The SBA's 8(a) Program, named for a section of the Small Business Act, is a business development program created to help small disadvantaged businesses compete in the American economy and access the federal procurement market. Many Federal contract opportunities are 100% set aside for 8(a) certified companies.

The compliance officer is the person who oversees and administers the Good Faith Effort requirements for the issuing authority (owner).

Central Contractor Registration - a Federal registration requirement for contractors wishing to bid on Federal projects.

DBE or Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, is the term used to denote any small business, minority business or other disadvantaged businesses.  These can include SBE, WBE, MBE, DVBE, SDVBE, VSB etc.

Disabled Veteran Enterprise.  The minimum goal for DVBE participation on California State funded contracts is 3%.  Higher goals are required on some projects.

Caltrans Division of Engineering Services and the Division of Procurement
and Contracts will begin including an appropriate DBE race-conscious goal to include
Underutilized Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (UDBEs). The race-conscious goal
established for each contract will be based on the subcontracting opportunities it provides and the availability of UDBEs.

Human Right Commission Certified. The City and County of San Francisco Human Rights Commission certifies LBE (Local Business Enterprise) and DBE firms and establishes goals for Public Works contracting for the City and County agencies.

The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program stimulates economic development and creates jobs in urban and rural communities.  These preferences go to small businesses that obtain HUBZone certification in part by employing staff who live in a HUBZone area.

Minority Business Enterprise

Almost all public works construction projects are required by the Davis Bacon Act, to pay all workers who work on the public works project, the prevailing wage in the local area. By definition, this wage approximates the local union scale for the particular trade in the local area.  There can be small differences between federal and state prevailing wage rates.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.

Small Business Enterprise - Federal and State

Service Disabled Veteran Enterprise - Federal Category

Projects that are set aside exclusively for Small Businesses.  This is a Federal category

This category is used by the Port of Long Beach and is currently defined as a small business with $2.75 million or less in annual gross revenue, averaged over the past three years, or a manufacturer with 25 or fewer employees.

Women Owned Business Enterprise