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CDC and Small Business

CDC is committed to helping small businesses grow and prosper and has a long history of supporting small businesses. CDC has partnered with small businesses to help implement HIV and AIDS awareness, prevention, and education programs to name a few.

Contracting with small businesses enables small businesses to grow their revenues and create jobs while providing government agencies like CDC the opportunity to work with some of the most innovative and agile companies in the nation. Federal procurement laws and regulations require agencies to “set aside” or reserve a fair proportion of total purchases and contracts for small businesses, officially called “small business concerns” per the Small Business Administration (SBA), to strengthen small businesses’ ability to compete for and win federal contracts. The SBA sets annual goals for small business contracts for each agency, assists small business concerns, and assists contracting personnel to ensure that a fair proportion of contracts are placed with small businesses.

How is Small Business Defined?

What is a Small Business Concern?

According to the SBA, a small business concern is a business that is independently owned and operated and which is not dominant in its field of operation and in conformity with specific industry criteria.

To qualify for a small business award for a contract, a business must qualify as “small” according to the SBA’s industry size standards. SBA defines industry specific size standards based on the average number of employees over the past 12 months or average annual receipts over the past three years categorized using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. Please visit the SBA website to determine if your business qualifies as a small business concern and to learn more about NAICS codes and to look up your industry’s code(s).

While size standards vary from industry to industry, SBA uses the following general criteria to define a small business concern. A small business…

  • Is organized for profit
  • Has a place of business in the United States (U.S.)
  • Operates primarily within the U.S. or makes a significant contribution to the U.S. economy through payment
    of taxes or use of American products, materials or labor
  • Is independently owned and operated
  • Is not dominant in its field on a national basis
  • May be a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or any other legal form

Types of Small Businesses: The federal government defines types of small business and establishes associated goals to stimulate the balanced growth and utilization of all small business. All agencies, including CDC, have annual procurement goals for each major type of small business.

CDC’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 small business goals for each major type of small business as defined by HHS are outlined below.

Small Business Type CDC FY 2016 Small Business Goal
[% of Total Annual Obligations]
Small Business 10%
Small Disadvantaged Business 5%
Women-Owned Small Business 5%
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business 3%
HUBZone 3%

The table below provides an overview of the main types of small business classifications and their eligibility requirements. Click on the name of the type of small business to be routed to the SBA website to learn more about the resource and programs available for each business type.

Type of Small Business Eligibility Requirements
Small Disadvantaged Businesses
  • The firm must be small, according to SBA’s size standards.
  • The firm must at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more disadvantaged persons.
  • The disadvantaged person or persons must be socially and economically disadvantaged.
Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)
  • The firm must be small, according to SBA’s size standards.
  • The firm must be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women, and primarily managed by one or more women.
  • The women must be U.S. citizens.
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concerns (SDVOSBC)
  • The firm must be small, according to SBA’s size standards.
  • The Service Disabled Veteran (SDV) must have a service-connected disability that has been determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs or Department of Defense.
  • The SDV must unconditionally own 51% of the SDVOSBC.
  • The SDVO must control the management and daily operations of the SDVOSBC.
  • The SDV must hold the highest officer position in the SDVOSBC.
HUBZone Small Business
  • The firm must be small, according to SBA’s size standards.
  • The firm must at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens, a Community Development Corporation (CDC), an agricultural cooperative or an Indian tribe.
  • At least 35% of its employees reside in a HUBZone.
  • Its principal office must be located within a HUBZone, which includes lands considered “Indian Country” and military facilities closed by the Base Realignment and Closure Act.
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How do I Register as a Small Business?

Items Needed to Register as a Small Business

  • Your NAICS codes
  • Your Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
  • Your Federal Tax Identification Number (TIN or EIN)
  • Your Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes
  • Your Product Service codes (optional but useful)
  • Your Federal Supply Classification codes (optional but useful)

To qualify for an award of a small business contract, you must first be registered as a small business.The following steps are required to certify your business as small and obtain the registration necessary to bid on government proposals:

  1. Obtain a unique Data Universal Numbering System (D-U-N-S) Number
  2. Register your business with the System of Award Management (SAM) by completing the required solicitation clauses and certification
  3. Find the NAICS code(s) for your business
  4. Obtain Past Performance evaluations (only required to get on the  GSA Schedules)

For additional information and a detailed explanation of the small business registration process, please visit the SBA Government Contracting website. Once your business is registered as small based on size standards, you are eligible for SBA financial assistance and other programs, including federal government procurement programs that support small business.

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What Contracting Support Programs are Available for Small Businesses?

The SBA runs and manages two federal contracting and business development programs aimed to help small businesses gain access to federal procurement opportunities and compete in the federal marketplace.

Key Benefits of being 8(a)

  • Sole-source government contracts opportunities, up to a ceiling of $4 million for goods and services and $6.5 million for manufacturing
  • Ability to form joint ventures and teams to bid on contracts in order to perform larger prime contracts and overcome the effects of contract bundling
  • One-to-one counseling, training workshops, and management and technical guidance to develop and grow business
  • Opportunity to participate in SBA’s Mentor-Protégé program
  1. 8(a) Business Development ProgramSBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program is a business assistance program that assists in the development of small businesses owned and operated by individuals who are socially and economically disadvantaged, such as women and minorities. It was created as an instrument for helping disadvantaged entrepreneurs gain a foothold in government contracting and thrive in competitive business environments.“8(a)” refers to the section of the Small Business Act that establishes a program that authorizes the SBA to enter into all types of contracts with other agencies and award subcontracts to eligible firms. Companies must apply for and be accepted into the program; once accepted companies are commonly referred to as “8(a).”Access the SBA website for the most recent eligibility requirements for the 8(a) Business Development Program.

Key Benefits of the HUBZone Program

  • Competitive and sole source government contracting
  • 10% price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions, as well as subcontracting opportunities
  1. HUBZone ProgramHubZone is an SBA program that supports small businesses that operate and employ people in Historically Underutilized Business zones (HUBZones).  The goal of the program is to promote economic development and employment growth in distressed areas by providing access to more federal contracting opportunities. To determine if your location is in a HUBZone, visit the HUBZone Map.Access the SBA website for the most recent eligibility requirements for the HUBZone Program.For more information on how to apply for the HUBZone program, please visit the SBA Applying for HUBZone webpage.
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How do I Find Small Business Opportunities at CDC?

findingOpportunities.jpg CDC is committed to supporting small businesses through contracts and grants funding opportunities. Explore the resources below to find the right opportunities for your small business.

Small Business Contracting Opportunities:

Small Business Research Programs:

Research funding is available for small businesses engaged in scientific research and development (R&D). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) manages two competitive programs that aim to increase the participation of small business in federal R&D and to increase private sector commercialization of technology developed through federal R&D:

Visit the SBIR/STTR website to learn more about these programs and how to apply.

For additional information or questions about small business opportunities at CDC, contact the CDC Small Business Contacts or email CDC’s Small Business mailbox.

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How do I Find Small Business Outreach Opportunities?

Monitor the following websites to find upcoming small business events, conferences, industry days, and other outreach activities.

  1. HHS Small Business Calendar of Events: Find the latest information on upcoming HHS small business events.
  2. Small Business Events on FedBizOpps.gov: Search small business events by agency, office, and/or location.
  3. GSA Small Business Events: Find a list of GSA sponsored events and trainings for small businesses including small business development webinars, workshops, conferences, and networking events.
  4. Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC): Get more information on available local, in-person counseling and training services for the small business owner. PTAC provides technical assistance to businesses that want to sell products and services to federal, state, and/or local governments. PTAC services are available either free of charge, or at a nominal cost. PTACs are part of the Procurement Technical Assistance Program, which is administered by the Defense Logistics Agency.
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CDC Small Business Contacts

For all CDC Small Business questions, interests, or education please contact HHS’s Small Business Managers. If you wish to share a capability statement, email CDC’s Small Business mailbox.

Ms. Gwen Miles
Email: smallbusiness@cdc.gov
Phone: (770) 488-3042

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