships unlock new export opportunities, trade financing, and global market entry support specifically for NVBDC-certified service disabled and veteran-owned businesses (SD/VOB’s). NVBDC will be actively seeking the support and involvement of our Corporate Members. We will be working on international trade programs that our corporate members have asked us to notify them of our new global efforts.
International Initiatives Webinar
As part of its global expansion strategy, NVBDC hosted a 2025 International Initiatives Webinar featuring experts from the International Trade Administration (ITA), the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) to equip NVBDC-certified veteran business owners with the tools to turn domestic success into international growth. An encore session is scheduled for September 9, 2025.
No More Assumptions—Only Certainty
The past year’s headlines—from kickbacks to shell companies—have made one thing clear: unchecked claims of veteran ownership are a liability. Smart procurement leaders are already adapting.
After ten years of certifying over 4,000 Service-Disabled and Veteran-Owned Businesses of all sizes, NVBDC is scaling again—with domestic innovation, global expansion, and supplier development programs designed to change the game.
NVBDC offers all pending corporate members a free onboarding video session to learn how to use our state-of-the-art database program.
If your procurement strategy includes working with service disabled and veteran-owned businesses (SD/VOB’s), anything less than NVBDC certification puts your brand, your contracts, and your leadership at risk.
Visit nvbdc.org to get started with certified veteran-owned suppliers today.
