Tag Archives: HUBZone

Back to Basics: HUBZone Eligibility

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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.  

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No More HUBZone Price Preference for Most Mentor-Protege Joint Ventures

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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.

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Why File: A HUBZone Status Protest

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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.

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News Flash: SBA Releases Final HUBZone Rule Update, Other Small Business Changes

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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.

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Are Mentor-Protégé Joint Ventures Just Too Successful, Asks SBA

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SBA recently issued a proposed rule purportedly concerning the HUBZone Program and its regulations–but actually, covering a bevy of other discussions and proposed changes relating to size, SBA’s other small business socioeconomic programs, and even teaming. Specifically, regarding teaming, SBA revealed that it has apparently decided to take a deeper look into the immense success of mentor-protégé joint venture teaming. It is also requesting comments on this concern, as well as potential policy changes for joint venturing in SBA programs, more generally.

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Rezoning (Part 2): Updates to the HUBZone Program

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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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Rezoning (Part 1): A Look at SBA’s Proposed Changes to the HUBZone Program

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A few weeks ago, SBA released a proposed rule that would, among other things, modify the HUBZone program. We took a look at some of these changes when the proposals were released. As we promised in that post, we stated we were going to discuss some other aspects of the proposed rule in later posts. Today, we’ll be looking at some of the other changes that SBA is proposing for the HUBZone program, as there’s a lot. In this post, we’ll be focusing on other changes to how HUBZone employees are determined, new rules on certification and decertification, and changes to the “attempt to maintain” rule with regards to maintaining 35% HUBZone resident workforce. Some of these changes reflect a stricter approach from SBA that contractors should be on the lookout for.

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