University of La Verne SBDC Small Biz Blog

  Many veteran small businesses need some sort of advantage when they are starting government contracting, and gaining some kind of veteran certification can do just that. Many small business owners find the certification process really confusing and are not even sure where to begin to apply. In this video guide, I will cover what the DBVE certification is, how to apply for it online, and how to put your years of service to work for your business. Background So what is the DVBE certification? The Disabled Veteran Business enterprise Certification is government contracting socioeconomic certification in California. California has committed to set aside 3% of contracts for DVBEs. The certification allows you a 5% incentive for DVBEs on applicable state solicitations. This means if you are DVBE certified and are 5% percent higher than the lowest bid that isn’t certified you can win the contract because of this incentive. The State of California also allows the certification to apply to th

  Introduction If you are looking to get started in government contracting there are socio economic certifications that can give you an edge in bidding for the federal contracts . In this episode we will cover the federal contracting certifications that you might qualify for and what you need to apply for them. Types of Contracts Set Asides These contracts are like regular competitions, but only small businesses can join! This happens automatically for most government contracts under $150,000. Think of it as a small business playground – plenty of room to swing without giants stomping around. Some set-asides are open to any small business, while others might be exclusive to those in special programs Sole Source Most contracts involve competition, but sometimes there's an exception. Imagine a super specialized project that only your company can tackle. That's a sole-source contract, and it can be awarded without the usual bidding process. The Catch: To be considered for these

Are you a small business owner eager to delve into government contracting but feeling lost in the vast sea of opportunities? Fear not we are here to guide you step by step, absolutely free! In this blog post, we'll explore invaluable resources and strategies to help your small business thrive in the government contracting realm. SAM.gov: Your Gateway to Federal Contracts Navigating the Interface Our first stop in this journey is SAM.gov . A treasure trove of opportunities awaits, and you can either initiate a search or explore contracting opportunities directly. The interface allows you to input keywords, and the results can be further refined using the convenient filters on the left. Advanced Search Techniques Building on spending research principles, you can refine your search by agency, due date, notice type, and more. Dive into the specifics using NAICS codes under product or service information and set-asides for certified opportunities. Tailor your search to your business

If you're a small business owner wondering if the world of government contracting is a viable opportunity for your product or service, you're in the right place. In this article, we will walk you through the essential steps to determine whether government contracting aligns with your business goals.  The Small Business Administration (SBA) has been actively encouraging small businesses to engage with both federal and local governments in the realm of government contracting. However, it's vital to recognize that government contracting isn't for everyone. Several factors come into play, such as government spending in your business industry and your business's readiness. In this article, we'll provide you with a concise guide on conducting research to determine if government contracting is a suitable path for your business and industry. Let's get started. Step 1: Familiarize Yourself with Your NAICS Code Before embarking on any research, you must identify your

Wicked Bionic, LLC.  www.WickedBionic.com Dana Arnett is the Co-CEO of Wicked Bionic, a multicultural marketing and advertising agency in Los Angeles California. Wicked Bionic was established in 2015 and began to engage in government contracting about 2 years ago starting with the City of Los Angeles.  Looking to expand her business, Dana attended a presentation on government contracting from University of La Verne SBDC consultant Rene Cota. “I looked at him on Zoom and said ‘that’s the guy I want to work with -  the amount of knowledge he had, blew me away,’” Dana said, describing Rene's knowledge and experience with helping small businesses in the government contracting space.   Wicked Bionic dabbled in writing a few proposals a quarter but wanted to expand into contracting with the state and federal government. Dana felt overwhelmed writing each proposal from scratch with all the information and research involved and couldn’t keep up with the opportunities they found. “We were w

Unspoken Language Services, Inc. https://www.unspokenasl.com Amanda Martin is the President and CEO of Unspoken Language Services, an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting service agency that provides onsite and virtual ASL interpretation for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. Amanda started the business as a sole proprietor, solely interpreting for as many deaf individuals as possible. After working full-time as an ASL interpreter, she thought, “how can I help more deaf people on a greater scale?” With what seemed impossible, she soon transitioned her sole prop to a corporation. Amanda described her business journey, “I took the unbelievable leap of faith and took a risk. I quit my full-time job, started Unspoken, and I haven’t looked back since. I began sharing our mission with more and more interpreters, who wanted to join a company with the same values and passion as them within the industry. Our primary focus at Unspoken is supplying effective communication to an under

Photo by  Kelly Sikkema  on  Unsplash by Joshua Botello Getting small business certifications has been a way for disadvantaged businesses to get a leg up on the ever-competitive market. These are the most common small business certifications you are going to find. They definitely offer an advantage in the marketplace, so here is some background on what these programs are about and what you’re going to need. Photo by  Hannah Skelly  on  Unsplash Service-Disabled/Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB/VOSB) The Veteran-Owned Small Business certification is a federal certification through the Department of Veterans Affairs. This particular program is not what is known as a set-aside, the government does not allocate a specific amount of contracts to VOSBs. What this certification offers is a spending goal of all contracts at 3% of total spending. Now, this might sound small, but in fact, amounts to $40 billion in contracts annually. The VOSB certification allows