An SDVOSB is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, a federal designation for small companies owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans. For buyers, the label can matter in certain procurements, but eligibility rules vary by agency, state and district, so confirm with your procurement office before you rely on it. Esport Pod is made by Sports Media, Inc., a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (CAGE 16GC9) and part of USA Entertainment Ventures, LLC.
Key takeaways
- SDVOSB status is a vendor characteristic, not a guarantee of eligibility for any particular purchase.
- Federal, state and local rules differ, and many school purchases follow local or state rules.
- Your procurement office decides what counts and what documentation it needs.
- The CAGE code (16GC9) can help your team identify the vendor in registries.
- Ask questions early, before you build a purchasing timeline.
What is an SDVOSB?
It's a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business: a small business that is owned and controlled by one or more veterans with service-connected disabilities. The federal government has programs that encourage agencies to work with such firms.
The details of who qualifies, how it is verified and how it is used in contracts are set by the relevant program rules, which change from time to time. We aren't lawyers, and this isn't legal advice. Treat this section as a vocabulary lesson, not a ruling.
Why would a school or agency care about the vendor's status?
Because some buyers have goals, set-asides or preferences related to small and veteran-owned businesses. Whether those apply to a school district or college purchase depends on where the money comes from and which rules govern it.
Common reasons buyers ask about it:
- A district or state may have supplier diversity or small business goals.
- A federally funded purchase may carry its own requirements.
- A military community such as a DoDEA school or MWR center may value working with veteran-owned firms.
- Some boards simply want to know who they are buying from.
How do you verify a vendor's status?
Ask for documentation and check it through the channels your procurement office already uses. Don't take a website claim as proof, ours included.
- Ask the vendor for their legal name, CAGE code and any certification documents they hold.
- Look up the vendor in the registries your office normally uses.
- Confirm with your procurement office what status, if any, counts for this purchase.
- Record the answer in the purchase file.
For reference, Sports Media, Inc.'s CAGE code is 16GC9. Your office can use that to start its own check.
Does SDVOSB status simplify buying an Esport Pod?
It might in some cases and not in others. Rules differ on whether a purchase can be directed to a particular type of small business, whether a bid is required and which thresholds apply. Only your procurement office can tell you.
What we can say plainly is what's being bought. Esport Pods are sold in deployments of 10, 20 or 30 pods at $300,000, $600,000 and $900,000, which is about $30,000 per pod. Those packages include installation, training and sponsorship support. Buyers include high schools, Native American land schools, community colleges, universities, DoDEA schools, military MWR centers, JROTC/ROTC programs and libraries.
| Question for your office | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is competitive bidding required at this price? | Sets your timeline |
| Does vendor status affect eligibility? | Depends on funding source and rules |
| What documentation is needed? | Avoids delays at approval |
| Is a quote enough to start? | Helps you plan |
How should you plan the timeline?
Talk to procurement first, then build the schedule around what they tell you. Questions about bidding thresholds, board approval dates and documentation can add weeks, and it is far easier to learn that before you promise a launch date to students.
Bring a short brief to that conversation: the number of pods, the intended use, and the funding source. That gives your office what it needs to tell you which rules apply.
Frequently asked questions
Does buying from an SDVOSB automatically satisfy a set-aside?
Not automatically. Whether a purchase counts toward a goal or set-aside depends on the rules that govern it, the funding source and the contracting method. Your procurement office makes that determination, so ask them early and keep the answer in the purchase record.
What is a CAGE code?
A CAGE code is a unique identifier assigned to entities that do business with government agencies. It helps buyers identify a specific vendor in registries. Sports Media, Inc.'s CAGE code is 16GC9, which your procurement team can use for its own lookups.
Can a public school district buy from an SDVOSB vendor?
Yes, a district can buy from any qualified vendor that meets its rules. Whether SDVOSB status gives the vendor any preference depends on state and local policy. Check with your district's purchasing staff before assuming either way.
Where can I get quote documents?
Contact Sports Media, Inc. at admin@fanz.gg or through the contact page. Tell us your organization type, the number of pods you're considering and any documentation your procurement office requires, and we can tell you what we can provide.
Next step
If your procurement office needs to see numbers, the products page outlines deployment sizes, and you can contact us for quote documents. When you're ready to see the pod in person, book a demo.
