Value: Job placement services with 24-hour priority on new listings
DC American Job Centers give veterans and eligible spouses priority access over non-veterans to employment, training, and placement services, staffed by dedicated Veterans Specialists. Veterans receive one-on-one case management, skills assessment, job search counseling, and follow-up. New job orders are held for veterans only for the first 24 hours.
- Agency
- DC Department of Employment Services (DOES)
Note: The 24-hour veterans-only hold on new job orders is the concrete edge and it is time-sensitive, so check listings daily rather than weekly. DOES lists a DD-214 showing honorable discharge as the eligibility document. Register in person at an American Job Center; the veterans-focused center is at 4058 Minnesota Avenue NE, Veterans Program Coordinator (202) 698-5819. Separate from, and stackable with, the DC government hiring preference points.
Value: 5 or 10 preference points on the application screening score
Veterans applying for DC government Career Service and Educational Service jobs receive extra points on their initial screening score. A veteran who served more than 180 consecutive days during a time of war, separated under honorable or general conditions, and applies within five years of separation gets 5 points. A veteran with a service-connected disability, or who receives VA compensation, disability retirement, or a pension, gets 5 more for a total of 10.
- Agency
- DC Department of Human Resources (DCHR)
Note: The five-year window after separation is the trap, and it bars most older veterans. It is expressly waived for a veteran the VA classifies at 30 percent or more, so a 30-percent-or-higher rating keeps the 10-point preference open indefinitely. Limited to Career Service and Educational Service positions; Legal, Excepted, Executive and Management Supervisory Service are excluded. DC residency is not required, but DC residents may separately claim a 10-point residency preference. Proof such as a DD 214 must be submitted WITH the application; a preference not claimed at application time is not applied.
Value: 2 preference points on a 100-point scale, or a 2% bid price reduction
A veteran-owned business headquartered in the District can add a Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise designation to its Certified Business Enterprise status, earning an edge on DC government contracts. A certified VOB prime contractor receives 2 additional points on a 100-point proposal scale, or an equivalent 2 percent bid price reduction depending on the procurement method.
- Agency
- DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD)
Note: VOB is not a standalone certification. Local Business Enterprise certification is a prerequisite for every CBE subcategory, so the business must first qualify as an LBE with its principal office physically in DC. Certification takes up to 45 business days, so start well ahead of a target solicitation. The required veteran ownership percentage is NOT stated in the FAQ; it defers to D.C. Code 2-218.38, which should be confirmed before applying.
