Designation:

SBA 8(a) BD Program-

Sections 7(j)(10) and 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 636(j)(10) and 637(a)) authorizes the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a business development program, which is known as the 8(a) Business Development program. The 8(a) program is a robust nine-year program created to help firms owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

Veteran Owned-

Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) is a company diversity registration designated under the Veteran Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-461). Registration ensures that companies qualify for preferential procurement for federal contracts if they are owned and controlled by Veterans.
This certification is non-industry specific and requires that the firm meets the small business requirements established by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Additionally, it requires that the company is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by a veteran.

Hub Certified-

The Historically Underutilized Business Program was created to promote full and equal procurement opportunities for small, minority- and women-owned businesses. Companies interested in doing business with the state are encouraged to become HUB certified. Your business is registered on the web-based HUB directory. State agencies including institutions of higher education use the HUB Directory to solicit bids from certified HUBs. Prime contractors also use the HUB directory to identify HUBs to whom they will send notification of their subcontracting opportunities

NC MBE-

MBE is a company level ownership/diversity certification. MBE certifications are usually issued by the federal, state or local government. Eligibility for certification as a Minority Business Enterprise varies depending on the issuer but generally requires that a company be owned and operated by a member of a minority group such as African American, Native American, Asian or Hispanic American.

Government Wide Acquisitions Contract(GWACs)

GSA 8(a) STARS III-

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) recently awarded the third and final cohort of the 8(a) STARS III Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC). This GWAC helps enhance equitable access to the federal marketplace for small and disadvantaged businesses. It is known governmentwide as a Best-in-Class, easy-to-use, streamlined procurement solution for purchasing information technology services from 8(a) prime contractors.

NASA SEWP-

The NASA SEWP (Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement) GWAC provides the latest in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Audio-Visual (AV) products and services for all Federal Agencies and their approved contractors. The statutory authority allowing usage of the SEWP contracts by the entire Federal Government is NASA’s designation as an Executive Agent by OMB based on the Information Technology Management Reform Act (ITMRA) of 1996, now the Clinger-Cohen Act. The SEWP Program Office manages a suite of government-wide IT products and services contracts that enable NASA and all Federal Agencies to achieve their missions and strategic initiatives by providing streamlined access to critical technologies and solutions.

SeaPort-e-

SeaPort is the Navy’s electronic platform for acquiring support services in 23 functional areas including Engineering, Financial Management, and Program Management. The Navy Systems Commands (NAVSEA, NAVAIR, NAVWAR, NAVFAC, and NAVSUP), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Military Sealift Command (MSC), and the United States Marine Corps (USMC) compete their service requirements amongst 2400+ SeaPort-NxG Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) multiple award contract holders. 

GSA MAS (pending)-

Under the MAS Program, GSA issues long-term governmentwide contracts that provide federal, state, and local government buyers access to commercial products, services and solutions at pre negotiated pricing. The GSA Schedule is structured to support the 12 large categories established by OMB under the category management approach of smarter buying. The Schedule is further divided into subcategories and Special Item Numbers (SINs) that are aligned to NAICS codes to simplify the process for buyers and sellers to understand the scope of GSA’s offerings and find what the products and services they are looking to buy or offer.