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Interested in government contracting opportunities?
Go directly to the Vermont
Business Assistance Network and register to receive notice about bid
opportunities, or read on.
Why get certified? Hear from Jean Lynch
at KeyCenter (pdf), reprinted with permission from the Champlain Business
Journal.
These FAQs will provide minority and woman -owned firms with the basics of
business certification. We believe the resources listed below are effective for
both minority and woman- owned businesses to meet the contracting requirements
of government agencies and prime contractors. However, every business is
different as are their needs. We encourage you to contact these organizations to
determine if their certification process is the most applicable for your
business.
Although definitions vary, in general a minority-owned business is a
for-profit enterprise, physically located in the United States or its trust
territories, which is owned, operated, and controlled by minority group member(s).
"Minority group members" most often identified are US citizens who are Asian,
African-American, Hispanic, and Native American (for a complete listing, see
http://www.sba.gov/library/cfrs/13cfr124.html). Ownership by minority
individuals means the business is at least 51 percent owned by such individuals
or, in the case of a publicly-owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock
is owned by one or more such individuals. Further, the management and daily
operations are controlled by those minority group members.
The Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) defines a "woman-owned small
business concern" in Part 19.001 Definitions, as follows: "Woman-owned small
business concern means a small business concern—(a) which is at least 51 percent
owned by one or more women; or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at
least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more women; and (b)
whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more
women."
You do not need to be a certified minority or woman-owned business to operate
in the State of Vermont. However, you must register your business with the
Vermont Secretary of State’s Office (http://www.sec.state.vt.us/corps/corpindex.htm).
If you chose to seek certification, you can choose between
“self-certification” and “agency certification.” Self-certification involves a
relatively simple application process where the owner swears, in writing, to
their minority or woman-owned status. This can be sufficient for many business
opportunities. For those who need a more rigorous certification, agency
certification requires a detailed application and often an on-site visit.
Certification can provide visibility for your business (through business
directories), contracting opportunities with both private and government
agencies, and some discounts on services and technical assistance.
There are a number of state and federal government programs offering
self-certification and “agency” certification.
For self-certification:
- Agency of Natural Resources (State of Vermont). The Disadvantaged
Business Enterprise (DBE) Program assists minority and woman-owned
businesses to become involved in the Vermont Department of Environmental
Conservation competitive bid process. This is a self-certifying process.
There is no fee.
http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/fed/construction/dbemain.htm, Donald Robisky,
Donald.robisky@anr.state.vt.us, 802.241.3734
- Department of Buildings & General Services (State of Vermont)
administers a Minority / Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Program and offers
self-certification. A Self-Certification Form is available online at
http://www.bgs.vermont.gov/facilities/engineering/mwbe/index.html.
- The Vermont Business Registry is an online searchable database of many
Vermont businesses. This is a self-entry system that allows you to add your
own business information. There is no fee.
www.vermontbusinessregistry.com, Robin Miller,
robin@thinkvermont.com,
802.828.5240
- Central Contractor Registration (Department of Defense CCR) is an
integrated database of small businesses and registration is required for all
federal contracts. Go to http://www.ccr.gov/
and click “new registration.” Businesses can be searched by clicking “CCR
Search,” however a search for certified 8(a) firms, HUBZone firms, Small
Disadvantaged Business, etc. must be made by clicking “Dynamic Small
Business Search.” There is no fee. Brenda Plastridge,
Brenda.plastridge@sba.gov,
802.828.4422, x206
For agency certification:
- Agency of Transportation (State of Vermont). The Disadvantaged Business
Enterprise (DBE) Program encourages and supports the participation of
companies owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged
individuals (generally women and minorities) in transportation contracts.
The business must be at least 51 percent owned and controlled by a socially
and economically disadvantaged individual (s). There is no fee.
http://www.aot.state.vt.us/civilrights/DBE.htm, Nancy Bruce,
nancy.bruce@state.vt.us,
802.828.2715
- The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) offers a
certification program for woman-owned businesses. The business must be 51
percent owned by a woman or women with US Citizenship or US Resident Alien
Status; demonstrate control as evidenced by signature role on loans, leases
and contracts; and show proof of effective management of the business
(operating position, by-laws, hire-fire and other decision-making role).
There is a fee for this service.
http://www.wbenc.org
- The National Women’s Business Owners Corporation (NWBOC) offers a
national certification program for woman-owned and controlled businesses. In
order to be certified, the woman business owner must be a US citizen and
active in the daily management of her business. The business must serve a
useful business function. In order to be eligible for certification, the two
basic principles of business ownership and control must be met. There is a
fee for this service. http://www.nwboc.org
- The National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) has
standardized procedures to assure consistent and identical review and
certification of minority-owned businesses. There is a fee for this service.
http://www.nmsdc.org/index.html
Other Certification Programs:
- 8(a) Business Development Program (US Small Business Administration)
helps small disadvantaged businesses access the federal procurement market.
The applicant firm must: (l) be a small business; (2) be unconditionally
owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged
individuals who are of good character and citizens of the United States; and
(3) must demonstrate potential for success. Some 8(a) participants receive
federal contracts reserved for the 8(a) program through sole source or
limited competition awards. Once certified, the firm is added to an on-line
registry maintained in CCR Dynamic Small Business Search. There is no fee.
http://www.sba.gov/8abd/, Brenda
Plastridge,
Brenda.plastridge@sba.gov, 802.828.4422, x206
- Small Disadvantaged Business (US Small Business Administration SDB) is a
certification for small businesses that meet specific social, economic,
ownership, and control eligibility criteria. Once certified, the firm is
added to an online registry maintained in CCR Dynamic Small Business Search.
SDB certification strictly pertains to benefits in Federal procurement.
There is no fee. http://www.sba.gov/sdb/,
Brenda Plastridge,
Brenda.plastridge@sba.gov, 802.828.4422, x206
- The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program (US Small Business
Administration) encourages economic development in historically
underutilized business zones - "HUBZones" - through the establishment of
preferences. To qualify, a small business must: 1) be located in a
"historically underutilized business zone" or HUBZone; (http://map.sba.gov/hubzone/hzqry.asp?state=VT);
2) be owned and controlled by one or more US Citizens; and 3) have at least
35 percent of their employees residing in the Zone. Once certified, the firm
is added to an on-line registry maintained in CCR Dynamic Small Business
Search. http://www.sba.gov/hubzone/,
Brenda Plastridge,
Brenda.plastridge@sba.gov, 802.828.4422, x206
- Government Marketing Assistance Center (State of Vermont GMAC) assists
with government registrations and qualified government contractor status.
GMAC can help develop targeted marketing strategies and provide technical
assistance from bid preparation to final payment.
www.thinkvermont.com Robin
Miller, robin@thinkvermont.com,
802.828.5240
- Vermont Business Assistance Network (State of Vermont VBAN) allows
businesses to: search for new contracting opportunities with federal, state,
and local governments, market your business to visitors to Vermont, list
products and services, and find vendors and suppliers.
www.vermontbusinessregistry.com Robin Miller,
robin@thinkvermont.com,
802.828.5240
- FedBizOpps.gov is the single government point-of-entry (GPE) for Federal
government procurement opportunities over $25,000. Agencies publicize their
business opportunities by posting information directly to FedBizOpps via the
Internet. Through one portal - FedBizOpps (FBO) - commercial vendors seeking
Federal markets for their products and services can search, monitor, and
retrieve opportunities solicited by the entire Federal contracting
community.
http://www.eps.gov/index.html
- The Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBUs).
Most federal agencies have designated a point of contact for women business
owners in the Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBUs).
They offer small business information on procurement opportunities, guidance
on procurement procedures, and identification of both prime and
subcontracting opportunities.
http://www.sba.gov/GC/osdbu.html
- Register your business with federal government contractor databases.
www.womenbiz.gov
- Download Selling to the Federal Government. This guide offers a
step-by-step introduction to the world of federal contracting and
demystifies the technical and marketing challenges that contracting
involves.
http://www.sba.gov/womeninbusiness/selling.html
If you own a business located in Burlington, you can contact
Ed Antczak
(802.865.7587) for more information.
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