Federal Certifications Guide
8(A) Business Development Program
For socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the phrase “socially and economically disadvantaged individuals” includes Indian tribes, Alaska Native corporations, community development corporations, and Native Hawaiian organizations.
Department of Transportation (DOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program
Support for-profit small business concerns where socially and economically disadvantaged individuals own at least a 51% interest, as well as control management and daily business operations.
Under DOT’s DBE Program, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific and Subcontinent Asian Americans, and women are presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged. Other individuals can also qualify as socially and economically disadvantaged on a case-by-case basis
Hubzone Program
Small businesses in specific urban and rural communities gain preferential access to federal procurement opportunities.
Mentor-Protégé Programs
Learn from an experienced government contractor and get valuable business development help from mentors in several areas.
SBA’s All Small Mentor-Protégé Program
Department Of Defense Mentor-Protégé Program
Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Certification
The SDVOSB Certification provides procuring agencies the authority to set acquisitions aside for exclusive competition among service-disabled, veteran-owned small business concerns, as well as the authority to make sole source awards to these small business concerns if certain conditions are met.
Small Business (SB) and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)
Small businesses can self-represent their status as a SDB with the federal government by checking the box in their SAM registration on the Assertions page. SAM will automatically assign federal SB status to businesses that qualify based on their SBA size standards.
Women-Owned Small Business Certifications
Enables Woman-Owned Small Businesses to compete for federal contracts that are set aside in industries where these businesses are underrepresented.
