Your Local SBA
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Opportunities The Arizona District Office hosts a 2-hour presentation on SBA’s 8(a) Program every month titled “SELLING TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT” and includes program information about the HUBZone program and Small Disadvantaged Businesses. The class is held the first Wednesday of every month from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at SBA’s Training Center. The class is free and open to all. To register on-line visit www.sba.gov/az and click on the On-Line Registration link. Click here for more information or call 602.745.7200. Must register online www.ccr.gov The Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is a unique nine character identification number provided by the commercial company Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). Call D&B at 1.866.705.5711 if you do not have a DUNS number. The process to request a DUNS number takes about 10 minutes and is free of charge. Federal Business Opportunities - Federal agencies and Military services are required to post their contracting opportunities over $25,000 on General Services Administration's FedBizOpps (www.fedbizopps.gov), which provides easy access to: Synopses; Pre-solicitation Notices; Solicitations; Requests for Proposals; Requests for Quotations; Federal Acquisition Regulations; Market Surveys; Sources Sought; Amendments/Modifications; Awards (Subcontracting Opportunities). It also provides automatic e-mail notification for your supply or service on new contract opportunities. Visit: www.fedbizopps.gov Available to small businesses: located in an eligible “Historically Underutilized Business Zone”; owned and controlled by one or more U.S. citizens; and at least 35% of its employees must be HUBZone residents. Brings federal contracting opportunities to businesses located in these areas. To determine HUBZone status and to apply online, visit: http://www.sba.gov/hubzone Tech-Net is an electronic gateway of technology information and resources for and about small high tech businesses. It is a search engine for researchers, scientists, state, federal and local government officials, a marketing tool for small firms and a potential "link" to investment opportunities for investors and other sources of capital. First time exporters as well as seasoned international traders need more from their government. Frequently, businesses must interact with several government agencies to complete a single task. The interaction is often uncoordinated and cumbersome, resulting in several rounds of inquiries and frequent routings from one government agency to another. TradeNet's Export Advisor, therefore, was created to provide a one-stop access point to government for exporting. Helps small and emerging contractors obtain bid, performance and payment bonds. SBA guarantees up to 90% of a bond issued by a surety company for construction, service, supply and manufacturing contracts. Visit: www.sba.gov/osg or telephone Area Office 4 in Seattle: 206.553.0961 Offers a broad scope of assistance to socially and economically disadvantaged firms. 8(a) regulations allow Federal agencies to streamline the contracting process and the rules make it easier for non-minority firms to participate by proving their social disadvantage. At least 51 percent of the ownership must be socially and economically disadvantaged. The 8(a) applicant must have been in business for two full years and must qualify as a small business based on SBA’s size standards. The following groups are presumed to be socially disadvantaged: African-American, Hispanic American, Native American, Asian Pacific American and Subcontinent Asian Americans. Individuals who are not members of these groups must establish their social disadvantage based on a preponderance of the evidence. An individual’s personal net worth cannot exceed $250,000, excluding ownership interest in the applicant firm and equity in personal residence, to be considered economically disadvantaged. Benefits of the program include technical and management assistance by SBA and its resource partners and access to federal procurements. Strictly pertains to benefits in Federal procurement. Under the government’s reformed affirmative action rules, SDB’s are eligible for price evaluation adjustments of up to 10 percent when bidding on federal contracts in certain industries. The program also provides evaluation credits for prime contractors who achieve SDB subcontracting targets and is intended to help federal agencies achieve the government-wide goal of 5 percent SDB participation in prime contracting. 8(a) firms automatically qualify for SDB certification. As of 10-01-98, SDB’s are eligible to receive the credit when competing in these industries: Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Construction; Mining; Mfg.; Transportation; Communications; Services: Electric; Gas; Sanitary services; Wholesale trade; Retail trade; Finance; Insurance; Real estate services. Eligibility Requirements: At least 51 percent of the ownership of an 8(a) firm must be socially and economically disadvantaged. African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Subcontinent Asian Americans, and Native Americans are presumed to qualify. Others can qualify if they show by a “preponderance of the evidence” that they are disadvantaged. Individuals must have a net worth of less than $750,000, excluding their business equity and primary residence. Applicants must also meet applicable size standards for small businesses in their industry. Small businesses wanting to take advantage of these programs must be certified by the SBA. For information about either program, contact SBA’s Arizona District Office 602.745.7200 or email: arizona@sba.gov or visit: www.sba.gov/8abd and www.sba.gov/sdb You might also take the online training course on SBA certifications www.sba.gov/training/certprograms.html
U.S. Small Business Administration, Arizona District Office
What is a Small Business
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