A short training presentation on Small business certification for BizCentral & CharityNet USA partners.

1. Partner Service & Sales Training

2. I. Introduction to Small Business Certifications
II. Types of Certification
III. Why Get Certified
IV. Qualifying for Certification
V. BizCentral USA’s Certification Process

3. • Many contractors are
unaware of the numerous
small business certification
and assistance programs that
exist today to aid
underprivileged businesses.
• Many of these programs are
aimed specifically at
overcoming the effects of
discrimination.

4. • Assists the most disadvantaged entrepreneurs in
succeeding.
• Facilitates small business owners’ achievement in the
contracting arena.
• Helps socially and economically disadvantaged
firms in obtaining the credentials necessary to
compete with larger entities.

5. • Numerous government entities offer innovative
opportunities to assure that small contractors are
not left behind in the race for federal contracts.
• Some teach small companies how to compete in
the federal contracting arena.
• Programs are available to demonstrate how to
take advantage of greater subcontracting
opportunities available from large firms as the
result of public-private partnerships.

6. I. Introduction to Small Business Certification
II. Types of Certification
III. Why Get Certified
IV. Qualifying for Certification
V. BizCentral USA’s Certification Process

7. • SBA- 8a
• Women’s Business
Enterprise National Council
• Minority Supplier
Development Council
• HUB Zone
• Veteran Owned Business
• Department of
Transportation

8. • The SBA 8(a) program is designed to help small disadvantaged
businesses compete in the U.S. economy through business
development. The program benefits the client as well as the
contractor by providing small disadvantaged businesses with:
• The ability to pursue and award sole-source procurements.
• Limited-competition opportunities in the government arena.
• Ensuring the client that bonding, insurance, and other legal requirements
are met.
• Through sole-source contracts, businesses are given an opportunity
to enter the government- contracting arena, and gain the
experience necessary to compete in the full and open market.
Competitive bidding on limited opportunities allow 8(a) contractors
to gain valuable experience in various market arenas.

9. • The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program
stimulates economic development and creates
jobs in urban and rural communities by providing
Federal contracting preferences to small businesses.
• These preferences go to small businesses that
obtain HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business
Zone) certification in part by employing staff who
live in a HUBZone.
• The company must also maintain a "principal office"
in one of these specially designated areas.

10. • The DOT (Department of Transportation, DBE
Program assists small businesses owned and
controlled by socially and economically
disadvantaged individuals, including
minorities and women, in participating in
contracting opportunities created by DOT
financial assistance programs.

11. • Primarily three major DOT operating
administrations are involved in the DBE
program:
• Federal Highway Administration
• Federal Aviation Administration
• Federal Transit Administration.
• The DOT DBE program is carried out by state
and local transportation agencies under the
rules and guidelines in the Code of Federal
Regulations.

12. • The main objectives of the DBE Program are:
• To ensure that contractors comply with DBE
laws and requirements.
• To ensure that DBEs can compete fairly for
federally funded transportation-related
projects.
• To ensure that only eligible firms participate as
DBEs.
• To assist DBE firms in competing
outside the DBE Program.

13. • WBE (Women's Business Enterprise) is an
independent business concern that is at least
51% owned and controlled by one or more
women who are U.S. citizens or Legal Resident
Aliens.
• Business formation and principal place of
business must be in the US.
• Management and daily operation is controlled
by one or more of the women owners.

14. • Being certified as a WBE means that a business
concern has gone through a rigorous and
stringent certification process to confirm the
business is owned, managed, and controlled by a
woman or women.
• WBENC is the Women's Business Enterprise
National Council and is comprised of 14 regional
partner organizations. All of the partner
organizations adhere to WBENC's stringent
Standards and Procedures in their certification
programs.

15. • WBENC provides access to a
national standard of certification
and provides information on
certified women's businesses to
purchasing managers through its
Internet database, WBENCLink.
• The certification lasts for one
year. If you wish to remain
certified, you must recertify each
year.

16. • The National Minority Supplier
Development Council
has standardized procedures
to assure consistent and
identical review and
certification of minority-
owned businesses.
• These businesses are certified
by NMSDC's affiliate nearest
to the company's
headquarters.

17. • A minority-owned business is a for-profit
enterprise, regardless of size, physically
located in the United States or its trust
territories, which is owned, operated and
controlled by minority group members.
• "Minority group members" are United States
citizens who are Asian, Black, Hispanic and
Native American.

18. • Ownership by minority individuals means the
business is:
• At least 51% owned by such individuals
• Or, in the case of a publicly-owned business, at least 51%
of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals.
• The management and daily operations must
be controlled by those minority group
members.

19. • A business is a Veteran-Owned Small Business
if:
• Not less than 51% is owned by one or more veterans
• Or, in the case of any publicly owned business, not less
than 51% of the stock of which is owned by one or more
veterans
• Management and daily business operations
are controlled by one or more veterans.

20. • To be considered a Veteran you
must have your DD Form 214
(Certificate of Release or
Discharge from Active Duty) in
order to prove your service in the
Armed Forces.
• To be considered a Service Disabled Veteran 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.

21. I. Introduction to Small Business
Certification
II. Types of Certification
III. Why Get Certified
IV. Qualifying for Certification
V. BizCentral USA’s Certification Process

22. • The SBA Certification in the SDB, the 8(a)
DBE, or the HUBZone Program provides
benefits by:
• Bringing more dollars to an eligible company through
SDB procurement mechanisms;
• Targeting competition to specific industries where there
are disparities; and
• Increasing economic activity in distressed communities.

23. • SDB certified companies may benefit in one
of two ways:
• First, an SDB can qualify for a price evaluation
adjustment when bidding as a prime contractor.
• Second, all prime contractors are encouraged to use
certified SDB's as subcontractors through mandated
evaluation factors and optional monetary incentives.
• HUBZone certified businesses can qualify for
specific procurement benefits. Businesses that
use these benefits are also helping to improve
the economy of the distressed area.

24. I. Introduction to Small Business
Certification
II. Types of Certification
III. Why Get Certified
IV. Qualifying for Certification
V. BizCentral USA’s Certification Process

25. • All certification clients must have a D-U-N-S
(Data Universal Numbering System) number:
• Can be requested by visiting http://www.dnb.com or
calling (866) 785-0428
• If applying for Small Business Administration
8(a) Certification or completing GSA schedule,
business must be registered in Central
Contractor Registration (CCR).
• Register with CCR at http:/www.ccr.gov

26. • 8(a)
• 51% owner(s) must be a socially and
economically disadvantaged US Citizen.
– Socially disadvantaged means a member of a
racial/ethnic minority group, but service disabled
veterans, women in non-traditional fields, physically
handicapped persons, etc. can also apply, provided
they can demonstrate social disadvantage in their
narrative.
– Economically disadvantaged = personal net worth <
$250,000 (excluding primary residence and equity
investment in business).
• Business needs to have operated for at least 2
years

27. • WBE Certification:
• 51% owner(s) must be a woman US Citizen or Permanent
Resident
• Proof of effective management and control of business
(day to day operations, hiring and firing authority,
signature on contracts and loans, and other business
decisions) by applicant woman/women.
• Proof of contribution of capital and/or expertise by
women.

28. • NMSDC Certification:
• 51% owner(s) must be a member of a recognized racial or
ethnic minority group (Asian, Black, Hispanic or Native
American).
• Proof of effective management and control of business
(day to day operations, hiring and firing authority,
signature on contracts and loans, and other business
decisions) by applicant minority owner.
• Proof of contribution of capital and/or expertise by
minority owner.

29. • MBE Certification:
• 51% owner(s) must be a member of a recognized racial or
ethnic minority group (Asian, Black, Hispanic or Native
American), or in some cases, women.
– Some MBE programs at the county/local level also
accept women-owned businesses as MBE applicants.
• Proof of effective management and control of business
(day to day operations, hiring and firing authority,
signature on contracts and loans, and other business
decisions) by applicant minority owner.
• Proof of contribution of capital and/or expertise by
minority owner.

30. • DBE Certification:
• 51% owner(s) must be a socially and economically
disadvantaged US Citizen.
• Business must work in road, highway, or bridge
construction and related professional services.
• Some state DBE programs are also of interest to firms
working in the aviation industry.

31. I. Introduction to Small Business Certification
II. Types of Certification
III. Why Get Certified
IV. Qualifying for Certification
V. BizCentral USA’s Certification Process

32. • Step 1: As always, clients will complete and
return the Terms & Agreement document.
• Step 2: Clients will receive access to the
‘Certifications Steps Page’.
• From here all certifications may take a different route
to completion.
• The following pages will cover the next steps for each
certification.

33. I. Obtain a D-U-N-S number.
II. Register with CCR.
III. Create an SBA General Login System Account at
https://eweb.sba.gov/gls/
IV. Complete online application.
V. Once online application has been completed, submit application
along with supporting documentation to the SBA.
I. Supporting documentation include business financial
statements (Profit and Loss reports, balance sheets, etc.),
tax returns, operating agreement, stock certificates, etc.
VI. Application is then reviewed and screened. The SBA will respond
with a determination or request for additional documentation
within 90 days.

34. I. Obtain a D-U-N-S number.
II. Create a WBENCLink account at http://www.wbenclink.org
III. Complete online application.
IV. Once online application has been completed, submit application
along with supporting documentation to the WBENC certifying
council in the business’ home state.
I. Supporting documentation include business financial
statements (P&L reports, balance sheets, etc.), tax returns,
operating agreement, stock certificates, etc.
II. Certification may require an on-site visit.
V. Application is then reviewed and screened. The WBENC Program
Manager will respond with a determination or request for
additional documentation within 90 days.

35. I. Obtain a D-U-N-S number.
II. Locate the proper application. Application may be
completed electronically, depending on the certifying
council.
III. Once application has been completed, submit application
along with supporting documentation to the Regional NMSDC
certifying council.
I. Supporting documentation includes business financial
statements (Profit and Loss reports, balance sheets,
etc.), tax returns, operating agreement, stock
certificates, etc.
II. Certification may require a number of on-site visits.
IV. Application is then reviewed and screened. The NMSDC
certifying committee will respond with a determination or
request for additional documentation within 90 days.

36. I. Obtain a D-U-N-S number.
II. Locate the proper application. Application may be completed
electronically, depending on the certifying agency.
III. Once completed, submit application along with supporting
documentation to the certifying agency.
I. Supporting documentation include business financial
statements (Profit and Loss reports, balance sheets, etc.),
tax returns, operating agreement, stock certificates, etc.
II. Certification may require an on-site visit.
IV. Application is then reviewed and screened. The certifying agency
will respond with a determination or request for additional
documentation within 90 days.
I. Certifications at the county/local level are generally
processed in less time than those at the State level.

37. I. Obtain a D-U-N-S number.
II. Complete the Uniform Certification Application (UCP)
I. All states use the same application form.
III. Submit application along with supporting documentation to the
state DOT or Aviation Authority.
I. Supporting documentation include business financial
statements (Profit and Loss reports, balance sheets, etc.),
tax returns, operating agreement, stock certificates, etc.
I. Application is then reviewed and screened. The certifying agency will
respond with a determination or request for additional
documentation within 90 days.

38. • The process for applying for inclusion in these
programs can be grueling.
• Assistance from a professional can help
tremendously in providing and submitting the
correct information!
• Once certified, the small business is able to optimize
the benefits that their certification program/s offer.