9/27/2010 Clovia Hamilton's Blog

Government vs. Corporate Contracting

June 28, 2010 by cloviaha m ilton

In this economy, businesses need not put all of their eggs in one basket. They should seek public
government contracts and private deals. There are set asides in government contracts for small
businesses, w oman ow ned businesses, veteran owned businesses, and minority ow ned socially and
economically disadvantaged businesses. In order to be eligible, these businesses have to get registered
and certified. Businesses that do not meet these categories can team w ith businesses that do in order to
take advantage of set asides.

I w orked in government for more than 25 years and began the business development journey in 2005. I
have met thousands of business owners. One topic that seems to confuse some business ow ners is
whether their government business registrations and certifications can be used in corporate contracting.
Well, no. Corporations have supplier diversity programs and look for Women Business Enterprise (WBE)
and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certifications which differ from those in federal, state, county and
city programs.

Government Contracting

Federal Contracting – No cost to get started!

Step 1) If 51% w oman owned, begin to use Woman Ow ned Small Business (WOSB) and Small Business
(SB) designations for marketing purposes. Put on your website, business cards, brochures, etc now !
These merely require self-certification.
A goal of setting aside 5% of government contracts to WOSB is underway.
There are bid opportunities currently being set aside for SB’s.
Check your small business status with the Small Business Administration using your North American
Industry Classification System (NAICs) codes, annual receipts, and number of employees. Visit:

http://w ww .sba.gov/contractingopportunities/officials/size/index.html

Determine your NAICs codes at : ww w.naics.com/search.htm

Military agencies use Federal Supplier Codes (FSC) and Product Service Codes (PSCs). Determine your
FSCs and PSCs at: http://ww w .outreachsystems.com/resources/tables/pscs/
Step 2) Complete the
Central Contractor’s Registration (CCR) at https://w w w.bpn.gov/ccr/default.aspx
Step 3) Be sure to complete the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Dynamic Small Business Registration
You w ill be prompted to enter this registration process at the conclusion of completing the CCR
registration.
Step 4) Consider the SBA 8a certification program.
But, bare in mind that few WOSB owned by Caucasians get certified.
You must prove both a social and an economical disadvantage.
Certain races are presumed to be socially disadvantaged (Black American, Native American, Hispanic
American, Asian Pacific American, Subcontinent Asian American).
Must be in business for 2 years
The net worth of the individual claiming disadvantage must be less than $250,000.
Step 5) Consider getting prequalified w ith the General Service Administration (GSA) by submitting a GSA
schedule contract proposal to the GSA for the products and services that you sell.

Step 6) Check if your business is located in a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) zone.
Visit http://map.sba.gov/hubzone/init.asp#address to find out if you are in a hub zone.
If so, apply for HUB Zone certification and be eligible for Hubzone set-asides
Step 7) If your business is 51% owned by a veteran or service disabled veteran, you may be eligible for
Veteran Ow ned Small Business (VOSB) or Service Disable Veteran Ow ned Small Business (SDVOSB)
certification.
oVisit http://ww w.va.gov/vetbiz/index.htm
oSelf Certify or get Verified (preferred)
State Contracting
Note: There are no set asides in Georgia other than the US Department of Transportation federal
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program w ith the Georgia Department of Transportation and
MARTA

Step 1) States use the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) product and service codes.
Determine your NIGP codes at:

http://cloviahamilton.wordpress.com/ 1/2
9/27/2010 Clovia Hamilton's Blog
http://doas.ga.gov/statelocal/spd/procurement/pages/home.aspx

Step 2) Complete vendor registration applications for any city and county that you w ant to do business in.
In Georgia, it is the Team Georgia Marketplace registration:

https://saofn.state.ga.us/psp/sao/SUPPLIER/ERP/h/?tab=DEFAULT

Local Government Contracting (Counties, Cities)

Step 1) Complete vendor registration applications for any city and county that you w ant to do business in.
Step 2) Complete small business certification applications for any city and county that you w ant to do
business in. The designations are Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Female Business Enterprise (FBE),
Woman Business Enterprise (WBE), or Minority Business Enterprise (MBE). In Georgia, there are programs
at:
City of Atlanta
Atlanta Public Schools
City of Roswell
City of Savannah
City of Augusta
Fulton County
DeKalb County
Cobb County

Corporate Contracting

Corporate Certifications – Fee based

Step 1) If 51% w oman owned, submit a Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) application w ith the Women’s
Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
Visit w w w.wbenc.org
The application fee is $350
They will conduct a site visit
It typically takes 30-90 days
Step 2) If 51% minority owned, submit a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) application w ith the National
Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) at a state chapter of your choice.
The application fee is $500 in Georgia (GMSDC)
They will conduct a site visit
It typically takes 30-90 days

I urge businesses to get a Strategic Marketing Plan to determine w hich agencies buy w hat they sell;
which certifications and registrations to pursue; and to find teaming partners.

http://cloviahamilton.wordpress.com/ 2/2