FEDCON CERTIFICATIONS

VOSB means Veteran-Owned Small Business, a certification managed by the SBA's VetCert program primarily for U.S. federal contracting purposes. To qualify, a small business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more qualifying veterans; this status mainly provides contracting preference within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

MBE stands for Minority Business Enterprise. This certification is primarily used by corporations for supplier diversity programs and also by many state and local governments, rather than for federal contracts.

A GSA Schedule, formally the General Services Administration's (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) and also called the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS), is a key U.S. federal contracting vehicle. It functions as a long-term, government-wide contract where the GSA pre-negotiates pricing, terms, and conditions with commercial vendors for a wide range of products and services.

WBE (Women's Business Enterprise) is a certification typically used for corporate supplier diversity programs in the private sector and by some state/local governments.

SDVOSB means Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business. This is a crucial U.S. federal contracting certification managed by the SBA's VetCert program. It requires a small business to be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more veterans with a documented service-connected disability.

State Registrations refer generally to the requirements a business must meet to operate legally and pursue contracts within a specific U.S. state, separate from federal requirements. This usually involves registering your business entity (like an LLC or corporation, often via the state's Secretary of State, e.g., Florida's Sunbiz), registering with the state's Department of Revenue for taxes, and registering as a vendor in the state's procurement system (like MyFloridaMarketPlace) to bid on state contracts.

The 8(a) Business Development Program is an SBA initiative helping small businesses owned (51%+) and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals access federal contracts via set-asides and sole-source awards. More than just contracts, it's a nine-year program providing business development help, training, and mentorship to foster long-term success.

County Registrations refer to the specific requirements set by individual county governments for businesses operating within their boundaries, distinct from federal or state rules. A common requirement is obtaining a Business Tax Receipt (often called an Occupational License), which grants the privilege of operating in the county (in Hillsborough County, FL, this is handled by the County Tax Collector).

A Subcontracting Plan is a document required by the U.S. federal government from large businesses (not small businesses) when they receive a prime contract exceeding certain dollar thresholds (generally $750,000, or $1.5M for construction).

HUBZone stands for Historically Underutilized Business Zone. It's a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) program designed to fuel economic growth in distressed communities by granting federal contracting preferences. To get SBA certified, a small business must have its main office in a designated HUBZone and ensure at least 35% of its employees also live in a HUBZone.

To compete for government contracts at the city level across the U.S., businesses typically must first register as approved vendors or suppliers with the specific municipality. Most cities now utilize online procurement portals or e-procurement systems for this registration, where businesses provide their information and identify the types of goods or services they offer. This registration is usually necessary to receive notifications about relevant bidding opportunities (RFPs, ITBs, etc.), access solicitation documents, and submit bids electronically.

This refers to the process a business completes to become eligible to win contracts directly (as the prime contractor) with a specific purchasing organization (like the federal government, a state, or a county)