Federal & State Certifications
Often talked about as the best federal certification to have, the 8(a) Business Development Program certification is a 9-year program. This certification can only be held once in a company’s lifetime, so it is best to ensure that you are ready to take on this endeavor and reap the benefits that come with it. The Registrations Group has a team dedicated to processing these certifications for our clients more efficiently than anyone else.
A DBE certification or Disadvantaged Business Enterprise certification defines your business as being owned, controlled, and operated by government recognized disadvantaged groups. DBE is a StateCertification. Most states require contractors to use certified DBE firms to complete up to 20% of the work on federally funded projects. You compete against small DBE firms like your own for work, instead of larger firms.
The Women-Owned Small Business certification enables woman-owned small businesses to compete for Federal contracting opportunities set aside by procurement agencies for women-owned small businesses, in industries where women-owned small businesses are substantially underrepresented.
Small businesses owned by veterans can compete for set-aside contracts at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Through its Veterans First Contracting program, VA awards a large amount of contract dollars to veterans every year by offering set-aside contracting opportunities. VA also sets aside contracting opportunities for businesses owned by veterans who are service-disabled.
The Women Business Enterprise certification is a national certification that helps women business owners compete for procurement opportunities incorporate America. Authorized certifying agencies offer a variety of business development programs that include training, webinars, and conferences.These resources are only available for certified members and help them become more “procurement ready”. Major corporations and many state or local government entities generally accept the certification. There are no small business size standards for this certification.
The Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business certification enables women-owned small businesses that are at an economic disadvantage to compete for federal contracting opportunities set-aside by procurement agencies for women-owned small businesses, in industries where Economically Disadvantaged women-owned small businesses are substantially underrepresented.
The HUBZone certification helps small businesses in urban and rural communities, predetermined by the SBA to be located within a Historically UnderutilizedBusiness Zone, gain preferential access to set-aside HUBZone procurement opportunities.
The Veteran-Owned Small and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business certifications give Veterans a competitive advantage with procurement opportunities that are set aside for Veteran-owned and/or service-disabled Veteran-owned businesses.
The Minority Business Enterprise certification is a national certification that helps minority business owners compete for procurement opportunities incorporate America. MBEs have access to numerous benefits and services provided by the NMSDC (National Minority Supplier Development Council) and its 23regional affiliate councils, including educational programs plus a wide range of networking opportunities. Major corporations and many state or local government entities generally accept the certification. There are no small business size standards for this certification.
The ACDBE Program is very similar to the DBE program in that it is a Department of transportation (DOT) Program designed to level the playing field for small Businesses who wish to participate in contracting opportunities at airports.
Small businesses that don’t qualify for other socio-economic certifications can also find available the SBE certification. This certification is sometimes issued at a state, county, or city level. This gives a small preference when bidding in the designated area of certification and is also utilized on many subcontracting goals.
