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California Business Certifications

There are hundreds of programs out there that are designed to help your business get work. While it is time consuming to fill out the paperwork and see your business through the process these programs do provide an edge in getting work both directly for the public agency and can help your business get in with larger contractors who are trying to meet their goals on larger projects.

Also see Certification Programs By Or Preferred By Other Agencies Organized By County

Statewide & Federal Programs

SBA 8a DOT Unified Cert. GSA Schedule

CMAS Contracts CA Cert (DGS) Caltrans & CA Unified Certification

CPUC Clearinghouse Caltrans Emergency Contractor

Federal/Military Programs

Small Business Administration (SBA) Section 8a

Flexible program that can help both firms that qualify for 8a status and those that mentor or partner with 8a firms. For more info:

http://www.sba.gov/8abd/indexmentorprogram.html

For forms and applications:

http://www.sba.gov/library/forms.html#sd

DOT Unified Certification Program

Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization. Relies on the SBA 8a program above and provides a Unified Certification Program. Information at:

http://osdbuweb.dot.gov/business/dbe/ dbe_program.cfm#Uniform

GSA Schedule

More GSA Schedule Information Coming Soon

California Statewide Programs

CMAS Contracts

Allows your business to be pre-qualified to provide products and services to State of CA agencies. For more information:

http://www.pd.dgs.ca.gov/publications/ default.htm#cmas

California State Certification (DGS)

For additional information on these State of CA programs see:

http://www.pd.dgs.ca.gov/smbus/certapps.htm

Certifications Available

Caltrans (CA Department Of Transportation)

Caltrans accepts SBE & DVBE certifications from the State of California. Many agencies accept certifications from State & Caltrans specifically.

They also have a California Unified Certification Program which is accepted by most agencies.

Certifications Available

CPUC (California Public Utility Commission) Clearinghouse

This system provides a database of Women & Minority owned Small Businesses. You can fill out the forms and register at the site for inclusion on the list. If you are a DVBE they will include this certification on the list.

Certifications Available

Caltrans Emergency Contractor Registration

Register to provide emergency contract services to Caltrans. Many of these services can be provided by small and medium sized contractors.

http://www.dot.ca.gov/contractor/

Certifications Preferred

Alameda

Alameda County

www.co.alameda.ca.us/

See details on their Small, Local and Emerging Business Program. Need to register as a vendor by submitting application.

Certifications Preferred

City of Alameda

http://www.ci.alameda.ca.us/

Small Business Assistance Program

Register to provide services to other small businesses. Preference given to local businesses but any business can register.

Contra Costa

Contra Costa County

www.co.contra-costa.ca.us

Accepts certifications from the State of California and has their own self-certification form.

http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/depart/cao/sbe/sbe.htm

Certifications Preferred

Antioch

Accepts Caltrans DBE/WBE certification

Submit with vendor application. Information available at

http://www.ci.antioch.ca.us/CityGov/ Finance/Purchasing/

Certifications Preferred

Pleasant Hill

http://www.pleasanthill.ca.gov/

They have notes about DBE/WBE businesses in their contracting sections but the page about doing business with them is still under construction.

Certifications Preferred

El Dorado

El Dorado County

www.co.el-dorado.ca.us

The El Dorado County DOT has a DBE program with details at

http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/dot/dbe.html.

The program ties into the Caltrans program.

Certifications Preferred

DBE - Disadvantaged Business Enterprise

Fresno

Fresno County

www.co.fresno.ca.us

Fresno favors local businesses and they have a 5% bid advantage

http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/0440/localvendorpref.htm

Fresno has a DBE program. The details can be found on the Public Works page

http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/4510/index.htm

Certifications Preferred

City of Fresno

http://www.fresno.gov/

DBE program for Federally funded projects. Contact the purchasing department for more information at

http://www.fresno.gov/generalserv/purchasing.asp

Certifications Preferred

DBE - Disadvantaged Business Enterprise

Los Angeles

Los Angeles County

www.lacounty.info

Preference is given to local businesses of all classifications per DGS. For more information see

http://lacounty.info/doing_business/ local_small_business.htm

There is also a program called Community Business Enterprise Program with information found at

http://oaac.co.la.ca.us/WomMin.shtml

Certifications Preferred

Gardena

http://www.ci.gardena.ca.us/

They do not provide any incentives but do encourage their departments to buy from DBE/MBE/WBE local businesses. More information can be found at

http://www.ci.gardena.ca.us/government/ Adminisrative%20Services/PurchasingRFP.asp

Certifications Preferred

Long Beach

The City of Long Beach seeks to support most disadvantaged businesses. Details of the program can be found at:

Disadvantaged Community Assistance Division

http://www.longbeach.gov/ecd/diversity_outreach.asp

Certifications Preferred

DBE - Disadvantaged Business Enterprise

Los Angeles (City)

http://www.lacity.org

There are a variety of special programs for the City of Los Angeles to help all types of businesses.

Certifications Preferred

Santa Monica

http://santa-monica.org/

Preference given to woman owned businesses (WMBE). More details on purchasing page at

http://santa-monica.org/finance/purchasing/

Certifications Preferred

WBE - Woman Business Enterprise