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The SBA 8(a) Business Development (BD) Program offers a broad scope of assistance to firms that are owned and controlled by individuals that are at least 51% socially and economically disadvantaged.
Check to see if you are eligible to participate per the SBA’s guidelines
The SBA 8(a) Business Development (BD) Program is designed to help develop small businesses owned and operated by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, with the goal of being able to fairly compete in the American marketplace.
To be eligible for the SBA 8(a) Program, the eligible owner must:
The basic SBA 8(a) requirements for a small business concern must follow the following guidelines:
A Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) enterprise is a small business that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged. SDB status makes a company eligible for bidding and contracting benefit programs involved with federal procurement.
Qualifications for the program are similar to those for the 8(a) Business Development Program. A small business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual or individuals.
African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Subcontinent Asian Americans, and Native Americans are presumed to qualify. Other individuals can qualify if they show by a “preponderance of the evidence” that they are disadvantaged. All individuals must have a net worth of less than $750,000, excluding the equity of the business and primary residence. Successful applicants must also meet applicable size standards for small businesses in their industry.
Once a Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) is certified and listed on the public registry, it will be eligible for preferences under new federal procurement regulations. The main preference is a “price evaluation adjustment” of up to ten percent for SDBs bidding as prime contractors. The price adjustment means an SDB won’t have to be the lowest bidder to win a contract award. The rules also provide a system of preferences for large businesses that use SDBs as subcontractors.
The federal government’s goal is to award at least three percent of all federal contracting dollars to HUBZone-certified small businesses each year.
HUBZone Certification Benefits
The government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses in historically underutilized business zones. It also gives preferential consideration to those businesses in full and open competition.
Joining the HUBZone program makes your business eligible to compete for the program’s set-aside contracts. HUBZone-certified businesses also receive a 10 percent price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions.
HUBZone-certified businesses can still compete for contract awards under other socio-economic programs for which they are qualified.
To qualify for the HUBZone program, your business must:
Call us now for more details so we can help you navigate and get started with the process!
What’s a WOSB Versus a WBE?
There are two kinds of certifications: Women-owned Small Business and Woman Business Enterprise.
A Woman-owned Small Business (WOSB) certification is a program that provides greater access to federal contracting opportunities for Woman-owned and Economically Disadvantaged Women-owned Small Business. (EDWOSB).
The program allows contracting officers to set aside specific contracts for WOSB and EDWOSB that will help federal agencies achieve the existing statutory goal of 5% of federal contracting dollars being awarded to WOSB.
An EDWOSB meets a certain financial criteria. The owner’s assets, excluding their business and their home should be under $250,000. That woman, and her business, in considered economically disadvantaged.
Why Should You Get Your WOSB Certification?
This program opens the door to amazing federal government contract opportunities for women entrepreneurs. The program is designed to help more women-owned small businesses win federal contracts and thrive in a competitive marketplace where currently, only 4% of women-owned businesses have received government contract awards. It is also intended to help federal agencies meet their contracting goals for women owned small businesses.
Participating in these programs helps woman-owned small businesses:
WOSB certification program is overseen by the Small Business Association (SBA).
In order to be considered to be a WOSB the company must:
The SBA will verify this information by collecting documents such as tax returns, bank statements, operating agreements, etc. They will also ask for birth certificates and passports to prove citizenship.
WOSB is unique to the Federal government. It is a program for which eligible companies can self-certify. As long as the applicant can prove that her company is owned by a woman or women she can start marketing her company, almost immediately, as a Woman-owned Small Business while the documents are being verified.
Call us now for more details so we can help you navigate and get started with the process!
Every year, the U.S. Federal Government allocates $500 billion for contracts. They also have the goal of spending 3% of this sum on service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB). When opportunities designated to these set-asides are posted, you will get moved to the front of the line for bidding.
Although not a set-aside, the veteran-owned small business (VOSB) certification has its own array of benefits. This includes access to resources offered by the Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD). This includes exclusive funding opportunities and entrepreneurship training programs.
The VOSB certification program isn’t a set-side, but there are plenty of benefits. For starters, you will have exclusive access different types of SBA programs for veterans. This includes customized curriculums, in-person classes, and online courses that help train veterans to succeed in business. There are also veteran-exclusive loans they issue as well.
Another benefit is that you gain a network with the VOSB certification. In government contracting, many veteran owned businesses support each other. Some primes will exclusively consider veteran owned small business for subcontracting opportunities. They can trust that you’re a veteran because the U.S. government backs your claim with the seal and certification.
The Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999 established the following criteria to get certified as a VOSB or SDVOSB:
If your business fits these criteria, then you can move onto the technical requirements:
DBE/ACDBE
WHAT IS A DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (DBE)?
A for-profit company whose ownership is 51% owned, controlled, and operated; belongs to one of the presumed minority groups, and falls within the size standards in accordance with the regulations of the US Department of Transportation (DOT), 49 CFR Part 26, as a condition of receiving federal assistance. The ACDBE certification is a DBE certification to perform work at the airport providing concession services.
All of these benefits require registration and certification as a disadvantaged business enterprise.
Gross sales for DBE cannot exceed $23.9 million and $56 million for ACDBE average over the last three (3) years
As a Minority Business Enterprise, a minority business firm raises its personal profile and enhanced reputation is also enjoyed by many individuals with an MBE award. MBE recipients may enjoy a greater degree of trust, respect and acceptance of their ideas, work and projects. Attracting new business or personal opportunities may be another benefit of receiving an MBE.
MBEs are primarily owned, controlled, and operated by racial and ethnic minorities. These governments, as well as federal governments, offer numerous benefits to minority business enterprises.
These benefits were created to level the playing field between new firms entering the market and well-established firms that may have gained a competitive advantage through historic discrimination. All of these benefits require registration and certification as a minority business enterprise.
Government projects often set aside a portion of their contracts to disadvantaged business enterprises. The amount may vary, but that figure usually hovers around 5 percent, and 25 percent of the value will go to a minority enterprise. In instances where one contractor bids and wins a job, the contract may stipulate that the prime contractor must divert a portion of the contract to disadvantaged business enterprises. In other instances, procurement officers may add points to a contract bid for firms that are disadvantaged business enterprises.
Set-asides allow small, minority-owned businesses to compete with bigger firms. But they also give these disadvantaged business enterprises a chance to diversify their businesses. Contractors may start with the cleaning contract on a construction site, but may learn how to hire and manage other contracts and move up the value-chain ladder.
The Metro SBE Certification Program has a mandatory small business goal of up to 25% on most of their transportation construction projects. This provides an opportunity for small businesses to participate in up to 25% of most contracts awarded.
Your Business Must Be:
If you want to participate in the SBE 25% small business goal contracting program, you must first obtain your certification; so please call us at 888-882-1168 and let us walk you through the process, you will be happy you did; what are you waiting for?
Bid Preference
Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBEs) are eligible to receive up to 15% in bid price reduction or ‘preferences when bidding on certain goods and services solicitations from the State of California and Los Angeles County.
Exclusive listing in the State and County’s online directory of certified DVBEs
DVBEs will be placed on the vendor database of certified DVBE vendors and may be featured on DCBA’s social media accounts.
Direct Access to Opportunity
Attend networking events with County buyers and procurement staff to receive individualized counseling on how to find contracting opportunities and more.
Call us now for more details so we can help you navigate and get started with the process!
Want to target the federal government or local government as a client? Then, you will benefit from a Women-owned Business Enterprise (WBE) certification. Federal government agencies use these criteria when seeking women-owned companies to work with.
How Being a Certified Woman-owned Business Enterprise Can Help Grow Your Company
In recent years, the U.S. government awarded in excess of 267,200 contracts to Woman-owned Businesses for approximately two billion dollars. The top contacts were awarded for professional services, medical and surgical supplies and administrative support.
Some businesses also have a 5% goal for subcontracting work to Women-owned Businesses once they win a contract. This can be as high as 30% in some state and local jurisdictions.
So even if a Woman-owned Business enterprise doesn’t directly win a government contract, they can still gain business through subcontracting. However, as a certified firm you have to know how to find these opportunities.
Some businesses also have a 5% goal for subcontracting work to Women-owned Businesses once they win a contract. This can be as high as 30% in some state and local jurisdictions. So even if a Woman-owned Business doesn’t directly win a government contract, they can still gain business through subcontracting. But you have to know how to find these opportunities in the first place.
What Is The Purpose of Certification?
Being a certified Woman-owned Business is a tool designed to increase opportunities for women. It’s not a charity program nor does it give women special treatment. It’s designed to increase visibility.
It’s also a way for government and corporations that have the aforementioned subcontracting goals worked into their contacts to meet directly with Women-owned Business Enterprises.
Why Should You Get Your WBE Certification?
This program opens the door to amazing federal government contract opportunities for women entrepreneurs. The program is designed to help more women-owned small businesses win federal contracts and thrive in a competitive marketplace where currently, only 4% of women-owned businesses have received government contract awards. It is also intended to help federal agencies meet their contracting goals for women-owned small businesses.
The second classification is Woman Business Enterprise. This certification is used by local, state, and other quasi-government agencies such as authorities, airlines and in the private sector.
The qualifications for a WBE are as follows:
Basically, there are two types of woman-owned business certifications. If you want to do business with the private sector, nonprofits, state governments or local governments, you should pursue a Women-owned Business Enterprise (WBE) certification.
What can WBE Certification do for your Business?
Being certified as a woman-owned business enterprise does not guarantee anything, but it can help you gain an advantage with potential clients or against your non-certified competitors.
Call us now for more details so we can help you navigate and get started with the process!
The Small & Local Business (SLB) Certification is a City of Los Angeles certification program, which allows certified SLBs to receive a 10% preference (discount) towards their bids. Qualification for this certification is simple; the SLB applicant only needs three (3) items to show proof that he/she is eligible to receive this certification.
The preference is determined by taking 10% of the lowest bid that is proposed by a non-certified SLB company, and subtracting that amount from the bid of the SLB certified firm. If after the preference is taken, the SLB’s bid is less than or equal to the lowest non-certified company’s bid, the SLB will be awarded the contract.
Companies certified as a Small Local Business with the City of Los Angeles are given a preference applied to bid contracts of $100,000 or less.
Qualifications to obtain SLB certification status are listed below:
As a certified Emerging Business Enterprise, your firm will receive a bid discount based on the amount of SLBE/ELBE utilization by the program between 5% – 7%.
The Emerging Business Enterprise (EBE) Certification Program works to ensure that businesses owned, operated, and controlled by individuals who are socially and economically disadvantaged receive preference for contracting opportunities within various eligible city, county, and states within the United States. The program is designed to promote fairness and equity in city contracting and to level the playing field for these business owners.
Certified businesses obtain greater access to, and information about, contracting opportunities through classes, networking events, and targeted solicitations. EBEs receive technical assistance to better compete for contracts, and benefit from inclusion into various local city and county certification online directory of certified businesses throughout the continental United States which promotes EBE-certified businesses to purchasers.
A Sole Proprietorship; General Partnership; Limited Partnership; Limited Liability Partnership; Limited Liability Company; or Corporation. Nonprofit organizations are not eligible for EBE certification.
Call us now for more details so we can help you navigate and get started with the process!
Economically disadvantaged individuals are defined as those who don’t have access to financial opportunities which hampers their ability to compete in the free enterprise system, in contrast to people in similar businesses who are not identified as socially disadvantaged.
Since October 2008, companies have been able to self-certify. However, a business owner should read the definitions carefully and prepare a defense for any potential challenges to the company’s SDB status.
Set-asides
To help provide a level playing field for small businesses, the government limits competition for certain contracts to small businesses. Those contracts are called “small business set-asides,” and they help small businesses compete for and win federal contracts.
Some set-asides are open to any small business, but some are open only to small businesses who participate in SBA contracting assistance programs.
Buchanan & Associates is a multiple award winning supplier diversity firm that helps small businesses become contract-ready. So, if you want to win government contracts, then Buchanan & Associates is the way to go!
