Example Certifications
Small Business programs include the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Business Development Program, which helps small, disadvantaged businesses, and the Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) certification, which promotes economic development in underutilized areas.
Minority- and Women-Owned Business: Promotes diversity and inclusivity in government contracting. Examples include the minority business enterprise (MBE), women-owned enterprise (WBE), minority and women-owned enterprise (MWBE) and women-owned small business (WOSB) certifications.
Veteran- and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned: For veterans or service-disabled veterans, The Dept. of Veterans Affairs has veteran-owned (VOB), veteran-owned small business (VOSB), disabled veteran-owned (DVOB) and service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) certifications.
Government agencies often have “set-aside” programs that mandate percentages of contracts exclusively for small businesses or specific certifications. In New Jersey, 25% of all state contracts go to certified small businesses and 3% to disabled veteran-owned businesses. The federal government is the largest buyer of goods and services. It mandates 5% for 8(a), 3% for HUB, 5% for women-owned and 3% for veteran-owned businesses. The General Services Administration (GSA) manages the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS), which streamlines the procurement process for various agencies.
Once certified, you should register your company at SAM.GOV to apply, search and bid for federal contracts, and use NJSTART.GOV for state contracts. Counties and local municipalities will post bids publicly, so you should also search their websites for these postings. Additionally, subcontracting opportunities may be available when larger contractors or “prime” contractors seek to outsource portions of a project.
For help on certification and procurement, contact your local NJSBDC office, such as the one at FDU, which offers no-cost consulting services. njsbdc.com/request-counseling
About the Author: Pierre Balthazard, Ph.D., is Dean of the Silberman College of Business at FDU.
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