HK
Holland & Knight
Holland & Knight is a global law firm with nearly 2,000 lawyers in offices throughout the world. Our attorneys provide representation in litigation, business, real estate, healthcare and governmental law. Interdisciplinary practice groups and industry-based teams provide clients with access to attorneys throughout the firm, regardless of location.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on Aug. 1, 2024, is beginning a system upgrade to its certification portal that will impact the following socioeconomic set-aside program certification programs…
United States
Government, Public Sector
To print this article, all you need is to be registered or login on Mondaq.com.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on Aug. 1, 2024, is
beginning a system upgrade to its certification portal that will
impact the following socioeconomic set-aside program certification
programs:
- Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)
- Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business
(EDWOSB) - 8(a) Business Development Program (the 8(a) Program)
- Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)
- Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)
- Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone)
Program
Applications to these programs submitted before Aug. 1, 2024,
will be processed in the order received, but during this upgrade
period, new applications to these six programs will not be
accepted.
Small business contractors applying to these programs should be
aware that it is anticipated the system will be down for new
applications between Aug. 1, 2024, into early September 2024. The
SBA has issued guidance encouraging
new or prospective applicants to wait until after the upgrade is
completed to apply.
While most firms that are already certified will not be impacted
by SBA’s system upgrade (and pause in processing new
applications), firms needing to renew their respective
certifications should reach out to their respective programs to
receive guidance soon. Program annual reviews and evaluations will
also not be accessible during the certification portal pause,
including SBA Mentor-Protégé Annual Evaluations.
Firms facing critical contracting deadlines with pending
applications should be proactive and consider reaching out to the
SBA at certifications@sba.gov with information related
to the specific set-aside procurement to try and help expedite an
application.
From a practical standpoint, the SBA is working hard to close
out pending applications and clear its backlog on the existing
platform, in advance of the Aug. 1 system upgrade. This could
certainly work to the benefit of concerns awaiting action on
pending applications. However, concerns currently engaging with the
SBA on pending applications for any of these six programs should
prioritize timely responses to any SBA inquiries or communications
to help ensure applications are not denied or closed out. Once an
application has been closed out on the existing platform,
applicants may have to start from scratch and complete a new
application.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.
