The Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) program helps small businesses in urban and rural communities gain preferential access to federal procurement opportunities. The federal government has a goal of awarding 3 percent of all dollars for federal prime contracts to HUBZone-certified small business concerns.
Further down the page, check the eligibility of your business by answering a few questions and checking the physical address of your primary place of business to see if you would potentially qualify for the HUBZone Certification. The most recent map was published on July 1st 2023 with the next rezoning update to be released on July 1st, 2028.
Benefits of a HUBZone Certification:
- 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 HUBZone certified small businesses
- All branches of the federal government have a 3% HUBZone budgetary target. The purchasing arms of all 600 federal agencies are in constant need of HUBZone qualified firms to perform contracts to meet these budgetary targets
- Large firms bidding on government contracts in excess of $550,000 must provide an allocation for HUBZone firm participation as part of the contract. Therefore, having a HUBZone certification will allow for these subcontracting opportunities
The SBA operates the program and:
- Determines which businesses are eligible to receive HUBZone contracts
- Maintains a listing of qualified HUBZone small businesses that federal agencies can use to locate vendors
- Adjudicates protests of eligibility to receive HUBZone contracts
- Reports to the Congress on the program’s impact on employment and investment in the HUBZone areas
Eligibility Requirements:
- Your business concern’s principle office must be located in a qualified SBA designated HUBZone.
- You business concern must be at least 51% unconditionally and directly owned and controlled by persons who are U.S. citizens
- 35% of your business concern’s employees must reside in a SBA designed HUBZone
- You business concern must be classified as a small business as defined by the SBA
- Certify that when performing a HUBZone contract, at least 35% of your employees continue to reside in a SBA designated HUBZone. If your Concern is owned by an Indian Tribal Government, 35% of your employees engaged in performing that contract must reside within a SBA designated HUBZone. You must “attempt” to maintain the 35% requirement throughout the life of the contract.
HUBZone Map Eligibility Check
Check to see if an address is located within a HUBZone as defined by the most recent map published by the SBA on July 1st, 2023. Next updated HUBZone Map to be released on July 1st, 2028.