While you may have heard of many different certifications such as DBE, MBE or WBE, not a lot of people have heard of the HUBZone program. The Small Business Administration’s HUBZone program limits competition for certain government contracts to businesses located in historically underutilized business zones. Those businesses get preferential consideration and a 10% price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions. There are also HUBZone set-aside contracts available.
To qualify under HUBZone, your business must:
To determine whether your business is located in a HUBZone, you can search the map here: https://maps.certify.sba.gov/hubzone/map#center=39.828200,-98.579500&zoom=5.
In Pennsylvania, there are entire counties that are designated as HUBZone, including: Greene, Somerset, Indiana, Jefferson, Forest, Venango, Clearfield, Huntingdon, Cameron, Clinton, Potter, Tioga and Sullivan counties.
In Pittsburgh and surrounding areas, there are many areas may be part of HUBZone such as: Carnegie, Stowe, McKees Rocks, Coraopolis, Troy Hill, North Side, South Side, Mt. Oliver, Sharpsburg, Uptown, Hill District, parts of Oakland, Garfield, East Liberty, Larimer, Wilkinsburg, Homestead, Rankin, Braddock, North Braddock, Duquesne, Turtle Creek, East Pittsburgh, McKeesport, Glassport, Clairton, Versailles, Wilmerding, Pitcairn, New Kensington, Aliquippa, Ambridge, Washington West Newton, Donora, Monessen, Charleroi, large parts of Fayette County including Uniontown, parts of Greensburg, Jeanette, Johnstown, Beaver Falls, New Brighton, Midland, Butler (city) and New Castle.
Applications for the HUBZone program are through the SBA and the sam.gov website.
If your company needs advice regarding HUBZone certification, please contact Danielle Dietrich at 412-227-0284 or ddietrich@smgglaw.com.
