MBE Certification
(Minority Business Enterprise)
A for-profit business located in the U.S.
Overview
Businesses that are certified as minority-owned can take advantage of special government and corporate programs, including increased access to contracting opportunities via set-aside and sole-source contracts.
Businesses that are certified as minority-owned can take advantage of special government and corporate programs, including increased access to contracting opportunities via set-aside and sole-source contracts. Set-aside contracts are those that have been specifically designated for small businesses or businesses owned by disadvantaged groups, such as minorities. Sole-source contracts, on the other hand, are those that are awarded to a single supplier, often because they offer a unique product or service. By taking advantage of these programs, minority-owned businesses can gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. In addition, government agencies and many large corporations have specific goals for increasing their contracting with minority-owned businesses. As a result, working with a certified business development firm like Fedbiz Access can give you the inside track on how to win these valuable contracts.
MBE Benefits
Benefits for MBE Certified Companies Include:
- Qualify for federal (including certain state and local) set-aside contracts for minority-owned businesses
- Government and corporate entities limit competition through set-asides and sole-source contracts specifically for MBE registered minority-owned businesses
- The government may provide certain federal and state tax incentives to businesses that choose to work with minority-owned businesses
- Access to business training and counseling opportunities
- Contract and marketing opportunities through the National Minority Supplier Development Council
- Participation in MBE may help lead to qualification in the SBA 8(a) Business Development Program for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses
- Certification may also help you get attention from corporations seeking to work with minority-owned businesses
- Use of MBE logos for marketing purposes:
The MBE Certification is a state program designed for businesses 51% owned and operated by American citizens considered an “ethnic minority.” Becoming MBE Certified will give you access to enormous state government budgets and nationally recognized corporations that are required to purchase from minority-owned businesses. The MBE Certification offers more accessible qualification criteria than federal certifications, making it ideal for businesses that do not yet meet the requirements for federal certifications. Fedbiz Access is a leading full-service federal business development firm specializing in B2G and B2B government opportunities, as well as city, state, and local contracting opportunities. As a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), you will have an opportunity to compete for government contracts that are set aside specifically for MBE’s. In addition, many corporations have supplier diversity programs that give preference to MBEs when awarding contracts. The MBE Certification is a valuable tool that can help your business to grow and succeed.
Qualifications
The business owner must be a U.S. citizen
At least 51% minority-owned and operated by an individual(s) who is at least 25% African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, Pacific Islander, native Alaskan or Native American. ①
The top executive officer responsible for managing the daily operations with a technical expertise in the business’s field of endeavor must be a minority and primary owner of the business and spend at least 40 hours per week at the business.
Step-By-Step, Plan of Action
1. Assigned to Senior Certification Specialist to manage certification process
2. Collect and review supporting documents required
3. Document preparation, packaging and digital application submission
4. Respond to clarifications, and represent your interests
5. Preparation for company interview and site visit
6. Uploading of Certification Award Documents
7. Post Award update to SAM, DSBS & Directory Optimization for insertion of Award Status
Third-Party Verification
For MBE certification to be awarded, your business must be independently verified by an approved third-party certifier to confirm your business is at least 51% minority-owned and operated. This requires an on-site visit to your place of business, which we will help you coordinate and prepare for in advance.
The third-party verification organization typically charges approximately $300-$400, which is paid directly to the certifying organization.
We support you each step along the way, including all filings, documentation review and packaging required for submittal through clarifications and certification approval.
Invest in Your Business Now!
Annual Renewal for MBE Certification
(Third-party certification required annually, including additional fee to certifying organization)
① For purposes of National Minority Supplier Development Council’s (NMSDC) program, an ethnic-minority group member is an individual who is a U.S. citizen with at least 25% minimum (third party governmental documentation to support claim of 25% required from applicant) and is a person whose bloodline reflects an indigenous heritage from the following countries:
- African-American – A U.S. citizen having origins in any of the Black racial groups of sub-Saharan Africa. These countries include the following: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Afro-Caribbean descendants are also eligible.
- Latin-American – A U.S. citizen of trueborn Latin heritage from any of the Spanish speaking areas of the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean basin only. (Afro-Brazilian, indigenous/Indian only). These countries include the following: Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Panama, Guatemala, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Belize, and Nicaragua.
- Native American – A person who is an American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut or native Hawaiian. Native Americans must be documented members of a North American tribe, band or organized group of native people who are indigenous to the United States.
- Asian, Asian Indian and Pacific Islander American – A U. S. citizen whose origins are from the Asian Pacific Islander region. These countries include Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Guam, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Samoa, Thailand, Taiwan, the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific or the Northern Marianas and Vietnam.
- Being born in one of the countries listed above DOES NOT, by itself, automatically qualify an individual as an ethnic minority.