Events

The D.C. Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Revitalization Program staff participated in the National Community Reinvestment Coalition's (NCRC's) Annual Conference in March, 2000. NCRC is an association whose 670+ membership consists primarily of Community Development Corporations and other community-based non-profit organizations. NCRC was founded in 1990 to "harness the collective energies of community reinvestment organizations across the country to increase the flow of private capital into traditionally undeserved communities." Veronica Romanov, President of the Romanov Group and the D.C. HUBZone Revitalization Program, served as a panel member at the Government Support for Wealth Building Strategies Workshop and spoke about the HUBZone Program. Download the PowerPoint presentation, The HUBZone Act and HUBZone Program Implementation, prepared for the workshop. A listing of useful websites is includede in the resources section.

Overview of the D.C. HUBZone Revitalization Program

The D.C. HUBZone Revitalization Program is an organization founded by the Romanov Group as a result of the tremendous potential for the economic revitalization of distressed areas of the District that could result from the Federal HUBZone contracting initiatives. Taking this vision from potential to reality is the mission of the D.C. HUBZone Revitalization Program.

There are 84 census tracts within the District of Columbia, roughly 25-30% of the District, designated as HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) Zones. HUBZones are those areas characterized by high unemployment and/or low income. The D.C. HUBZone Revitalization Program's mission will be achieved by providing direct outreach and technical assistance to businesses in the District's HUBZones. We will identify and directly contact businesses within HUBZones to educate them regarding the marketplace that is arising as result of the HUBZone Act and assess their potential to qualify for HUBZone certification. The next step will be to assist them in completing the application process; while this is primarily an administrative process, it will initiate the process of educating the business as to how the Federal government classifies their offerings.

The next stage will be one of providing procurement technical assistance to create a link between the HUBZone Businesses and the Federal government and major prime contractors. The D.C. HUBZone Revitalization program will assist the business in defining their capabilities and experience and in preparing communications packages. We will also provide targeted market identification support, in essence, identifying the agencies and prime contractors that have requirements that match the HUBZone business' capabilities and offerings and the appropriate procurement and program personnel that purchase such offerings. Additionally, we can provide procurement technical assistance, educating the HUBZone Businesses about bid and proposal preparation processes and Federal procurement policies, practices, and regulations.

A secondary focus of the D.C. HUBZone Revitalization Program is to serve as a link between the HUBZone Businesses and the various workforce training programs currently operating. To qualify for HUBZone Business certification, at least 35% of a the concern's employees must reside within HUBZones. Therefore, these businesses will have employment opportunities for workers residing in HUBZone areas, and the workforce training programs are preparing individuals for such employment opportunities. However, currently there is nothing in place to link the businesses and available workforce. The D.C. HUBZone Revitalization Program will collect information regarding the various programs within the District and be able to match the DC HUBZone Businesses up with those programs that are preparing workers suited to each business' skill requirements.

The creators of the D.C. HUBZone Revitalization Programs bring a unique perspective in that we have long been part of the private sector working with small businesses, securing and accomplishing federal contracts. In essence, we know how accomplish work in the Federal marketplace because we've been doing it for years, and we want to offer that knowledge to the District's HUBZone area businesses. The Program will complement the efforts of the other groups by focusing in the niche area of developing HUBZone prime and subcontract business development. As a result of the HUBZone Act, an extraordinary potential for business development and employment opportunities has arisen. The D.C. HUBZone Program will focus on helping District businesses and residents realize that potential to the fullest extent possible.

Program History

First introduced into the Senate Committee on Small Business in June of 1997, the HUBZone Act of 1997 was signed into law on December 2, 1997, less than 6 months later as Public Law 105-135. The goal was to stimulate employment opportunities and capital investment in those areas throughout the nation where there are low-income and/or high-unemployment levels. This is to be accomplished by mandating that the Federal agencies award a designated percentage of Federal contracts to HUBZone Businesses. The designated percentage in fiscal year (FY) 1999 was 1%, which equates to $2 billion. The percentage is to increase by a 1/2 percent a year, leveling out at 3% ($6 billion) in FY 2003. This legislation was very popular with Congress because it was viewed as a method to create jobs for those that were transitioning into the workplace as a result of the welfare-to-work legislation.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was designated to administer the Program. A proposed ruling was issued in April 1998 and the FAR Council Final Rule was published in December 1998. In April of 1999, a year ago, the SBA began accepting certification applications from businesses. To become certified as a HUBZone Business, a concern must be a small business, it must be owned only by U.S. citizens, it's principal office must be within a HUBZone, and 35% of the concern's employees must reside within a HUBZone. The 35% employee residency requirement is what makes this legislation truly unique when compared to other contract set-aside programs in that the result will be that at least a percentage of the earnings generated via the Federal contracts will remain within these distressed areas.

Resources

Following are titles, URL's, and descriptions of some of the many websites that provide information regarding the HUBZone Program and Federal contracting.

Acquisition Reform Network (ARNET) - www.arnet.gov

ARNET is a Federal business opportunity website that can be used to locate small business information, business opportunities, and procurement forecasts by individual agencies. ARNET also includes a library of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR's). FAR 19.13 details the HUBZone Program. (Note: In addition to the 10 agencies listed in FAR 19.13, three other agencies, Commerce, Justice and State became subject to the Program procedures as of October 1, 1999. This change is not yet reflected in the FAR.)

Commerce Business Daily (CBD) - cbdnet.access.gpo.gov/ - Do not use "www."

CBD Net is a searchable, online listing of federal procurement opportunities published every Federal workday. While this is the official Federal CBD listing, we find the CBD listing on GovCon to easier to use and more useful.

Electronic Posting System (EPS) - www.eps.gov

EPS offers both a central government-wide index of business opportunities and an application that allows government buyers to post notice of procurements directly to the Internet. Features of this program include: electronic searching of the business opportunities; and a system to register for automatic e-mail notification of Federal business opportunities. This is the most frequently visited government site. The EPS and other Internet-based systems will eventually share available databases to further streamline the entire federal business process.

Federal Acquisition Jumpstation - nais.nasa.gov/fedproc/home.html - Do not use "www."

The Federal Acquisition Jumpstation provides links to Federal procurement and acquisition sites organized by agency. It also provides links to the CBD, a Federal Acquisition Virtual Library and a Procurement Reference Library.

The Online Community for Government Contractors (GovCon) - www.govcon.com

GovCon contains a listing of current business opportunities, including daily and archival CBD listings; Federal regulations and standard forms; and other resources for doing business with the government. GovCon offers subscription services to an Active Contract Database and a Contractor Profile Database.

Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC's) Around the U.S. - www.rcacwv.com/ptac.htm

A list of PTAC's across the United States, offering each center's street address, phone, fax, e-mail, website address and the name of the Point-of-Contact. Procurement Technical Assistance Centers serve to:

  • supply technical assistance to small businesses interested in federal, state and local government contracting
  • generate employment and improve the general economy of a locality by assisting business firms in obtaining and performing under Federal, state and local government contracts
  • provide a link between the Federal government, major prime contractors, and small businesses
  • expand the industrial base of the Federal agencies

Romanov Group - www.romanovgroup.com

An information technology and management consulting firm, the Romanov Group is the founder of the D.C. HUBZone Revitalization Program. This non-profit community development program is leading an effort to provide technical assistance to HUBZone businesses entering the federal contracting marketplace. Access the HUBZone presentation prepared for the Government Support for Wealth Building Strategies Workshop by clicking on the D.C. HUBZone Revitalization Program link on our home page.

Small Business Administration (SBA) - www.sba.gov

The SBA website contains information related to starting, financing, and expanding a small business, including a small business classroom and access to on-line counselors. It also includes HUBZone Program information, federal budget and New Market data, Welfare-to-Work information, the Pro-Net database, an online library, and other crucial small business and community development information.

HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program - www.sba.gov/hubzone

SBA's Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Zone website offers an on-line application to the HUBZone Program, a "Find Out if You Are in a HUBZone" link, and a library and resource section. It also details the history of the HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program.

SBA's Procurement Marketing and Access Network (Pro-Net) - pro-net.sba.gov - Note: Do not use "www."

Pro-Net is an Internet-based database of information on more than 171,000 small, disadvantaged, 8(a), HUBZone, and women-owned businesses. Small business can enter and update information at no cost. Federal and state government agencies, as well as prime and other contractors seeking small business contractors, subcontractors and/or partnership opportunities regularly use this database. Businesses profiled on the Pro-Net system can be searched by SIC codes, keywords, location, quality certifications, business type, etc.

U.S. Business Advisor - www.business.gov

The U.S. Business Advisor is a one-stop electronic link to all the information and services government provides for the business community. The U.S. Business Advisor is maintained and funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Search - www.osha.gov/oshstats/sicser.html

This page allows users to search the Standard Industrial Manual by keyword and to access descriptive information for the 4-digit SIC codes. This site can help businesses identify which SIC codes apply to their service and product offerings.

SIC and NAICS Correspondence Tables - www.census.gov/epcd/www/naicstab.htm

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is replacing the SIC system. NAICS was developed jointly by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to provide new comparability in statistics about business activity across North America. See www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html for more information regarding NAICS.

Thomas: Legislative Information on the Internet - thomas.loc.gov - Note: Do not use "www."

This Library of Congress website provides current and archived legislation information, including current bills in front of the House and Senate and a search engine for archived legislation. The HUBZone Act is incorporated in Public Law 105-135. Thomas also contains the Congressional Record and provides Senate and House Committee information.

Search engines - www.ask.com, www.37.com, www.e-how.com

Input a search at these sites to access multiple search engines. Ask.com is a favorite because it returns a limited number, rather than millions of sites.