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Small Business Certification

Certification and Goals

Caltrans

  • Small Business: 25%
  • Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise: 5%
  • Disadvantaged Business Enterprise: 22.2%

SANDAG

  • Disadvantaged Business Enterprise - Federal Transit Administration: 10.3%
  • Disadvantaged Business Enterprise - Federal Highway Administration: 22.2%

Metropolitan Transit System

  • Disadvantaged Business: 3.75%

County of San Diego

  • Disabled Veteran’s Business Enterprise: 3%

San Diego Water Authority

  • Small Business: 20%

Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC)

  • Small Business: 40.5%
  • Small Disadvantaged Business: 29%
  • Women Owned Small Business: 7%
  • Veteran Owned Small Business / Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business: 4%

University of California, San Diego

  • Small Business: 23%
  • Small Disadvantaged Business / Women Owned Small Business: 5%
  • Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business / Historically Underutilized Business Zone: 3%

City of San Diego

  • Small Local Business Enterprise / Emerging Local Business Enterprise: 5%

  • Disabled Veteran’s Business Enterprise / Historically Underutilized Business Zone: 3%
  • Disadvantaged Business: 5.26%
  • Women Business Enterprise: 5%

San Diego Unified School District

  • Disabled Veteran’s Business Enterprise: 3%
  • Small Business
  • Disadvantaged Business
  • Minority/Women Business Enterprise

San Diego Housing Commission

  • Small Business
  • Disabled Veteran’s Business Enterprise
  • Disadvantaged Business
  • Section 3 Business - Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • Minority/Women Business Enterprise

San Diego International Airport

  • Disadvantaged Business Enterprise: 8.4%
  • Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise: 23.9%
  • Local Business Enterprise

Port of San Diego

  • Small Business

San Diego County Water Authority

  • Small Business
  • Disabled Veteran’s Business Enterprise

North County Transit District

  • Disadvantaged Business Enterprise: 4.2%
  • Small Business

ABC's of Certification

SB / Small Business (25%)

  • Gross receipts averaging $15 million or less annually in the prior 3 years (OR, a manufacturer with 100 or less employees)
  • Independently owned and operated
  • Principal office is located in California and owners are domiciled in California
  • Not dominant in its field of operations

SB-PW / Small Business for the Purpose of Public Works Certification (25%)

  • Gross receipts averaging $36 million or less annually in the prior 3 years (OR) a manufacturer with 200 or less employees)
  • Independently owned and operated
  • Principal office is located in California and owners are domiciled in California
  • Not dominant in its field of operations

DVBE / Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (5%)

  • At least 51% ownership by U.S. military veterans
  • The veteran(s) service-connected disability must be rated at least 10% or higher
  • Disabled veteran must be domiciled in California
  • Daily business operations are managed and controlled by the disabled veteran(s)

SB, SB-PW & DVBE applications

SB, SB-PW & DVBE businesses can APPLY ONLINE directly by registering on the DGS interactive website: www.dgs.ca.gov

Online SB certification decision generally received within 24 hours (may be extended to 30 days when additional documentation is requested by DGS).

For more information on SB, SB-PW or DVBE applications: (916) 375-4940, OSDSHelp@dgs.ca.gov

DBE / Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (12.5%)

  • At least 51% ownership by socially or economically disadvantaged individuals
  • Gross receipts averaging $23.98 million or less annually in the prior 3 years
  • Personal net worth of owner is less than $1,320,000.00 (excluding residence)

DBE application

Website for downloadable DBE application and instructions with completed application mailed to:

  • Caltrans
    Office of Civil Rights
    P. O. Box 942874, MS 79
    Sacramento, CA 95814

DBE certification decision generally received by applicant within 90-180 days, following review of financial documentation and a scheduled interview with the business owners by the Caltrans, Office of Civil Rights.

For more information on DBE applications: (916) 324-0449, DBE.certification@dot.ca.gov