TextFile TheHUBZonePrimer Slide1TheHUBZonePrimer Eligibility&CertificationRequirements OfficeofGovernmentContracting&BusinessDevelopment February2012 U.S.SmallBusinessAdministration Narrative ThisisaboutfederalcontractmarketsandparticipatinginthosemarketsasaHUBZonecertifiedfirm. WelcometoTheHUBZonePrimerasmallbusinessguideoutliningprogrameligibilityand certificationrequirements.

s. Slide2Introduction Programisdesignedtohelpsmallfirmsincertaincommunitiesgainaccesstofederalcontract opportunities HUBZoneareas:typicallyareasoflowmedianhouseholdincomesorhighunemployment,or both Atanygiventime,thereareabout6,000smallfirmscertifiedintheHUBZoneprogram Narrative TheHUBZoneprogramisdesignedtohelpsmallbusinesses incertainurban,rural,BRAC,Indian reservation,anddifficultdevelopmentareasoutsidetheU.S.mainlandtogainaccesstofederal procurementopportunities.HUBZoneareasaretypicallyareasoflowmedianhouseholdincomesor highunemployment,orboth. Atanygiventime,therearesome6,000smallfirmscertifiedintheHUBZoneprogram. Slide3ProgramPurpose ProvidesfederalcontractingassistancetoqualifiedsmallfirmsindesignatedHUBZonesto: Increaseemploymentopportunities Stimulatecapitalinvestment Empowercommunitiesthrougheconomicleveraging Narrative Importantly,theHUBZoneprogramhelpssmallbusinessesinurbanandruralcommunities. Itprovidesfederalcontractingassistancetoqualifiedsmallfirmslocatedinhistoricallyunderutilized businesszones orHUBZones toincreaseemploymentopportunities,stimulatecapitalinvestmentin thoseareas,andempowercommunitiesthrougheconomicleveraging.

Slide4HowtheProgramWorks SBAregulatesandimplementstheHUBZoneprogram Determineswhichbusinessesareeligible MaintainsalistingofqualifiedHUBZonefirmstofulfillprocurementopportunities AdjudicatesprotestsofeligibilityregardingHUBZonecontracts Narrative TheU.S.SmallBusinessAdministrationregulatesandimplementstheHUBZoneprogram.Assuch,SBA determineswhichbusinessesareeligiblefortheprogram,maintainsalistingofqualifiedHUBZonesmall businessesthatcanbeusedbyfederalagenciestofulfillprocurementneedsandadjudicatesprotestsof eligibilityregardingHUBZonecontracts. Slide5KeyProgramBenefits Contractsetasides 3%governmentwideprimeandsubcontractinggoals 10%priceevaluationpreference HUBZoneHelpDesk2022058885orHUBZone@sba.gov Narrative TheprogramofferssignificantbenefitstocertifiedHUBZonefirms.Thesebenefitsinclude: Setasidesthatiscontractingofficerscanreserveorsetasidespecificcontractsforqualified HUBZonefirms; Governmentwidecontractinggoalshavealsobeenestablishedrequiringthatatleast3%ofall federalprimecontractingdollarsand3%ofallfederalsubcontractingdollarsflowtocertified andqualifiedHUBZonefirms; Inaddition,apriceevaluationpreferenceof10%canbeappliedtocertifiedHUBZonefirmsin fullandopencontractcompetitions. Slide6EligibilityRequirements Smallbusiness(bySBAstandards) Ownedandcontrolledbyatleast51%U.S.citizensoracommunitydevelopmentcorporation, anagriculturalcooperative,oranIndiantribe PrincipalofficemustbelocatedwithinadesignatedHUBZone Atleast35%ofitsemployeesmustresideinaHUBZone Note:DifferentrulesapplyforTribalGovernments,AlaskaNativeCorporations,Community DevelopmentCorporationsandsmallagriculturalcooperatives.ThesearedelineatedinTitle13 oftheCodeofFederalRegulations,Part126 http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba services/7591/13775 Narrative TobeeligiblefortheHUBZoneprogramabusinessmustmeetthefollowingcriteria: ItmustbeasmallbusinessbySBAstandards;

Itmustbedirectlyownedandcontrolledbyatleast51%U.S.citizensoracommunity developmentcorporation,anagriculturalcooperative,oranIndiantribe; ItsprincipalofficemustbelocatedwithinadesignatedHUBZone,whichincludeslands consideredIndiancountryandmilitaryfacilitiesclosedbytheBaseRealignmentandClosure Act;and, Atleast35%ofitsemployeesmustresideinaHUBZone. TherearedifferentrulesforconcernsownedbyTribalGovernments,AlaskaNativeCorporations, CommunityDevelopmentCorporationsandsmallagriculturalcooperatives.Thesearedelineatedin Title13oftheCodeofFederalRegulations,Part126. Slide7IsYourBusinessinaHUBZone? GraphicHUBZoneMapsToolLinkhttp://map.sba.gov/hubzone/maps Narrative OK.SohowdoyouknowifyourfirmoremployeesarelocatedinadesignatedHUBZonearea? SBAhascreatedanelectronictoolwhereyoucaninserttheaddressandzipcodeofaspecificlocation (oritscoordinates)todetermineifthatlocationisrecognizedasadesignatedHUBZone.HUBZonesare determinedbythegovernmentusingthemostcurrentcensus,unemploymentandotherdata.Thisis averyhelpfulandimportanttool. Atyouconvenience,returntothisslideortheresourcesectionattheendofthecourseandusethe hyperlinktoaccesstheHUBZoneMaps,tool.Thistoolwillhelpyoudetermineifyourbusinesslocation andemployeesarelocatedwithinaHUBZonearea. Slide8ReflectionsBeforeYouApply MostsuccessfulHUBZonefirmsplanfortheirsuccess Longtermandrevolvingstrategiesthatdefinehowtobeandremaincompetitive Maintainprincipalofficeand35%employeeresidencyrequirements Planningiseverything Narrative TheHUBZoneprogramisapowerfulcontractinginitiativewithmanybenefitstocertifiedbusinesses. However,itisonlyintendedforqualifiedfirmswhoarecompetitiveandremainincompliance. SBAhasfoundthatthemostsuccessfulHUBZonefirmsarethosewhoplanfortheirsuccess.Thatis, theyhavealongtermandcontinuinglyevolvingstrategythatdefinesandrefineshowtobeandremain competitiveingovernmentcontractingmarkets. Inaddition,successfulHUBZonefirmsmustbevigilantaboutprincipalofficeandresidencyrequirements whichmustalwaysbemaintained,butcanchangequickly.Firmswithoutastrategytomaintain

principalofficeand35%employeeresidencyrequirementscanfindthemselvesoutofcomplianceand promptlydecertified. Planningiseverything..PlanforyoursuccessasaHUBZonecertifiedfirm. Slide9HUBZoneCertificationApplicationProcess Narrative Theapplicationprocess. Slide10ApplyingforHUBZoneCertification STEP1.Verifyeligibilitycompliance STEP2.Gatherwhatyouneed(supportingdocumentation) STEP3.ReviewsampleHUBZoneapplicationform STEP4.Reviewandaskquestions STEP5.AccessSBAsGeneralLoginSystem(GLS) STEP6.CompleteandsubmittheonlineHUBZoneapplication STEP7.Submitrequestedsupportingdocumentation Narrative IfyoufeelyouarequalifiedandonlywhenyouarereadytoapplyshouldyouapplyforHUBZone certification.Theapplicationprocessisnotdifficult.However,likeanyimportantapplicationprocessit doesrequiresolidpreparation,meaningfulthoughtandacertainlevelofduediligence.Itmakessense todoitright,thefirsttime.Nobusinesswantstowastetimeandresourcesgoingthroughthemotions andthennotrealizingwhatisexpected. So,werecommendthatsevenstepsbefollowedintheapplicationprocess.Theyare:verifyeligibility compliance;gatherallinformationanddocumentationthatyouneed;reviewasampleHUBZone applicationform;reviewyourdocumentationandaskquestions;accessSBAsGeneralLoginSystem GLS;completeandsubmittheonlineHUBZoneapplication;andfinally,submitallrequestedsupporting documentationtotheSBA. Eachofthesestepsisdiscussedinthefollowing. Slide11Step1VerifyEligibilityRequirementsApplyingforHUBZoneCertification FirmisasmallbusinessbySBAsizestandardshttp://www.sba.gov/content/amismallbusiness concern Businessisdirectlyownedandcontrolledbyatleast51%U.S.citizensoracommunity developmentcorporation,anagriculturalcooperative,oranIndiantribe Firmsprincipalofficeandatleast35%ofitsemployeesresideinadesignatedHUBZone Note:DifferentrulesapplyforTribalGovernments,AlaskaNativeCorporations,Community DevelopmentCorporationsandsmallagriculturalcooperatives

LearnmoreEligibilityRequirements13CFR126 http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text idx?c=ecfr;sid=8e50efb90b1e9a6628c364627eb148cb;rgn=div5;view=text;node=13:1.0.1.1.21;id no=13;cc=ecfr

Narrative NoteverybusinessiseligiblefortheHUBZoneprogram. Beforeyoubegintheapplicationprocess,makesureyoumeetcoreeligibilityrequirements.Thatis: verifythatyourfirmisasmallbusinessbySBAstandards; confirmownershipandcontrol,suchthatthebusinessisdirectlyownedandcontrolledbyat least51%U.S.citizensoracommunitydevelopmentcorporation,anagriculturalcooperative,or anIndiantribe;and, makecertainthefirmsprincipalofficeis,andatleast35%ofitsemployeesresideina designatedHUBZone. Asmentionedearlier,differentrulesapplyforTribalGovernments,AlaskaNativeCorporations, CommunityDevelopmentCorporationsandsmallagriculturalcooperatives.Learnmoreabouteligibility requirementsbyclickingonthehyperlinktoaccess13CFRPart126. Slide12Step2GatherWhatYouNeedApplyingforHUBZoneCertification CHECKLIST HUBZoneSupportingDocumentationRequest http://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/hubzone_request_for_doc.pdf Generalbusinessinformation DUNSnumber Businessandpersonalfederaltaxreturnsforthelast3years Businessownershipdocumentationarticlesofincorporation,LLC,etc. Citizendocumentationforowners CCRprofile AppropriateNAICScodes OfficialpayrollrecordsandotherinformationshowingemployeesresidingwithinHUBZones Proofofprincipalofficelocation,suchasleaseagreement OtherinformationsupportingHUBZoneeligibilityrequirements Narrative TheHUBZoneprogramisstatutorilyauthorizedandspecificeligibilityrequirementsarestrictlyadhered toandmonitoredbytheSBA. AsyoupreparetoapplyforHUBZonecertification,youwillbeaskedtoprovide,identify,demonstrate andvalidatemuchinformation.Therefore,itsimportanttoassemblekeybusiness,ownership,taxand otherpertinentinformationtohavereadilyavailableduringtheapplicationprocessandBEFOREyou attempttocompletetheonlineHUBZoneapplication.

Suchinformationataminimum,shouldinclude:generalbusinessinformation,CCRprofiledata,DUNS number,appropriateNAICScodes,recentbusinesstaxreturns,personalfederaltaxreturnsfor principals,proofofprincipalofficelocation,suchasaleaseagreement,citizendocumentationfor owners,ownershipdocumentation,suchasarticlesofincorporationorLLCagreement,officialpayroll recordsandotherinformationthatcandemonstrateemployeeslivingwithindesignatedHUBZonesand otherbasicinformationthatsupportsHUBZoneeligibilityrequirements.Usethehyperlinked documentrequestchecklisttobetterunderstandwhatsupportingdocumentationwillberequested bytheSBA. Slide13Step3ReviewSampleApplicationFormApplyingforHUBZoneCertification ReviewasampleHUBZoneapplicationform(clickhere) http://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/sample_HUB_Application.pdf CriticalStepdonotattempttocompletetheactualonlineHUBZoneapplicationuntilyouhave reviewedthesampleformandgatheredalldocumentsyouneedtocompleteit Narrative Step3iscritical.ReviewasampleHUBZoneapplication.Thesampleapplicationdescribesafictitious corporation.However,itwillgiveyoutheopportunitytogetherwiththedocumentationchecklist highlightedinthepriorslide tofamiliarizeyourselfwithwhatyouwillbeaskedandwhatinformation isneededtocompletetheofficialapplication. Importantly,donotattempttocompletetheactualonlineHUBZoneapplicationuntilyouhavereviewed thesampleformandgatheredalldocumentsyouneedtocompleteit. Whenyouareready,usethehyperlinkonthispage,orattheendofthecourse,toreviewthesample HUBZoneapplicationform. Slide14Step4ReviewandAskQuestionsApplyingforHUBZoneCertification Youdontknowwhatyoudontknow ReviewHUBZoneeligibilityrequirements,sampleapplicationformandthedocumentationyou gatheredandaskquestions HUBZoneHelpDesk2022058885orHUBZone@sba.gov Narrative Asmentionedearlier,nobusinesswantstowastetimeandresourcesgoingthroughthemotionsand thennotgettingwhatisexpected.ThatiswhyStep4isparticularlyimportant. Remember,youdontknowwhatyoudontknow.Makeapointofbecominginformed.Carefully reviewHUBZoneeligibilityrequirements,thesampleapplicationformandthesupporting documentationyougathered,andthenimportantly,askquestionsofSBAHUBZonestaffandothers qualifiedintheHUBZoneprogram.

ThisisalsoagoodtimetoreviewandupdateyourfirmsCCRandDynamicSmallBusinessSearchor DSBSprofiles.Theinformationintheseprofilesmustbeconsistentthroughoutthefirms documentation.Again,reviewandaskquestions. Slide15Step5AccessSBAsGeneralLoginSystemApplyingforHUBZoneCertification GraphicSBAGLSpage RegisterforaGLSAccounthttps://eweb.sba.gov/gls/dsp_addcustomer.cfm?imappsystypnm=8ASDB Narrative ToapplyforHUBZonecertification,youmustregisterforanaccountinSBA'sGeneralLoginSystem, morecommonlyreferredtoasGLS.TheGLSsystemprovidesasingleloginpointforallSBAservices. Thisstreamlinesandsimplifiesservicedeliverytoourclients. Itiseasytoregisterforanaccount,ifyoudontalreadyhaveaGLSaccount.Onceyouregisterand establishaGLSIDandpassword,keepthisinformationinasafeandreadilyavailableplace.Itisalso importanttonote,thatyouwillhavetoupdateyourpasswordevery90days. ToaccesstheonlineHUBZoneapplication,youwillfirsthavetologintoSBAsGLSsystem. Slide16Step6SubmitOnlineHUBZoneApplicationApplyingforHUBZoneCertification CompleteandsubmittheonlineHUBZoneapplication ClickhereApplytotheHUBZoneProgram https://eweb1sp.sba.gov/hubzone/internet/general/dsp_enter_application.cfm?null=12368672 64012 Narrative OK,soafteryouvedeterminedthatyourfirmiseligible,lookedatthesampleapplication,gatheredthe informationanddocumentationyouneed,updatedthefirmsCCRandDSBSprofilesandobtainedaGLS loginIDandpasswordyouarenowreadytocompleteandsubmittheonlineapplication. Theapplicationiscomprehensiveandincludesmultiplesections.Somesectionscanbecompletedina fewminutes,whileotherswilltakelonger.However,itisimportanttonotethateachsectiononce accessedwilltimeoutinonehour,ifthesectionisnotcompletedinthetimeframe.Ifthathappens,all informationentereduptothatpointislostandtheapplicationhastobestartedover. Therefore,accesstheHUBZoneapplicationonlyafteryouhavecompletedSteps15andyouareready toapply. Slide17Step7SubmitRequestedDocumentationApplyingforHUBZoneCertification Afterapplicationissubmittedandreviewed,supportingdocumentswillberequestedbythe SBA DocumentsmustbeprovidedtotheSBAwithintwoweeks

Requesteddocumentswillinclude: Documentationsupportingownership&controlandsizestandards Businessandpersonaltaxreturns DocumentsshowingcompliancewithHUBZoneemploymentandprincipaloffice requirements Learnmoreaboutrequestedsupportingdocumentation http://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/hubzone_request_for_doc.pdf Narrative OnceyourHUBZoneapplicationissubmittedonline,SBAwillreviewitand,ifitscompleteandaccepted, requestdocumentationtosupportyourapplication.Therequestwillcomeintheformofanemailand willrequestspecificdocuments.Youwillhavetwoweekstofulfillthedocumentrequest. Requesteddocumentswillinclude:documentationsupportingownershipandcontrolandsizestandards requirements;businessandpersonaltaxreturns;and,documentsshowingcompliancewithHUBZone employmentandprincipalofficerequirements. Slide18AvoidCommonMistakes Applicationtimesout UnabletoaccesstheGLSsystem 35%ofemployeesarenotlocatedwithinHUBZoneareas RequestedsupportingdocumentsdonotvalidateinformationintheHUBZoneapplication Narrative SomecommonmistakesintheHUBZoneapplicationprocesscanbeeasilyavoided. Makesureyouhaveallrequiredinformationbeforecompletingtheonlineapplicationsoitdoesnt timeout.MakesureyoucanaccesstheGLSsystem.Makecertain35%ofemployeesarelocatedwithin HUBZoneareas.Importantly,makesurerequestedsupportingdocumentscanvalidateinformation enteredintheapplication;forexample,youwillbeaskedtoprovideevidenceoftheHUBZoneresidency foreachemployee.Inotherwords,makesureyoufollowthestepsrecommendedinthistraining module. Slide19ResourcesandTools Narrative Resourcesandtools. Slide20ResourcesandTools HUBZoneMapshttp://map.sba.gov/hubzone/maps/ SBADistrictOfficeshttp://www.sba.gov/aboutofficeslist/2 SampleHUBZoneApplicationhttp://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/sample_HUB_Application.pdf

ElectronicHUBZoneApplication https://eweb1sp.sba.gov/hubzone/internet/general/dsp_enter_application.cfm?null=1236867264012 GLSRegistrationhttps://eweb.sba.gov/gls/dsp_addcustomer.cfm?imappsystypnm=8ASDB SCOREhttp://www.score.org/chaptersmap 13CFRPart126http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text idx?c=ecfr;sid=8e50efb90b1e9a6628c364627eb148cb;rgn=div5;view=text;node=13:1.0.1.1.21;idno=13;c c=ecfr SmallBusinessDevelopmentCenters(SBDC)http://www.asbdcus.org/ ProcurementTechnicalAssistanceCenters(PTAC)http://www.aptac us.org/new/Govt_Contracting/find.php SBASizeStandardshttp://www.sba.gov/content/amismallbusinessconcern SupportingDocumentationhttp://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/hubzone_request_for_doc.pdf HUBZoneCertificationhttp://www.sba.gov/hubzone Narrative Informationispower.UsetheseresourcesandtoolstohelpyoubetterunderstandtheHUBZone programandapplyforcertification. Slide21ContactUs ThankyoufortakingthetimetolearnabouttheHUBZoneprogram Pleasecontactuswithanyquestionsyoumayhave HUBZoneHelpDesk 2022058885 HUBZone@sba.gov Narrative ThankyoufortakingthetimetolearnabouttheHUBZoneprogram.Muchinformationhasbeen discussedandwehopeitishelpful. However,pleasecontactuswithanyadditionalquestionsyoumayhaveabouttheprogramor applicationprocess. Thankyou.