How well is Your Firm Prepared for HubZone Certification

If you are a small business owner and looking to build business in the federal marketplace, you need to get certified by the Small Business Administration (SBA ) from the Federal Government . Among the most popular certification programs, HubZone Certification is one of the best . It provides financial support to the minority and underemployed section of the society. If your business is located at any underdeveloped part ( HubZone) of the state and most of your employees belong to the unemployed class, you are likely to get the HubZone Certification from the federal government. These certifications provide small and micro enterprises access to government contracting opportunities set aside specifically for fulfillment by a business which qualifies under one or more of the following certifications:

 

Small business

Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone)

Woman-owned

Veteran & service-disabled veteran-owned

8(a) business development

Alaskan-owned

Native American-owned

Is Small Business Certification Even Necessary?

 

So for businesses that meet the eligibility requirements for the above small business certifications, is it really all that important that they seek to become certified through the SBA? The answer to that question depends on the needs and goals of the business itself. A company should choose to obtain HubZone Certification based on the business development strategies defined by the company. Mostly, during the planning phase, it’s crucial to identify the areas where business exists and who are going to be your prospective clientele. Simultaneously, it is also necessary to geographical reach of the business itself. Those are the kinds of details that will determine the type of certifications and contracts the company will seek.

When to Apply for Small Business Certification

For young businesses, it’s mandatory to be in the scene and operate at least from two years before applying for the HubZone Certification. However, the duration a business is up for bidding is  less important than the abilities, experience and past performance of the principals and management team itself. It is possible to get the two-year requirement waived if the business owners or managers are accomplished industry professionals. Consider, however, the ability of your team to fulfill the requirements of a government contract, particularly if your business is actively expanding and readjusting operations to accommodate new growth. Keep in mind, that the primary requirement is to meet the government requirements and never the

 

Streamlining the Certification Process

For many of the businesses on the verge of transitioning into the government contracting arena, the application and documentation process associated with minority certifications is intensive and can be intimidating. Getting through the process confidently requires preparation. Preparation and organization are primary requisite when you are up for HubZone certification process. It is great to get all the corporate documents in a place so that you do not mess up during rush hours. Also designate a responsible person in the office as a certification coordinator. That person assumes responsibility for compiling any needed data. Having an experienced person, who will  take care of the certification-related tasks will help streamline the documentation process. Otherwise, you and the team would be probably wasting time, energy, and resource for no reasons. Once you have all the documents in place, you can focus on the submission of HubZone Certification.

You should understand that most federal contracts have some level of minority participation included in the verbiage as part of its contract compliance. The best part lies here. Even if you do not want to be a become a primary contractor with the federal government, you can use your HubZone Certification to participate in the bid events as a subcontractor. In the end, it will benefit your firm only.

Final Thoughts

After all, any certifications are more of a contract vehicles, a means by which businesses can become eligible for sole source opportunities and subcontract opportunities, often without having to bid. While HubZoneCertification is a gateway for the underdeveloped community to the federal business, it is also a means to financially bolster them. Any company seeking to do business with a government agency or large corporation as a prime or subcontractor should definitely consider this Hubzone grants or similar other certification programs. .