Certification Program(s)

Federal, State, and Local Government Small Business Certification Programs

Federal (SBA)
8(a)
↓

Responsible Agency

Federal (SBA) (Must Register Online) copy of online application and supporting documents are mailed

Federal (SBA) (Must Register Online)

Federal (SBA) (Must Register Online) or SBA approved third party

Center for Veteran's Enterprise (CVE)

Texas Procurement & Support Services (TPASS), Historically Underutilized Business (HUB)

Maximum Size Standard

Small Business According to NAICS Code
(SBA Size Standard)

Small Business According to NAICS Code
(SBA Size Standard)

Small Business According to NAICS Code
(SBA Size Standard)

Small Business According to NAICS Code
(SBA Size Standard)

TX Administrative Code, Title 34, Rule §20.23
(SBA Size Standard)

Group Participation

Social Eligibility (Black, Hispanic, Native, Asian, and Subcontinent Asian Americans) and/or Economically Disadvantaged

Principal Office Located in a HUBZone Area Operated by a SB

Women and Economically Disadvantaged Women

Veterans and Service Disabled Veterans

Minority, Service Disabled Veteran (20% or more disabled), Women

Maximum Assets, Personal Income, & Personal Net Worth

Assets cannot exceed $6 million; Personal income cannot exceed $350,000 averaged over 3 years; Net worth must be less than $750,000

N/A

EDWOSB: Personal net worth cannot exceed $750,000 (excludes owner interest in the business and equity in home); Adjusted gross income average over three years is $350,000; Fair market value of all assets is $6 million or less

N/A

N/A

Citizenship / Residency

US Citizen / U.S.

US Citizen / U.S.

US Citizen / U.S.

US Citizen / U.S.

US Citizen / TX Residents Only

Other Qualification Specifications

In Business 2 Yrs by Evidence of Tax Returns with Sales

Maintain 35% Employment with HUBZone Residents. (Employee means all individuals employed on a full-time, part-time, or other basis, so long as that individual works a minimum of 40 hours per month. This includes employees obtained from a temporary employee agency, leasing concern, or through a union agreement or co-employed pursuant to a professional employer organization agreement.)

Not all NAICS codes are eligible for the program. Visit the SBA website below for a list of eligible NAICS for WOSB and EDWOSB Program.

DD214 as Evidence of Military Service and Determination Letter from the VA for Disability

Principal place of business is the location where the qualifying owner(s) of the business direct, control and coordinate the business’s daily operations and activities.

Average Processing Time After Receipt of Complete Application

6 - 12 Months

30 - 90 Days

Self-Certification (www.certify.sba.gov)

3 - 6 Months

90 Days

On Site review

At Discretion of SBA

At Discretion of SBA

At Discretion of

SBA

Yes

No

Certification Period

9 Years (Requires Annual Updates)

HUBZone Tracts Are Changed Every 10 Yrs Based on Census Data

Re-certify Yearly

Re-certify Every Year

Once Every 4 Years

Reciprocity / Fees

No Reciprocity / No Fees

No Reciprocity / No Fees

No Reciprocity / No Fees if self-certify at certify.sba.gov (fees apply if third party certifies, i.e., WBEA)

No Reciprocity / No Fees

CoH Reciprocity / No fees for certification but to register on CMBL will cost $70

Website Addresses

Federal, State, and Local Government Small Business Certification Programs

State of TX
TX DOT (SBE)
↓

Responsible

COH or TUCP - submit a completed application by applying online at Diversity Management System (DMS).

City of Houston (processing the TUCP DBE application can be jointly done with COH certification or individually) - Online or manual applications

COH Affirmative Action and Contract Compliance - Online or manual application

Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (Must Register Online)

Women Business Enterprise Alliance (Must Register Online)- mail documents

Maximum Size Standard

Small Business According to NAICS Code
(SBA Size Standard)

Small Business According to NAICS Code (SBA Size Standard);
gross receipts must not exceed $23.98 million averaged out over three years, regardless of SBA Size Standard.

Small Business According to NAICS Code
(SBA Size Standard)

N/A

N/A

Group

Small Business Enterprise

Asian-American; African American, Hispanic Americans, Native American, Asian-Pacific Americans, Subcontinent Americans, Women

Minority, Women, Persons with Disabilities, Small Business Enterprise (SBE is for Construction and Construction-Related Only)

Minority

Women

Maximum Assets, Personal Income, & Personal Net Worth

N/A

Personal Net Worth Limit is $1,320,000; Gross Receipts Cannot Exceed $23.98M Averaged Over 3 years

N/A

N/A

N/A

Citizenship / Residency

US Citizen or Lawful Admitted Permanent Resident / Principal Office in TX

US Citizen or Lawful Admitted Permanent Resident / TX Residents

US Citizen or Lawful Admitted Permanent Resident / City of Houston and Surrounding Counties

US Citizen / Principal Office in TX

US Citizen or Lawful Admitted Permanent Resident / Principal Office in TX

Other Qualification Specifications

Certified DBE firms are recognized as SBEs without having to submit an SBE application

DBE Must Meet the 49 CFR Part 26 Complete Personal Net Worth Statement and provide required documents
Firms DBE Certified Are Automatically Eligible for the SBE Certification

Needs to have a record of sales by submitting invoice(s) and proof of payment

Specific Management and Ownership Criteria Specified within the Application

Proof of Effective Mgmnt of Business. Control of the Business as Evidenced by Signature on Loans, Leases, and Contracts

Average Processing Time After Receipt of Complete Application

30 days

90 days

90 days - 8 Months

90 Days

90 Days

On Site review

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Certification Period

Re-certify Every Year

Re-certify Every Three Years; However You Must Update Your Certification Annually

ACDBE/DBE Annual Certification Form, MWSBE/PDBE 3 Year Update Form, or a SBE 3 Year Update Form and Affidavit

Re-certify Every Year

Re-certify Every Year

Reciprocity / Fees

No Reciprocity / No Fees

METRO / No Fees

Reciprocity with: Port of Houston Authority; Houston Independent School District; Houston Community College; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Houston Housing Authority; Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts; Texas Department of Transportation; Airport Transportation Agencies Statewide / No Fees

Reciprocity with: State of TX HUB (need to re-certify every year) / Fees based on annual gross receipts:
<$1M = $250; $1M - $9.99M = $400; $10M - $49.9M= $650; >$50M= $800; Expedited = additional $350

Reciprocity with: State of TX HUB (need to re- certify every year) / Fees based on annual gross income:
Under $1M = $350; $1M - $4.99M = $500; $5M - $9.99M = $750; >$10M= $1,000; $50M+ = $1,250