This page contains brief descriptions of Federal business certification programs.

8(a) program

SBA certification for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses

• the program was set up to guide small businesses
• through the federal contracting process
• additional information can be found at www.sba.gov/8abd/

HUBZone Empowerment Contracting and Certification

• SBA administered program
• provides federal contracting opportunities for qualified small businesses located in distressed areas
• helps to empower communities, create jobs, and attract private investment
• companies must be located in a "historically underutilized business zone,”
• must be owned and controlled by one or more U.S. Citizens
• at least 35% of its employees must reside in a HUBZone
• a HUBZone is a qualified census tract with a median household income of less than 80 percent of the State median household income
• or a qualified census tract with an unemployment rate of not less than 140 percent of the statewide average,
• or lands within the boundaries of federally recognized Indian reservations
• for additional info visit www.sba.gov/hubzone/

Woman-Owned Business Certification

• newly enacted by Congress – Section 8 of the Small Business Act
• a procurement program for women-owned small business concerns
• a business that is at least 51% owned and operated by one or more women
• program has not been implemented
• self-certification

Veteran-Owned Small Business

• a firm where 51% of the ownership and control of the enterprise is maintained by a veteran
• prime contractors and agencies have “best effort” goals
• Become a vetrepreneur.
• self-certification but now required to verify: http://www4.va.gov/vetbiz/

Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

• a firm 51% of the ownership and control of the enterprise is maintained by a service disabled veteran
• to qualify as a SDVOSB, you must have a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), or your discharge paper from the branch of service you were in, stating that you have a service-connected disability rating ranging from 0% to 100% disability. There is no required minimum disability rating.
• prime contractors and agencies have a 3% goal
• self-certification