The HUBZone Program generally has received less attention from SBA than its counterparts in the 8(a) Business Development, WOSB, and SDVOSB Programs. However, over the past couple years, SBA has given it a little more attention than it has received in the past, with proposed changes in 2024 later becoming finalized that same year to make some aspects of the program a little stricter. This might reflect a new approach to the HUBZone Program. SBA has recently proclaimed that it has approved several petitions for new Governor-Designated Covered Areas, expanding the HUBZone map in 252 areas. Here, we explore what this actually means and how much of an impact this might have.
Continue readingCategory Archives: HUBZone Program
Posts dealing with the HUBZone program, including HUBZone eligibility and certification, the “35%” and “primary office” rules, the HUBZone price preference, and related matters.
Back to Basics: HUBZone Eligibility
When exploring the world of SBA socioeconomic programs, the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program isn’t always the first program on a business’ radar. One reason for this could be the distinct eligibility requirements an applicant must meet to qualify for HUBZone certification.
This is the only socioeconomic program where SBA requires a company’s principal office and employees to reside in a designated area, i.e., a HUBZone. SBA provides a HUBZone map showing the areas designated as a HUBZone. Keep in mind that this map is reevaluated every five years, so it’s important to stay up-to-date on any updates made to the map.
We have previously covered the basics and overall benefits of the HUBZone Program. Here, we’ll go through the eligibility requirements more in-depth.
Continue readingNo More HUBZone Price Preference for Most Mentor-Protege Joint Ventures
An advantage of being a HUBZone Program contractor is the aptly-named HUBZone price evaluation preference. The possibility of utilizing that price preference has been a great reason for contractors to form joint ventures with HUBZone businesses. However, contractors need to be aware that SBA has effectively eliminated the usage of price preference within certain joint ventures.
Continue readingWhy File: A HUBZone Status Protest
Lately, it seems there has been an uptick in questions we receive at webinars, on the blog, and from prospective clients about the HUBZone program. There may be more interest in this program than there has been in the past as it could be a key tool for procurement designations in the future. At the same time, the HUBZone program, while making some aspects of the program more flexible, has also put more scrutiny on current and aspiring HUBZone contractors. This post talks about one process that puts a lot of scrutiny on HUBZone contractors: a HUBZone status protest.
Continue readingGovology Webinar: An Introduction to Government Small Business Certifications (2025 Update), January 21, 2025, 1:00 pm EST
Steven Koprince, Govology legal analyst and retired founder of Koprince McCall Pottroff will be presenting this webinar. In this course he provides a big-picture overview of small business certifications in the government marketplace and you will learn about various federal small business certification programs, including Small Business Self Certification, Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) & 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone), Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Economic Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB).
This course has been updated to reflect recent changes set forth in two SBA regulations released in late 2024. He will also touch on state and local certification programs and provide information on additional training and resources you can use to develop a deeper understanding and get help with any federal, state, and small business certification program. Register here.
News Flash: SBA Releases Final HUBZone Rule Update, Other Small Business Changes
SBA has released the final rule for the HUBZone Program Updates and Clarifications, and Clarifications to Other Small Business Programs on December 17, 2024. As we have discussed, this rule made a lot of changes to the HUBZone program. But it also updated a lot of other small business rules. Below are the details on some of these significant changes. This rule will be effective on January 16, 2025.
Continue readingRezoning (Part 2): Updates to the HUBZone Program
Very recently, we went through some more of the potential changes to the HUBZone Program from SBA’s proposed rule from August 23, 2024. In this post, we will look at the remaining proposed changes. SBA’s proposed rule would change HUBZone protests appeals, principal office requirements (which we did discuss a bit before here), HUBZone map concepts, and the HUBZone price evaluation preference (PEP).
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