QUICK-STEP TO CERTIFICATION

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QUICK-STEP TO CERTIFICATION

• What is certification and how do you get it!

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Certification What is it?

• Certification is the process by which a business
  enterprise is initially determined by the Agency
  to be either a bona-fide small, minority, woman,
  disabled individual or veteran owned business.

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Certification What are the benefits?

• Certification provides your business with a
  marketing tool. This certification acts as tool
  by which you can legitimately claim your business
  as a small, minority, or woman owned enterprise.
  
• You also receive opportunities to contract with
  the local government entities in the San Antonio
  area.

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Certification Who needs it?

• Any business owner who wants to procure
  opportunities with the local government entities
  in the San Antonio area.
• Any business owner who wants to define the small,
  minority, or woman status of the firm.

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Types of Certification

• Business Enterprise Certification certifies the
  firm which provides local opportunities to
  businesses.
• ESBE, SBE, MBE (ABE, HABE, NABE), WBE, AABE,
  DIBE, VBE designations
• Certification period of 2 years
• Financial documents required

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Types of Certification (cont)

• Federal Program certifies business as a DBE
  (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) for both
  local and federal contracting opportunities.
• Certification lasts until decertified
• Renew annually
• Financial documents required
• Seek opportunities with all Department of
  Transportation, Federal Transit and/or Aviation
  Departments

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Application Process

• What do you need?
• Complete the application for the program which
  you want to apply (business enterprise or
  federal)
• Submit the application with all the requested
  additional information (checklist in application)
• Reciprocal Historically Underutilized Business
  (HUB) for eligible DBE, Minority and Women Owned
  Businesses certified with the SCTRCA.
• Contact the SCTRCA for assistance

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Application Process (cont)

• How long does it take?
• Certification can take up to 60 days in the
  Business Enterprise Program and up to 90 days in
  the Federal Program to complete. Therefore it is
  essential that you start the process now so that
  you dont miss out on contracting opportunities.
• Why so long??
• - Files are received everyday and each file is
  worked in the order it is received based
  on its completion
• - DBE certification requires an onsite visit
• - RCA rarely has a file take up to 90 days
  unless the business is not responsive to RCA
  requests

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51 Owner Responsibilities

• Must be citizens or permanent residents of the
  United States of America
• Must hold 51 or more of ownership in the firm
• Must control the companies both daily operations
  and board operations (i.e. hold highest officer
  position and hold control of board of directors
  meetings)
• Must present knowledge and expertise in the areas
  of service/product for which firm is requesting
  certification
• Must be present during daily operation devote
  at 51 or more of time to the business

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ALL APPLICANTS must submit

• Proof of Citizenship/Ethnicity Status (Birth
  Certificate, Permanent Resident Card, Certificate
  of Naturalization, Tribal Card, Commonly
  Recognized Religious Record, Current Passport,
  etc.)
• Proof of Identification (Drivers license/State
  issued ID)
• Certificate to do business (DBA, Assumed Name
  certificate)
• Resumes of Principal owner(s) and Key employee(s)
• Licenses or Certificates to perform work, if
  required by state law (i.e., plumbing,
  electrical, CPA, engineering, law, medical, etc.)
•  

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All Applicants contd

• Business income tax returns (three most recent
  years), or pages 1 and 2 of the Form 1040 along
  with all of the pages of the Schedule Cs (for
  business taxes filed as personal taxes)
• Copy of Federal employer Identification Number
  (EIN) or verification of Social Security Number,
  if no EIN
• Balance sheet - a new construction business must
  provide a current balance sheet
• Last two Quarterly TWC Reports (firms whose size
  standards are based on number of employees)
• Documentation verifying disability from Medical
  Doctor or Government Agency
• DD-214 verifying military service
• Completed and Signed Application
• Franchise Agreement

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FOR A CORPORATION ADD

• Certificate of Formation (signed by the state
  official)
• Articles of Incorporation
• Copy of corporate By-laws
• Minutes of organizational last annual meeting
• Minutes of all meetings showing ownership changes
• Stock Certificates (front and back)
• Stock Ledger

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FOR A LIMITED LIABILITY CO./CORP

• Certificate of Formation (signed by the state
  official)
• Operating/Membership Agreement
• Minutes of organizational meeting
• Minutes of last annual meeting
• Minutes of all meeting showing ownership changes
• Membership Certificates
• Membership Register

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FOR A PARTNERSHIP (Limited, Limited Liability)

• Certificate of Formation (signed by the state
  official)
• Assumed Name Certificate (if applicable)
• Complete copy of Partnership Agreement including
  buy-sell and profit sharing agreements
• FOR A GENERAL PARTNERSHIP Assume Name
  Certificate Only

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Register with SCTRCA Members

• Alamo Colleges
• Brooks City Base
• City of San Antonio
• Edwards Aquifer Authority
• Port Authority of San Antonio
• San Antonio Housing Authority
• San Antonio International Airport
• San Antonio Independent School District
• San Antonio River Authority
• San Antonio Water System
• University Health System
• University of Texas-San Antonio Small Business
  Development Center (PTAC)
• VIA Metropolitan Transit
• H-E-B
• Sams Contracting Consulting Training
• SpawGlass
• Zachry Construction Corp

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Contact Information

• South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency
  
• 3201 Cherry Ridge St., Building C, Suite 319
• San Antonio TX 78230
• [phone] phone
• [phone] fax
• http//www.sctrca.org

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• Questions
• ?