What is certification and how do you get it!

 Certification is the process by which a business enterprise is initially determined by the Agency to be either a bona-fide small, minority, woman, disabled individual or veteran owned business.

 Certification provides your business with a marketing tool. This certification acts as tool by which you can legitimately claim your business as a small, minority, or woman owned enterprise.  You also receive opportunities to contract with the local government entities in the San Antonio area.

 Any business owner who wants to procure opportunities with the local government entities in the San Antonio area.  Any business owner who wants to define the small, minority, or woman status of the firm.

 Business Enterprise Certification – certifies the firm which provides local opportunities to businesses.  ESBE, SBE, MBE (ABE, HABE, NABE), WBE, AABE, DIBE, & VBE designations  Certification period of 2 years  Financial documents required

 Federal Program – certifies business as a DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) for both local and federal contracting opportunities.  Certification lasts until decertified  Renew annually  Financial documents required  Seek opportunities with all Department of Transportation, Federal Transit and/or Aviation Departments

 What do you need? ◦ Complete the application for the program which you want to apply (business enterprise or federal) ◦ Submit the application with all the requested additional information (checklist in application) ◦ Reciprocal Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) for eligible DBE, Minority and Women Owned Businesses certified with the SCTRCA. ◦ Contact the SCTRCA for assistance

 How long does it take? ◦ Certification can take up to 60 days in the Business Enterprise Program and up to 90 days in the Federal Program to complete. Therefore it is essential that you start the process now so that you don’t miss out on contracting opportunities. Why so long?? - Files are received everyday and each file is worked in the order it is received based on its completion - DBE certification requires an onsite visit - RCA rarely has a file take up to 90 days unless the business is not responsive to RCA requests

 Must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States of America  Must hold 51% or more of ownership in the firm  Must control the companies both daily operations and board operations (i.e. hold highest officer position and hold control of board of directors meetings)  Must present knowledge and expertise in the areas of service/product for which firm is requesting certification  Must be present during daily operation – devote at 51% or more of time to the business

 Proof of Citizenship/Ethnicity Status (Birth Certificate, Permanent Resident Card, Certificate of Naturalization, Tribal Card, Commonly Recognized Religious Record, Current Passport, etc.)  Proof of Identification (Drivers license/State issued ID)  Certificate to do business (DBA, Assumed Name certificate)  Resumes of Principal owner(s) and Key employee(s)  Licenses or Certificates to perform work, if required by state law (i.e., plumbing, electrical, CPA, engineering, law, medical, etc.)

◦ Business income tax returns (three most recent years), or pages 1 and 2 of the Form 1040 along with all of the pages of the Schedule C’s (for business taxes filed as personal taxes) ◦ Copy of Federal employer Identification Number (EIN) or verification of Social Security Number, if no EIN ◦ Balance sheet - a new construction business must provide a current balance sheet ◦ Last two Quarterly TWC Reports (firms whose size standards are based on number of employees)  Documentation verifying disability from Medical Doctor or Government Agency  DD-214 verifying military service  Completed and Signed Application  Franchise Agreement

 Certificate of Formation (signed by the state official)  Articles of Incorporation  Copy of corporate By-laws  Minutes of organizational & last annual meeting  Minutes of all meetings showing ownership changes  Stock Certificates (front and back)  Stock Ledger

 Certificate of Formation (signed by the state official)  Operating/Membership Agreement  Minutes of organizational meeting  Minutes of last annual meeting  Minutes of all meeting showing ownership changes  Membership Certificates  Membership Register

 Certificate of Formation (signed by the state official)  Assumed Name Certificate (if applicable)  Complete copy of Partnership Agreement including buy-sell and profit sharing agreements  FOR A GENERAL PARTNERSHIP; Assume Name Certificate Only

 Alamo Colleges  Brooks City Base  City of San Antonio  Edwards Aquifer Authority  Port Authority of San Antonio  San Antonio Housing Authority  San Antonio International Airport  San Antonio Independent School District  San Antonio River Authority  San Antonio Water System  University Health System  University of Texas-San Antonio Small Business Development Center (PTAC)  VIA Metropolitan Transit  H-E-B  Sams Contracting Consulting & Training  SpawGlass  Zachry Construction Corp

 South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency  3201 Cherry Ridge St., Building C, Suite #319  San Antonio TX  (210) phone  (210) fax 

Questions ?