Every business starts with a reason. Ours started with service, and with the belief that the people who protect this country deserve partners who understand what is at stake.
When you serve, you learn quickly that the mission depends on the details. The radio has to work. The laptop has to boot. The network has to hold when it matters most. Behind every one of those moments is someone who made sure the right equipment showed up, on time, and exactly as specified.
That is the work we chose. Stanley Integrated Solutions is a veteran-owned, woman-led company in San Diego that helps government agencies get the technology and supplies they need: networking and infrastructure, end-user computing, software and licensing, and the everyday equipment that keeps offices and missions running. We are not tied to any single manufacturer. Our job is to find the right fit for the requirement, keep the paperwork clean, and treat every order, large or small, like it matters. Because it does.
Where we are right now
I want to be honest with you about where we are, because I think honesty is where trust begins. We are a new company, and we are building the foundation the right way, one step at a time.
- Getting registered. We are completing our state formation and federal registration so agencies can find us, verify us, and buy from us with confidence.
- Pursuing certification. We are working toward the federal Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned and Women-Owned Small Business certifications, along with California’s Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise program. We will share the news when each one is official, not before.
- Building our supply chain. We are setting up relationships with distributors and manufacturers so we can offer competitive pricing on compliant, trade-agreement-ready products.
- Listening first. We are reaching out to contracting officers, program offices, and small business specialists to learn what they need, not just what we sell.
None of this is glamorous. Most of it is forms, phone calls, and patience. But I have learned that the quiet work you do before anyone is watching is what lets you show up strong when the call finally comes.
What’s happening in federal contracting
We are starting this company at a meaningful moment for small businesses, and for veteran-owned businesses in particular. Here are a few developments we are watching closely.
Service-disabled veteran businesses hit the 5% goal again
In fiscal year 2025, federal agencies awarded about $32.5 billion in prime contracts to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. That is 5.01% of eligible spending, and the third straight year the government has met or beaten the goal. That goal used to be 3%. Congress raised it to 5% because it recognized that the people who served should have a fair shot at serving again, as business owners. The VA alone directed more than a fifth of its contract dollars to these businesses. (Legis1, citing the Congressional Research Service)
Women-owned businesses are still waiting for their share
Here is a number that stays with me. The government’s goal for women-owned small businesses is 5% of contract dollars, and in fiscal year 2025 it reached 4.52%. The goal was missed again. Overall, small businesses did well, earning 27.58% against a 23% target. But women business owners are still being left a little short. (Congressional Research Service)
I do not share that to complain. I share it because it reminds me why showing up matters. Every woman who builds a company and does the work well makes the path a little wider for the next one.
Veterans are getting more weight in how agencies are graded
The SBA has updated the scorecard it uses to grade federal agencies on small business contracting. For fiscal year 2026, “serving veterans” is now its own factor in the grade. That is a signal to every agency that working with veteran-owned firms is a priority. (Federal News Network)
The “rule of two” survives the FAR overhaul
The federal acquisition rules are being rewritten from top to bottom. Through that process, the small business “rule of two” has been kept. It says that when two or more capable small businesses can compete for a requirement, the contract should be set aside for small businesses. For companies like ours, that rule is often the difference between having a seat at the table and never being invited. (SmallGovCon)
Certification matters more than ever
Veteran-owned businesses can no longer simply declare their status for federal set-asides. They have to be certified by the SBA through its VetCert program. We think that is a good thing. It protects the integrity of these programs and the veterans they were built for. It is also why we are taking our time and doing our certification right. (NASBP)
Why this matters to us
Numbers like these are not just statistics to me. Behind each percentage is a veteran who decided their service did not end when they took off the uniform. There is a woman who was told, in one way or another, that this industry was not built for her, and who built something anyway. There is a family counting on that business to make it.
We want to earn our place among them. We want to do it not by asking for favors, but by being responsive, being honest, and delivering what we promise. If we rise, we want it to be on the strength of our work and the way we treat the people we serve.
Come along with us
This blog is where we will share our progress, what we are learning, and the news that matters to government buyers and small businesses. If you are a contracting officer, a program manager, or a fellow small business owner looking for a teaming partner, I would love to hear from you.
Thank you for being here at the beginning. It means more than you know.
Erica
Founder & CEO, Stanley Integrated Solutions