DIR's Supplier Diversity Information Resource Guide 20, Jan 2012 | Page 85

COPYRIGHT 2012, DIVERSITY INFORMATION RESOURCES, MINNEAPOLIS, MN SECTION 10 HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESS ZONES (HUBZones) www.sba.gov/hubzone The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting program provides federal contracting opportunities for qualified small businesses located in distressed areas. Fostering the growth of these federal contractors as viable businesses, for the long term, helps to empower communities, create jobs, and attract private investment. Program History The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting program was enacted into law as part of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997. The program falls under the auspices of the US Small Business Administration. The program encourages economic development in historically underutilized business zones - “HUBZones” through the establishment of preferences. re SBA’s HUBZone program is in line with the efforts of both the Administration and Congress to promote mo for om economic development and employment growth in distressed areas by providing access to more.cFederal es urc contracting opportuniti es. so e oR nf tyI rsi ve Di HUBZone Certification fo@ t In c ta The Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) program helps csmall businesses in urban and rural on se communities gain preferential access to federal procurement opportunities. These preferences go to small lea .P Nstaff who live in a HUBZone. The combusinesses that obtain HUBZone certification in part by employing ,M lis po pany must also maintain a “principal office” in one of these aspecially designated areas. e is Th b pu o ati lic inn ,M es urc Important Notice on Expiration of Redesignated HUBZones on October 1, 2011 so Re on ati rm The HUBZone Maps o Inf ty In order to qualify for the HUBZone program, your business must be located in an area designated as a rsi ve Di Historically Underutilized Businessn (HUB) Zones. An address lookup search has replaced the HUBZone maps ha t from October 2011 to Januaryer2012 while the HUBZone maps undergo significant technical enhancements. th yo Users can use the addresstitlookup search to determine whether an address is qualified or not. Contact the n ye a HUBZone Help Deskbyatn [phone] or via email at [email protected] if you need any assistance. old rs do How the HUBZone Program Works ce du pro • Thee SBA regulates and implements the HUBZone program. SBA does the following: r be • y notDetermines which businesses are eligible to receive HUBZone contracts a n m• Maintains a listing of qualified HUBZone small businesses that federal agencies can use to locate ven- • • dors Adjudicates protests of eligibility to receive HUBZone contracts Reports to the Congress on the program’s impact on employment and investment in HUBZone areas. Benefits of the HUBZone Program • The program’s benefits for HUBZone-certified companies include: • Competitive and sole source contracting • 10% price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions, as well as subcontracting opportunities. The federal government has a goal of awarding 3% of all dollars for federal prime contracts to HUBZonecertified small business concerns. 2012 Supplier Diversity Information Resource Guide - 77 - CONTENT MAY BE EXPIRED; SEE WWW.DIVERSITYINFORESOURCES.COM FOR LATEST VERSION SECTION 10 . on ati orm inf