Posts Tagged ‘Veteran Business Enterprise’
NOT One Size Fits All
There may be just one disadvantaged certification program based on the memorandum of understanding between the United States Department of Transportation and the Small Business Administration, but it would be inaccurate to say the program is standardized … each state can have completely different forms, interpretations and requirements. You can think of it as 52…
Read MoreHow Long Does It Take?
Last week we fielded three calls about getting diversity certified, and while each caller had very specific questions they all had one in common — how long will it take me to get certified? These calls come from business owners who want to get certified for a particular reason; usually because an opportunity they want…
Read MoreLess Stress Through Proof Reading
Preparing the application for SDMWVBE (Small, Disadvantaged, Minority, Women or Veteran Business Enterprise) certification can be pretty stressful for a variety of reasons. We live and breathe our businesses first. Certification is a tool that we use to serve our customers and expand our markets. But, in a process that seems alien and out of…
Read MoreLess Stress, Complex Questions
Complex and compound certification application questions can really amp up the stress level. Make sure you understand the questions before you answer them. When in doubt, don’t try to interpret. Pick up the phone, or email account, and ask!
Read MoreBack to Basics ~ Certifications
To celebrate this New Year of 2012, we thought it appropriate to talk about diversity certification again … how it came about and the value of being certified as a business that is minority, women, veteran, disabled, service-disabled or LGBT owned and operated.
Read MoreMea Culpa ~ Merry Holidays & Glad Tidings!
While the MWBE community often decries the lack of opporunities, it is important to note that progress is being made in many areas and take advantage of these programs in 2012.
Read MoreChanging Goals and Laws
Tracking actual use of small, minority, veteran, women-owned and disadvantaged firms is now required for federal contracting. Prime vendors listing diversity participants in bidding will be monitored for actual performance.
Read MoreWonder If It Will Ever Change?
As an MWBE supplier, persistence, patience and optimism are key tools when navigating the subcontracting roller coaster ride.
Read MoreNarratives: What’s Disadvantaged 2?
Writing a narrative about your disadvantaged status? A simple definition of disadvantaged for certification purposes is “a systematic or systemic barrier to opportunity”. Your first step is a generic statement. “I perceive I have experienced professional rejection for reasons of “… ethnic origin, disability, residence, gender, race, education, or “Other, describe”. Then, you will need to write about specific instances of bias against you and how this bias has had a negative impact on your ability to enter into or advance in business
Read MoreSmall Business and the Federal Government
Because federal agencies and their primes are mandated to meet these goals – to spend 23% of their contract dollars with small business, including 5% with SDBEs and WSBEs and 3% with SDVSBEs and HUBZone businesses – there is incentive for them to work with small certified business.
Read More