Podcasts about hubzone program

In this episode, we had the pleasure of hosting Michelle Burnett, an influential figure in the world of government contracting and the executive director of the HUBZone Contractors National Council. With almost a decade devoted to advocating for the HUBZone program, Michelle shared invaluable insights to aid small businesses navigating the federal marketplace. Michelle's expertise in the HUBZone program stems from years of commitment, both as a consultant for small businesses and as a contractor herself. Her dual roles as an advocate and a practitioner have provided her with a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies within the government contracting landscape. Throughout our conversation, Michelle emphasized the importance of collaboration for small business owners. Her advice echoed the essence of partnership and collaboration as key components for success. "You cannot be good at everything," she noted. "Collaboration with other businesses is essential. Don't limit your networking to target agencies; expand and connect with fellow businesses." Beyond her role as the executive director, Michelle is also the driving force behind PEPBURN LLC, her own company designed to support small businesses in navigating various government programs. Her multifaceted experience lends a unique perspective to her advocacy efforts and practical advice for thriving in the government contracting sphere. Tune in to this episode as Michelle Burnett shares her wealth of knowledge, offering insights and strategies crucial for small businesses aiming to excel in the federal marketplace and thrive within the HUBZone program. Join us in understanding the program's nuances and leveraging Burnette's expertise to propel your business forward in the competitive government contracting landscape.

SBA has made changes to the HUBZone program that went into effect on December 26, 2019.  These changes will impact every HUBZone Certified Business.  Find out more about the changes by listening now.

In 2018, Ms. Burnett was appointed the Executive Director for the HUBZone Contractors National Council, a member-based non-profit organization established to advocate, educate and promote the HUBZone Program. Ms. Burnett’s knowledge of the HUBZone Program and expertise on government contracting stems from 10 years supporting the HUBZone small business community both as a contractor for  SBA and small business consultant. In 2013, Ms. Burnett was recruited by the council as a subject matter expert and she has remained actively involved since.  This episode is filled with many great topics, advice, ideas, strategies and laughter. For show notes visit: www.govcongiants.com/podcast

Welcome back to our blog.  Our topic today is on the HUBZone Program Examination. Subjects covered include:  When does the Small Business Administration (SBA) conduct examinations?  What documents will SBA check?. By what means, does SBA conduct a program audit? Now, let's talk about who conducts the HUBZone Program Examination. Who Conducts SBA HUBZone Program Examinations? Of course,  SBA Headquarters is responsible for HUBZone Program Examinations.   However, the local SBA District Office may be tasked to visit you. If the local district office is not able to visit, they may ask a resource partner to complete the visit.  Who are SBA Resource Partners?  They are the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), SCORE, and Woman Business Centers (WBC).  Normally, this will only happen if there is a time constraint or your office is greater than 200 miles from the local SBA office.  For more information on these resource partners, see my blog. Each year, SBA determines the number of businesses to review.  Important to realize that program examinations can be part of an application, recertification, or protest. In addition, SBA has added businesses that received HUBZone contracts.  They have established criteria to select businesses. It is important to realize that why SBA is selecting these businesses. SBA wants to ensure you qualified HUBZone businesses have opportunities to compete on these contract. So, if you win HUBZone contracts you can expect SBA to pay you a visit.  Are HUBZone Program Examinations a bad thing?  No. SBA is protecting the HUBZone program.  Thus ensuring that only qualified HUBZone businesses receive these contracts.   Most HUBZone certified businesses are glad that SBA pays them a visit.  This is a chance for the local business to ask questions and get help from the SBA.  These businesses are grateful to SBA for ensuring that only qualified businesses can compete on these contracts. Next, let's look at the definition of a HUBZone Program Examination. What is a HUBZone Program Examination? A HUBZone Program Examination is an investigation by SBA to verify the accuracy of any HUBZone certification, application or protest.   As part of the program examination, SBA may review the following:  financial documents, payroll listings, corporate documents, property tax, public utilities, postal records, and other documents. The HUBZone Program reviewer will verify the information contained in your application, recertification or protest.  Also, SBA can review these documents if you are successful in winning HUBZone contracts. In a moment, I will explain when SBA performs Program Examination. Where Will the HUBZone Program Examination Take Place? SBA will visit all business locations.  This will include locations outside a HUBZone area.  However, SBA Headquarter employees conduct the program examination.  That does not mean that the local district office will not participate in the examination.  Normally, the local district office will only perform the HUBZone site visit. Yet, the local district office may perform program examinations.  Don't worry.  The SBA employee that visits your office will explain the process to you if you ask. You must keep all documents used to support your HUBZone qualifications for a period of six years.  It is up to you to meet this requirement. Without delay, let's discuss when the HUBZone Program Examination takes place. When is a HUBZone Program Examination Performed? SBA may conduct a program examination at any time.  There is not a specific time period for these reviews.  Program Examination is based on workload and coordination with SBA Headquarters.  You can expect a visit by SBA at any time. In the meantime, let's look at how SBA gauges HUBZone Program success. How Does SBA Gauge Success? For SBA to determine if the HUBZone program is successful they will look at the number of employees, financial documents, number of HUBZone contracts award and total HUBZone dollars awarded.  These reports can be easily obtained from the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) website.   Next, we will look at how a HUBZone business maintains its eligibility. How Does a Small Business Maintain HUBZone Eligibility? This is a great question.  There are a few steps that you need to do to maintain your eligibility.  The first is to recertify our eligibility every three years.  In order to do this, you must recertify to SBA within 30 days after your third anniversary and each three-year period thereafter.  Unfortunately, if you do not do this SBA can initiate decertification proceedings.  Once decertified, you will again have to submit a new application.  Your re-certification must be in writing addressed to SBA HUBZone Director.  Also, include a statement in the letter that there have not been any material changes in your eligibility. Next, our discussion is on HUBZone businesses obligations to SBA. What are HUBZone business obligations to SBA? This question has been answered already in this article, but we will go over the requirements again.  A HUBZone business must notify SBA immediately of any changes that may affect your eligibility.  What changes?  SBA considers the following a material change: You changed your ownership; Business structure change; The principal office relocated; and Not meeting the 35% HUBZone residency requirement. Remember to submit your written request to the Director of HUBZone.  Failure to do so can result in your business being removed from the HUBZone listing. Not only that but you will no longer be eligible for HUBZone contracts!  In fact, SBA can impose penalties on companies that do not comply.  Don't let that happen to you. Remember to contact your local SBA office if your business is no longer on the HUBZone listing. They can assist you in this matter. In Conclusion In conclusion, there is nothing to fear from SBA performing a HUBZone Program Examination.  This should set your mind at ease by knowing that you follow HUBZone Program requirements. We hope that you are enjoying our articles, consider going to our blog. Website:  dsbs.sba.gov for list of HUBZone certified businesses. www.sba.gov/hubzone for SBA HUBZone program and maps   Contact Nancy at nancy@byerlyenterprises.com      

Today, we are continuing our discussion regarding the HUBZone Program.  Our topic is going to concentrate on the HUBZone application.  Now we will not go into how to fill out the application but will go through all the regulations governing the application process.  This way you know what to expect as you are considering this program.Where To Fill Out the Application?One of the changes that SBA has made is to develop a new system for all their certifications.  This new system is a database that is accessed through your web browser. The location is https://www.certify.sba.gov/.What is great about this system is that you only have to upload your documents one time.  So say that you want to be HUBZone certified.  Then later you want to be 8(a) certified.  Well, in the new system your documents are already uploaded so you can use them for all SBA certifications, to include the Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) program.  This saves you time and money.Now if you prefer you can still fill out a paper application and send that into SBA.   However, it may delay your processing time.  The reason why?  The systems SBA uses are all online and they don't use paper copies.  So someone within SBA will have to scan your application and upload it.  What Must I Submit To SBA?We are not going to go into a great deal about what documents need to be sent to SBA.  But we will be describing the application process.  To become HUBZone certified by SBA you must complete the online application, upload the supporting documents and sign the representations.  The representations is stating that to the best of your knowledge all information submit is true and complete.  It also states that you will notify SBA of any material changes that would affect your eligibility.  This also gives SBA the authority to process your application.HUBZone MapsNow I do have to say that SBA does work hard to keep the mapping system up to date.  This is hard to do when they receive the information from other federal agencies.  I am not going to spend a ton of time on the maps except to say that if you disagree with the mapping system you can challenge the map!  For example, the HUBZone program has been expanded to include military base closures.  If the military closes a base next to your location and the closure impacts that local economy then you can challenge the map.  You would need to contact the Department of Defense, Office of Economic Adjustment, or the military department responsible for closing that installation.  Once you receive the information you will need to upload that information with your application.Eligibility QuestionsThe HUBZone office does provide eligibility assistance on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-3 p.m. Eastern time.  Please call 1-202-765-1264 access code 6890124#.  If you cannot attend one of their calls you can always contact your local SBA District Office for assistance.  Also, we offer our services to assist you at a cost, if interested.How Is My Application Processed?SBA will process your application once you submit your application to them.  In the meantime, you must notify SBA if you run into a circumstance where you are no longer eligible for the program.  Now, if SBA decertified your business because you failed to notify SBA of a material change that affected your eligibility then you can re-apply to the program.  However, you will need to submit a letter explaining why you did not notify SBA of that change that caused you to be no longer eligible for the program.  It is up to SBA to accept your response.  However, I have found that the HUBZone department of SBA is very forgiving.Who Approves or Denies My Application?The Director of the HUBZone Department or their designee are the only one to approve or decline HUBZone applications.  The current Director of the HUBZone program is Mariana Pardo.  She is extremely knowledgeable about the program and has been in charge of this program for years.   If you ever have a chance to meet with her please do.  If you do, tell her Nancy Byerly said hello. Now, SBA will review all applications and requested supporting documents when the application is received.  Once SBA will start processing the application when they receive it.   The decision of the Director of the HUBZone program or designee is the final agency decision.Additional InformationThe individual that is processing your application may require additional information or clarification of information that you previously submitted.  They can request this additional information or clarification at any time.  Unfortunately, the applicant has the burden to demonstrate that it meets the eligibility requirements.  Please submit the requested information within the timeframe provided by SBA.  Your application will be denied if you do not respond within the timeframe.  SBA has 90 days to process your application.  To be on the safe side I would not expect to receive the final notice until 120 days after you submit your application.  If you application is denied you must wait 90 calendar days before you can reapply.Final DecisionOnce SBA has made their final decision you will be notified by email.  The email will contain a letter either approving or denying your certification.  If you receive a denial letter it will contain all the findings on why would were not eligible.  Once you can resolve those findings you can re-apply however you will have to wait 90 calendar days.We hope you enjoyed today's article.  If you wish to read more please go to ByerlyEnterprises.com/Blog.

Congress created the HUBZone Program in 1997 as a way to rejuvenate low income and high unemployment areas.  By providing small businesses with a Federal contracting program as an incentive to hire employees within this low income zones and reinvest in their local communities.   This program is mandated by all federal government agencies that have at least one contracting officer.  As an added benefit Congress also revised the Subcontracting Program to include HUBZone businesses.  As a result, any government contractor that is required to have a subcontracting plan will have to address how they plan to hire HUBZone small businesses to meet their subcontracting plan requirements. Learn more about this program by listening to the podcast.

Learn about the HUBZone program

Join me in this straight-forward episode as I discuss some key terms, designations, and eligibility requirements that your small business could meet in order to get preferential consideration in winning government contracts.  All of the links to references mentioned in the show can be found below.  If you have questions or want more information on how you can begin the process of getting verified for these awesome programs, email me, Gerald Jones at gerald@buyblackpodcast.com Get more episodes, and find links to over 200 VERIFIED & ORGANIZED Resource Links broken into 25 Categories to help you find anything you need for business, job growth, education, professional networks, financing, and of course, Buying from Black-Owned Businesses at buyblackpodcast.com. Tools and Resources Vets First Verification Program - https://www.va.gov/osdbu/verification/ The HUBZone Program - https://www.sba.gov/contracting/government-contracting-programs/hubzone-program The HUBZone Map - https://maps.certify.sba.gov/hubzone/map#center=39.828200,-98.579500&zoom=5 Small Business Administration Size Standards Table - https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/Size_Standards_Table.pdf 8(a) Business Development Program - https://www.sba.gov/contracting/government-contracting-programs/8a-business-development-program Woman-Owned Small Business Program - https://www.sba.gov/contracting/government-contracting-programs/women-owned-small-businesses Federal Business Opportunities (Gov't Contracting Site) - https://www.fbo.gov/  

Crowell & Moring's "Fastest 5 Minutes" is a biweekly podcast that provides a brief summary of significant government contracts legal and regulatory developments that no government contracts lawyer or executive should be without. This latest edition is hosted by Partner David Robbins and guest host, Counsel Addie Cliffe, and includes updates on the DFARS counterfeit parts rules, the HUBZone Program, the Federal Source Code Policy, and notable GAO decisions.

NABWIC Radio Talks with Mariana Pardo Director of the HubZone Program from the Small Business Administration will provide the answers to the following questions and more: HUBZone Program – What is it? HUBZone Certification—How does a business get certified? How do I know If my business is in a HUBZone designated area? What's new with the HUBZone Program? www.SBA.gov

NABWIC Radio Talks with Mariana Pardo Director of the HubZone Program from the Small Business Administration  will provide the answers to the following questions and more:   HUBZone Program – What is it? HUBZone Certification—How does a business get certified? How do I know If my business is in a HUBZone designated area? What's new with the HUBZone Program?  www.SBA.gov