Federal Government Small Business Set Aside Programs

Federal Government Small Business Set Aside Programs Every federal government purchase anticipated to be valued from $2500 to $100,000 is automatically set-aside for small businesses as long as there are at least 2 companies that can provide the product/service. Contracts over $100,000 can be set aside if enough small businesses are able to do the work. Contracts over $500,000 have to include a small business subcontracting plan so that small businesses can get work under these large contracts. Small Business Contracts less than $100,000 or those where 2 or more small businesses can fulfill the contract can be set aside for small businesses. This is typically a contracting officer decision after they perform market research. Contracts can be fully set aside or partially set aside (large company and small company). The SBA’s definition of a small business varies based on industry but typically is less than 500 employees or less than $5,000,000 in revenue. The government has an overall goal of 23% of prime contracts flowing to small businesses and in 2006 the actual was 23.09%. HUB Zone The HUBZone program is to encourage small businesses located in designated high unemployment, low-income areas through set aside contracts. HUBZone stands for â€Å"Historically Underutilized Business Zone†. To qualify a company must be a small business, owned and controlled 51% by US citizens, have a  main office in a HUBZone and have at least 35% of employees living in a HUBZone. The governments contracting goal is 3% of all prime contract dollars being awarded to HUBZone businesses. There are also sole source contracts possible and 10% price preference (HUBZone company prices can be 10% higher and still be considered competitive). To become HUBZone qualified the company must submit an application and supporting documentation to the SBA. In 2007 $1.764 billion was spent on HUBZone contracts. SBIR/STTR The SBIR/STTR program was established to provide small companies with funding to develop products which have government and commercial potential. SBIRs are research grants to fund research and development efforts. In 2005 federal agencies spent $1.85 billion on SBIR awards. STTR is similar to SBIR except the company must partner with a university under an STTR. Federal agencies with RD expenditures over $100 million per year set aside 2.5% of the RD funds for the SBIR program. Twenty percent of the SBIR award companies were founded entirely or partly based on SBIR contracts (â€Å"An Assessment of the SBIR Program†). SBIR is a three-phase program. Phase I is worth up to $100,000 and is to explore whether the proposed solution will work. Phase II can have a budget of up to $750,000 and is to develop a proof of concept. Phase III is to commercialize the solution and has a mix of government and private funding. 8(a) Small disadvantaged businesses may apply to the SBA 8(a) program. To qualify a business must be owned by socially or economically disadvantaged people, in business for at least 2 years and owners must have a net worth under $250,000. Once certified by the SBA 8(a) companies have set aside contracts available. Women-Owned There is no formal certification for women-owned small businesses – it is self-certified. The government contracting goal is 5% to women-owned businesses but there are no specific set aside programs. In 2006 the government awarded 3.4% of contract dollars to women-owned businesses. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVO) Veterans who are certified as service-disabled and own a company can be qualified as a service disabled veteran owned company. There is no formal certification process (self-certified) other than the Veteran’s Administration qualifying them as service disabled. The government-wide contracting goal is 3% to SDVO. Just 0.12% of total prime contract dollars were to service disabled veteran-owned businesses. Veteran-Owned Veteran-owned companies is a self-certifying designation when at least 51% of the company is owned by veterans. There are no specific set aside programs for veteran-owned. Just 0.6% of total prime contract dollars were to veteran-owned businesses. Small Disadvantaged Business Small disadvantaged businesses are 51% owned and controlled by African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Subcontinent Asian Americans, and Native Americans. This designation is self-certifying. Native American Native American (including Alaskan and Hawaiian) can have contracts set aside and sole-sourced to them.