Is your business HUBZone eligible?

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The HUBZone program fuels small business growth in Historically Underutilized Business Zones with a goal of awarding at least 3% of federal contract dollars to HUBZone-certified companies each year.

The government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses in Historically Underutilized Business Zones. It also gives preferential consideration to those businesses in full and open competition.

Joining the HUBZone program makes your business eligible to compete for the program’s set-aside contracts. HUBZone-certified businesses also get a 10% price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions.

HUBZone-certified businesses can still compete for contract awards under other socio-economic programs they qualify for.

To qualify for the HUBZone program, your business must:

Be a small business
Be at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens, a Community Development Corporation, an agricultural cooperative, an Alaska Native corporation, a Native Hawaiian organization, or an Indian tribe
Have its principal office located in a HUBZone
Have at least 35% of its employees living in a HUBZone

You can find the full qualification criteria in Title 13 Part 126 Subpart B of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). You can also get a preliminary assessment of whether you qualify at the SBA’s Certify website.

View HUBZone Map

Before you can participate in the HUBZone program, you must be certified by the SBA. Review the Top Tips for HUBZone Certification Tip Sheet and take these steps to get HUBZone certified.

Watch a short video on How to Make Your HUBZone Application a Success
Make sure you have a SAM.gov account.
Make sure you have a General Login System account.
Apply for HUBZone certification using the General Login System. Log in, select “Access” and then “HUBZone” before completing the prompts.
Check your email (including spam folder) for time-sensitive instructions to electronically verify your application within 2 business days.
Submit all requested supporting documentation within three business days; your submission cannot be assigned for eligibility review until all required documents are submitted. Be prepared to respond to requests for additional information from the HUBZone team within 5 business days. Failure to do so may result in a decline or withdraw of your application.
Check that your status was updated in DSBS and SAM. Within 48 hours of your approval, SBA will automatically update your status in DSBS and SAM.

Read the instructions from the General Login System carefully to make sure you provide all the necessary information.

Watch the Video Now

SBA is testing a new eligibility workbook tool designed to help applicants organize, calculate, and present information related to their principal office and employee residency. Filling out the workbook tool and uploading it as part of your application will help expedite SBA’s review of your HUBZone application.

Members of the HUBZone team hold calls on a weekly basis to answer questions and help firms navigate the certification process. Calls are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon.