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Small Business Certification Program Description

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

Small Business Contracting Grades

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Key Point

Small Business Contracting is Growing Focus

The federal government has made strides in meeting its small business goaling. In future years, many programs such as GSA Contract, Simplified Acquitisions, and related set-asides will grow in importance. 

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