In making a detailed definition, SBA may use a number of criteria, including the number of employees, annual receipts, affiliates, or other applicable factors. These specific criteria are set forth in the SBA Small Business Size Regulations, Title 13, Part 121 of the Code of Federal Regulations. For information on specific industry classifications (manufacturing, construction, services, transportation, refined petroleum products, and research development and testing), or more information on general small business definitions, please contact the SBA’s office of Size Standards.

How can I get a DUNS number?

DUNS stands for “Data Universal Numbering System” and is used by the government to identify contractors and their locations. The number is also required to register with the Central Contractor Register (CCR) that is used by the government’s electronic commerce/electronic data interchange (EC/EDI) system called FACNET. If you do not have a DUNS number, you can obtain one from Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) at no cost. Contact the company at (800) 333-0505.

What is the FedBizOpps?

FedBizOpps.gov is the single government point-of-entry (GPE) for Federal government procurement opportunities over $25,000. Government buyers are able to publicize their business opportunities by posting information directly to FedBizOpps via the Internet. Through one portal - FedBizOpps (FBO) - commercial vendors seeking Federal markets for their products and services can search, monitor and retrieve opportunities solicited by the entire Federal contracting community.

What is the 8(a) Program?

The 8(a) Business Development program is designed to provide business development assistance and technical assistance to help socially and economically disadvantaged American businesses gain access to the mainstream American economy. The program is named for the section of the Small Business Act that authorizes its policies and procedures.

What is the Vendor Identification Program?

The Vendor Identification Program (VIP) assists small businesses by identifying government purchasers for the items they produce for large defense contractors. The program helps SBA to increase competition by adding qualified sources to bidder lists and creating prime contracting opportunities for small businesses.

Through the Vendor Identification Program, SBA matches the past procurement history and acquisition needs of the government and identifies the actual manufacturer of systems, subsystems, components, and spare parts. This expedites the procurement process and facilitates the participation of small businesses as prime contractors.

Eligible Firms
If your company has manufactured weapons system parts or items for a defense contractor, and you are interested in selling directly to the Government, the SBA’s VIP program may benefit your firm.

Getting Started
It’s easy and convenient to determine if the SBA’s VIP program can benefit you. Just pick an option below, complete the information in the requested format, and submit it to the VIP Coordinator. In a few weeks you will receive a listing of government offices where your firm’s parts are purchased.

Option #1: E-mail “CAGE” Code and Parts List to the VIP Coordinator. Your firm’s CAGE Code must be entered on the first line of the e-mail and each Part Number must be entered on a separate line below the CAGE Code.
EXAMPLE:
8Z483
1234567890
0987654321
6019462986

Option #2: If you prefer, you can send your firm’s parts list to the VIP Coordinator, in ASCII text format with the fields arranged as shown above. Mail floppy disks to the following address:

Pro-Net Program Manager
U.S. Small Business Administration
Office of Government Contracting and Business Development
409 3rd Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20416
Telephone: (202) 205-7650

What is the Certificate of Competency Program?

The Certificate of Competency (COC) program allows a small business to appeal a contracting officer’s determination that it is unable to fulfill the requirements of a specific government contract on which it is the apparent low bidder. When the small business applies for a COC, SBA industrial and financial specialists conduct a detailed review of the firm’s capabilities to perform on the contract. If the business demonstrates the ability to perform, the SBA issues a COC to the contracting officer requiring the award of that specific contract to the small business.

What is the 7(j) program?

Section 7(j) of the Small Business Act authorizes SBA to enter into grants, cooperative agreements or contracts, with public or private organizations that can deliver management or technical assistance to eligible individuals and enterprises. This assistance is delivered to 8(a) certified firms, small disadvantaged businesses, businesses operating in areas of high unemployment or low-income or firms owned by low-income individuals.

Can an agency count prime contract awards to small businesses toward more than one goal in the Goaling Program?

Yes. The Small Business (SB) Category shows the total procurement dollars to small businesses. All other categories are sub-sets of the SB Category. a procurement can be additionally counted in more than one sub-set category, as applicable, except 8(a) and small disadvantage business (SDB) that are reported separately, but together form the SDB Government-wide achievement. In fact, all prime contract awards to small businesses, women-owned small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, 8(a) firms, HUBZone small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses all count toward the government-wide small business goal. For example, if a business is awarded a contract and they are 8(a), small disadvantaged business, and a woman-owned small business, the agency counts the contract award in all categories that apply.

Can an agency get 8(a) credit for ordering from a Federal Supply Schedule from a company certified by SBA under the 8(a) program?

Yes, if the company has elected for its orders to be counted toward its 8(a) competitive mix and to allow for its orders to be counted as sales under the 8(a) program. If a company does not elect for them to be counted as 8(a) orders, then the agency will get credit for the order under the small disadvantage business (SDB) category. The agency will get credit toward its SDB goals, even if the FSS order was awarded under full-and-open-competition.

How are the GSA Federal Supply Schedules (FSS) counted in the goaling process?

Starting in FY 1998, each individual agency included Federal Supply Service (FSS) Schedule buys as part of their estimate of all of their prime contracts and resultant goals. In addition, each individual agency's goal achievements included all of their FSS Schedule buys.

How does the SBA ensure that agencies meet the government-wide 23 percent small business goal?

SBA negotiates with each agency mutually acceptable prime and subcontract goals for each small business category. SBA must ensure that the mutually established cumulative goals for all agencies meet or exceed the government-wide 23 percent small business goal. SBA can not accept an individual agency’s goal until in the aggregate, the government-wide goal is established. Subsequently, SBA compiles and analyzes agencies' achievements against their individual goals and reports the results to the President.

Why doesn’t the SBA approve goals as soon as they are received?

SBA’s responsibility under the Small Business Act 15(g)(1) is to ensure that the Government-wide goal for participation of small business concerns be established at not less than 23 percent of the total value of all prime contract awards for each fiscal year. The Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) and Women-owned Small Business (WOSB) goal are also required to be established at not less than 5 percent.

What are the due dates for all the goaling actions?

The goaling “Calendar of Events” established the dates actions are due on the part of each agency. It is updated for each fiscal year and listed in the Goaling Guidance.

Are there any rewards for a Federal Agency in exceeding its goals?

Yes, the office of Government Contracting annually accepts nominations, including self-nominations, for the Gold Star Awards that are presented at the Annual Joint Industry/SBA Procurement Conference, Business Opportunity Expo and Awards Celebration, in Washington, D.C. The Gold Star Awards were established to recognize the Federal personnel within the office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) who have the primary responsibility for the aggressive goals and strategic initiatives that ensure small business a role in the Federal marketplace. The Gold Star Awards were established to recognize those Federal personnel for their exemplary performance. In addition, any Federal department or agency that has a winner of a Gold Star Award will receive a special agency award.

For the SBA’s goaling program, is there a minimum subcontract percentage that prime contractors must have when bidding or submitting a proposal for a Federal contract?

No. Prime contractors shall propose a subcontract percentage (or goal) on each contract that represents the maximum practicable opportunity for small businesses. This means that the prime contractors have to do market research to determine how many small businesses may be able to perform the subcontract requirements. Prime contractors shall propose as subcontractors, if available, small business concerns; small business concerns owned and controlled by service disabled veterans; qualified HUBZone small business concerns; small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; and small business concerns owned and controlled by women.

If an option is being exercised on a contract with a company that self-certified they are a small-disadvantaged-business (SDB) before the formal SDB certification requirements became effective, can the agency still count this company as an SDB?

Yes. On the SF279, block 30 under “type of contractor.” the agency would check “A” which is SDB. However, on block 33B, the agency would check “F” which is that the SDB preference was “Not Applicable.”

Will the SBA provide funds for SBIR commercialization?

Yes. The total dollars awarded to small business concerns are derived from the type of contractor they are not based on the solicitation procedures. As stated in the Goaling Guidance, the dollars awarded to Small Business Concerns will be derived from the SF-279 which the type of contractor should be a Small Business or Small Disadvantaged Business or from the SF-281 for a Small Business.

Which categories of small business must be certified by SBA, and must these companies be listed in PRO-Net?

Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB), HUBZone small business concerns, and 8(a) firms must be certified by SBA. PRO-Net is the official SBA database for verifying their certification. Other categories, including small businesses, women-owned small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, and service-disabled veteran small businesses may self-certify as to their status. PRO-Net may be used to verify their "self-certification" but they are not required to be listed in PRO-Net.

When prime contractors submit their SF-294 and SF-295 reports to the government, they are allowed to take credit for only those SDBs that are listed in PRO-Net. (For the SDB certification requirement, this applies only to solicitations issued by the Government on or after October 1, 1999, the effective date of the regulation.) SBA also recommends that you use PRO-Net to also confirm the firms that “self-certify” they are HUBZone certified as stated in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) 52.219-8(c)(2). Companies may accept self-certification for all the other categories.

Who do I call if I have questions on the Goaling Program?

Please contact goaling@sba.gov.

Can the SBA approve the goals without all goals submitted?

SBA has the responsibility to ensure that agencies' goals, in the aggregate, meet the Government-wide goals established at 15(g)(1) of the Act. This can only be done if SBA has received all the proposed goals to statistically calculate that we can achieve the Government-wide statutory goals.

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