PART II: What You Need to Know

Set Asides & Certifications

How Does My Business Have an Advantage?

• Small Business Set Asides• Acquisitions that have an anticipated dollar

value exceeding $3000 but not over $150,000 are automatically reserved for small businesses.

How Much Do Small Businesses Get?

• 23% of all contracting dollars are to be awarded to small businesses

• 5% to WOSB/EDWOSB (Woman Owned) • 3% to SDVOSB (Service Disabled Veteran Owned)• 3% HUBZone (Historically Underutilized, place

based)• 5% to 8(a) (Socially and economically

disadvantaged)

WOSB/EDWOSB• Woman Owned Small Business/Economically Disadvantaged Woman

Owned Small Business• WOSB

– 51%owned and controlled by one or more women who are US citizens– Ownership must be direct and not subject to limitations– Woman or women must manage day to day operations

• EDWOSB– Satisfy all conditions of WOSB– Personal net worth of less than $750,000 (excluding primary home)– Adjusted annual income of $350,00 or less

• Only applies to designated industries (certain NAICs Codes)• WOSBs must be certified (self certification is FREE)• Upload all necessary documentation to SBA repository website

www.sba.gov/wosb

SDVOSB• Service Disabled Veteran Owned • Tool to help achieve an agency’s contracting goal• At least 51% owned and controlled by a service-disabled

veteran• Daily operations are controlled by a service-disabled

veteran or care giver• Certification program with the VA– Certify on www.vetbiz.gov– Listed on the VIP database www.vip.vetbiz.gov

• Self-Certification on SAM– Same criteria apply

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HUBZone• Historically Underutilized Business Zone• 35% of the firm’s employees must reside within a HUBZone,

or certify that at least 35% of employees engage in HUBZone contract will reside in HUBZone or Indian reservation

• Firm must be at least 51% owned an controlled by a US citizen

• Designed to stimulate economic development and create jobs

• SBA Certification required• In Wyoming: Albany, Platte, Goshen, Niobrara, Hot Springs,

Lincoln, Wind River Indian Reservationhttp://www.sba.gov/hubzone/

HUBZone Map

What is 8(a)?

• Assists eligible socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses

• It is a business development program• Must be in business for more than 2 years• Qualified firms can participate for 9 years

How Does 8(a) Work and How Do I Benefit?

• 8(a) firms are formally certified by the SBA• 8(a) set asides are a very popular vehicle for

achieving agency small business and SDB contracting goals and can be a great way to get a “sole source” award– Up to $6.5 million for manufacturing– Up to $4 million for anything else (goods, services,

construction, etc.)

Who is Eligible for 8(a)? Social Disadvantage

• Must be a small business and be at least 51% owned and controlled by a socially and economically disadvantaged individual(s)

• Individuals presumed to be socially disadvantaged are: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Native Americans and Subcontinent Asian Americans.

• An individual who is not a member of one of the groups listed can be admitted to the programs if he or she shows - through a preponderance of evidence - that he or she is socially disadvantaged. The evidence can be based on color, ethnic origin, gender, physical handicap or geographic environment.

• Must be a US citizen in good standing

http://www.sba.gov/8abd

Who is Eligible for 8(a)? Economic Disadvantage

• Assets cannot exceed $4 million• Personal income cannot exceed $250K,

averaged over 3 years• Net Worth must be less than $250K– Net Worth Excludes:• Retirement Accounts• Home Equity• Business Equity

http://www.sba.gov/8abd

Thresholds

Dollar Thresholds

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Hunting for Government Bid Opportunities

Subcontracting Hunting Grounds

Summary

• Micro-game: Rabbits and squirrels – you need to know who is buying what and market to them

• Small game: Turkeys - publically posted – check the papers, websites, bulletin boards

• Grizzlies – on FBO• Subcontracting – seek out those who have the

contracts

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Types of Solicitations

What is a Solicitation?• A request for bids, proposals, or quotes• RFQ – Request for Quote• Solicitations under $150K

• IFB – Invitation for Bid• Solicitations under sealed bidding procedures

• RFP – Request for Proposal• Solicitations under negotiated procedures

• Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

• Acquisition of commercial items• An announcement which constitutes

the only solicitation• A written solicitation will not be issued• It must state that the solicitation is

issued as an IFB, RFQ, or RFP

Contract Types

Wait a Second…

• What’s the difference between a solicitation and a contract?

– Solicitation issued before the government buys

– Contract is awarded after they pick a winning vendor

Contract Types

• Firm Fixed-Price – Risk on the business

• Cost-Reimbursement– Risk on the government

• Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity

– Multiple Award– Single Award

Where to Find Opportunities

What is Fed Biz Opps?

• As required by the Small Business Act and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act ,contracting officers must disperse information on proposed contract actions as follows:

• Single Government Point of Entry for federal government procurement opportunities over $25,000.

• The GPE may be accessed via the Internet at http://

www.fbo.gov

The Simple Answer:• FBO is a website (http://www.fbo.gov)

• If a contract is expected to have a value of over $25K, the government must post it on this website

• The government does not have to advertise it anywhere else

• Business owners can search this website in many different ways to find opportunities that they may be able to bid on

How Do I Use Fed Biz Opps?

How Can I Search?• Place of Performance

• Set Aside Code

• Procurement Type

• Agency

• Keyword

• NAICS Code

• (Product/Service) Classification Code

How Do I Make it Easier?• Register and create a profile

• Set up daily searches for solicitations that apply to your business

• Follow specific opportunities so you know of any updates

• Join and monitor the Interested Vendors list to look for possible subcontracting opportunities

What About Smaller Jobs?

• Jobs anticipated to be less than $25k do not have to be posted on FBO or publicly advertised, so businesses should:

• Create an effective profile in Dynamic Small Business Search

• Get to know the agencies in your area (networking events, check in via phone/email, etc.)