What is the he HUBZone Program ?
The HUBZone program fuels small business growth in historically underutilized business zones with a goal of awarding at least 3% of federal contract dollars to HUBZone-certified companies each year.
To qualify for the program, a business (except tribally-owned concerns) must meet the following criteria. They must:
- be a small business by SBA standards.
- be owned and controlled at least 51% by U.S. citizens, or a Community Development Corporation, an agricultural cooperative, or an Indian tribe.
- have its principal office located within a “Historically Underutilized Business Zone,” which includes lands considered “Indian Country” and military facilities closed by the Base Realignment and Closure Act.
- have at least 35% of its employees residing in a HUBZone.
Firms owned by Indian Tribal Governments must either maintain a principal office in a HUBZone and ensure that 35% of its employees reside within a HUBZone or certify that at least 35% of its employees engaged in performing the contract will reside within an Indian reservation governed the Indian Tribal Government owners or reside within any HUBZone adjoining such Indian reservation.
Benefits of the program:
The government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses in historically underutilized business zones. It also gives preferential consideration to those businesses in full and open competition. Joining the HUBZone program makes your business eligible to compete for the program’s set-aside contracts. HUBZone-certified businesses also get a 10% price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions. HUBZone-certified businesses can still compete for contract awards under other socio-economic programs they qualify for.
