Minority-Owned Businesses
Small, Women and Minority-Owned Certification Programs
Arlington County: Minority Participation Policy
The County has a
policy for increasing the participation of small, minority, and women owned businesses. To obtain
a copy, contacting the Purchasing Office at 703-228-3410.
Commonwealth of Virginia: Small, Woman and Minority Business Certification (SWAM)
The Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise (VDMBE) has the unique responsibility to
assure that minority, disadvantaged and woman-owned businesses are an integral part of the communication
with other Commonwealth Departments to promote the inclusion of Virginia's diverse population to access
capital, receive small business assistance, and provide minority certification procurement opportunities.
Agencies of the Commonwealth are encouraged to use an affirmative outreach program that includes
solicitation to minority businesses selected from those that are certified by VDMBE. While other
entities may also provide recognition of minority firms, state agencies and many local governments
recognize those firms certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia and its Department of Minority Business
Enterprise.
Among its many activities, VDMBE provides for the Certification of those businesses that wish to
achieve the benefits of participation in the Commonwealth's minority business programs. The most important
of these programs are designed to open doors to state and local government contracting opportunities
by assuring that a contractor is a bonafide minority-owned business. Other programs include management
and technical assistance on an individual or group basis, as well as a variety of educational, training,
marketing, and outreach programs. While programs sponsored by VDMBE are open to all firms, Certified Firms
are targeted, contacted directly, and as appropriate, given priority status for receiving services offered
by the department. Certify your business
for certification through the Commonwealth.
Federal Programs
The new and improved 8(a) Program has become an essential instrument for helping socially and
economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs gain access to the economic mainstream of American society.
SBA has helped thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs over the years to gain a foothold in government
contracting. Participation is divided into two phases over nine years: a four-year developmental stage
and a five-year transition stage. In fiscal year 1998, more than 6,100 firms participated in the 8(a)
Program and were awarded $6.4 billion in Federal contract awards.
Small Disadvantaged Business Program
The SBA administers two particular business assistance programs for small disadvantaged businesses
(SDBs). These programs are the
8(a) Business Development Program and the Small Disadvantaged Business Certification Program. While
the 8(a) Program offers a broad scope of assistance to socially and economically disadvantaged firms,
SDB certification strictly pertains to benefits in federal procurement. 8(a) firms automatically qualify
for SDB certification. SBA certifies SDBs to make them eligible for special bidding benefits. Evaluation
credits available to prime contractors boost subcontracting opportunities for SDBs. They have become,
in effect, the gateway to opportunity for small contractors and subcontractors. The SBA is also directing
the new HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program
that allows small firms located in many urban or rural areas to qualify for sole-source and other types
of federal contract benefits. HUBZone stands for "historically underutilized business zone."
8(a) companies and SDBs located in these areas are eligible for benefits under both programs. Their task
is to teach 8(a) and other small companies how to compete in the federal contracting arena and how to
take advantage of greater subcontracting opportunities available from large firms as the result of
public-private partnerships.
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