HubZone Application Tips You Must Keep in Mind

Are you looking to get into federal business marketplace?   If so, are you familiar with the government certifications for small business?  Did you know that Federal government has got its own business development program in order to help support the small business organizations? One such program is HubZone Certificationwhich is designed keeping the needs of the socio-economically backward regions of the state (identified as HubZone). If your  business is located in one of the HubZone areas ,  getting a  HubZone  Certification  is  mandatory  in  order to start  off a  business  with  Federal  Government.  



Here are few tips that you must keep in mind while applying for it.

Are you Located in the HubZone Area

Your firm must be located within a Hubzone. Go to the SBA website and make sure this is the case. If your organization has multiple sites then the SBA will deem the firms primary location in which the firm has the most employees.

Before considering your application for HubZone Certificationthe SBA will ask for a utility bill for the location submitted that is within the HUBZone. The name of the company and the address must be on the bill. If utilities are included as part of the lease the SBA will accept a phone bill in its place.

Are Your Employees Living in the HubZone

35% of your employees must reside within a HUBZone (this can be any HUBZone) at the time of the application. The SBA will want to see a copy of picture ID for all employees the firm claims.

A firm must have 1 full-time employee in order to apply. For construction firms one person must work within the HUBZone even if the majority of the work the firm performs is outside of the HUBZone.

Other Regular Data

D&B Information, CCR Registration, and HUBZone Certification application must all reconcile. This means that the exact same firm name must appear in all three locations. In addition to this other critical information such as business addresses and type of work the business engages in should be accurate as well.



Processing Time

. The SBA processes HUBZone applications in batch, meaning a full week of applications are dealt with at one time. The SBA HUBZone specialists then send the company an email to the email account listed in the application and the firm has 10 days to respond. If you are going on vacation check your email remotely or have another person check your email. A company cannot submit documents the SBA will request in advance and when the email comes it will be a one time email that if not responded to immediately your HUBZone application will be revoked. If the application is revoked the firm must wait 30 days and then can reapply. This will delay the HUBZone process at least an additional six months.

 

A hubzone certification can be helpful to any small business that is attempting to gain access to government contracts as it gives the business a 10% cost advantage over non-Hubzone or non-8a firms. If your firm is eligible we highly recommend that you obtain your HUBZone now because of the long delay in the hubzone certification process.

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