Title 13—Business Credit and Assistance--Volume 1
PART 126—HUBZONE PROGRAM
§ 126.100   What is the purpose of the HUBZone program?
The purpose of the HUBZone program is to provide federal contracting assistance for small business concerns located in historically underutilized business zones in an effort to increase employment opportunities, investment, and economic development in such areas.
§ 126.101   Which government departments or agencies are affected directly by the HUBZone program?
(a) The HUBZone Program applies to all federal departments or agencies that employ one or more contracting officers.
(b) The HUBZone program does not apply to contracts awarded by state and local governments. However, state and local governments may use the List of certified HUBZone small business concerns to identify certified HUBZone small business concerns for similar programs authorized under state or local law.
§ 126.102   What is the effect of the HUBZone program on the section 8(d) subcontracting program?
The HUBZone Act of 1997 amended the section 8(d) subcontracting program to include certified HUBZone small business concerns in the formal subcontracting plans described in § 125.3 of this title.
§ 126.103   What definitions are important in the HUBZone program?
Administrator means the Administrator of the United States Small Business Administration (SBA).
Agricultural commodity has the same meaning as in section 102 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602).
Alaska Native Corporation (ANC) has the same meaning as the term “Native Corporation” in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), 43 U.S.C. 1602.
Attempt to maintain means making substantive and documented efforts to meet the HUBZone residency requirement, such as making written offers of employment, publishing advertisements seeking employees, and attending job fairs, and applies only during the performance of a HUBZone contract as defined in § 126.600. A firm that cannot demonstrate that it is making such efforts has failed to attempt to maintain the HUBZone residency requirement. In addition, a firm that has less than 20% of its total employees residing in a HUBZone during the performance of a HUBZone contract has failed to attempt to maintain the HUBZone residency requirement.
Base closure area means:
(1) Lands within the external boundaries of a military installation that were closed through a privatization process under the authority of:
(i) The Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (part A of title XXIX of division B of Pub. L. 101-510; 10 U.S.C. 2687 note);
(ii) Title II of the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act (Pub. L. 100-526; 10 U.S.C. 2687 note);
(iii) 10 U.S.C. 2687; or
(iv) Any other provision of law authorizing or directing the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of a military department to dispose of real property at the military installation for purposes relating to base closures of redevelopment, while retaining the authority to enter into a leaseback of all or a portion of the property for military use;
(2) The census tract or nonmetropolitan county (excluding any qualified census tract and any qualified non-metropolitan county) in which the lands described in paragraph (1) of this definition are wholly contained;
(3) A census tract or nonmetropolitan county (excluding any qualified census tract and any qualified non-metropolitan county) the boundaries of which intersect the area described in paragraph (1) of this definition; and
(4) A census tract or nonmetropolitan county (excluding any qualified census tract and any qualified non-metropolitan county) the boundaries of which are contiguous to the area described in paragraph (2) or paragraph (3) of this definition.
Certification or certify means the process by which SBA determines that a concern is qualified for the HUBZone program and eligible to be designated by SBA as a certified HUBZone small business concern in DSBS (or successor system).
Citizen means a person born or naturalized in the United States. SBA does not consider holders of permanent visas and resident aliens to be citizens.
Community Development Corporation or CDC means a nonprofit organization responsible to residents of the area it serves which has received financial assistance under 42 U.S.C. 9805, et seq. or has received a letter from the Department of Health and Human Services affirming that it has received assistance under a successor program to that authorized by 42 U.S.C. 9805.
Concern means a firm which satisfies the requirements in §§ 121.105(a) and (b) of this title.
Contract opportunity means a situation in which a requirement for a procurement exists, none of the exclusions from § 126.605 applies, and any applicable conditions in § 126.607 are met.
Contracting Officer has the meaning given that term in 41 U.S.C. 2101(1), which defines a contracting officer as a person who, by appointment in accordance with applicable regulations, has the authority to enter into a Federal agency procurement contract on behalf of the Government and to make determinations and findings with respect to such a contract.
County means the political subdivisions recognized as a county by a state or commonwealth or which is an equivalent political subdivision such as a parish, borough, independent city, or municipio, where such subdivisions are not subdivisions within counties.
D/HUB means the Director of SBA's Office of HUBZone.
Decertify means the process by which SBA removes a concern as a certified HUBZone small business concern from DSBS (or successor system) upon a finding that the firm does not meet the HUBZone eligibility requirements or after a firm voluntarily withdraws from the HUBZone program.
Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) means the database that government agencies use to find small business contractors for upcoming contracts. The information a business provides when registering in SAM, as defined in this section, is used to populate DSBS. For HUBZone Program purposes, a concern's DSBS profile will indicate whether it is a certified HUBZone small business concern, and if so, the date it was certified.
Employee means an individual employed on a full-time, part-time, or other basis, so long as that individual generally works a minimum of 10 hours per week during the four-week period immediately prior to the relevant date of review. SBA may permit an individual to count as an employee if that individual works less than 10 hours in any week during the four-week period immediately prior to the relevant date of review provided the individual works at least 40 hours during that four-week period and the concern demonstrates a legitimate business reason for that work schedule.
(1) To determine the number of hours worked by each individual employed by the business concern, SBA will review a concern's payroll records for the most recently completed pay periods that account for the four-week period immediately prior to the relevant date of review. To determine if an individual is an employee, SBA reviews the totality of circumstances, including criteria used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for Federal income tax purposes and the factors set forth in SBA's Size Policy Statement No. 1 (51 FR 6099, February 20, 1986).
(2) In general, the following are considered employees:
(i) Individuals obtained from a temporary employee agency, from a concern primarily engaged in leasing employees, or through a union agreement, or co-employed pursuant to a Professional Employer Organization agreement;
(ii) An individual who has an ownership interest in the concern and who works for the concern at least 10 hours per week during the four-week period immediately prior to the relevant date of review, whether or not the individual receives compensation;
(iii) An owner who works less than 10 hours per week during the four-week period immediately prior to the relevant date of review, where another individual has not been hired to manage and direct the actions of the concern's employee(s);
(iv) Reservists or National Guard members when called to active duty; and
(v) Individuals who are on annual, sick, or maternity leave and continue to be paid by the business concern.
(3) In general, the following are not considered employees:
(i) Individuals who are not owners and receive no compensation for work performed;
(ii) Individuals who receive deferred compensation for work performed;
(iii) Independent contractors to whom payments are reported via IRS Form 1099 and who are not otherwise considered employees under SBA's Size Policy Statement No. 1; and
(iv) Subcontractors.
(4) Employees of an affiliate may be considered employees, if the totality of the circumstances shows that there is no clear line of fracture between the HUBZone applicant (or certified HUBZone small business concern) and its affiliate(s) ( see § 126.204).
(5) An individual must perform work for the concern to be considered an employee for HUBZone purposes. SBA may require evidence that an individual is performing work, including but not limited to the following: a job description; the individual's resume; timesheets; proof of onboarding and/or training; evidence of regular communication assigning work to the individual and responses to such communication; examples of work product commensurate with hours worked; documentation demonstrating the individual's participation in online or telephonic meetings with supervisors or colleagues, such as meeting invitations, notes from meetings, post-meeting questions or assignments; written attestations; and other relevant documentation.
Governor-Designated Covered Area means an area that SBA has designated as a HUBZone by approving a Governor-generated petition pursuant to the procedures described in § 126.104.
HUBZone means a historically underutilized business zone, which is an area located within one or more:
(1) Qualified census tracts;
(2) Qualified non-metropolitan counties;
(3) Lands within the external boundaries of an Indian reservation;
(4) Redesignated areas;
(5) Qualified base closure areas;
(6) Qualified disaster areas; or
(7) Governor-designated covered areas.
HUBZone certification date means the date on which SBA approves a concern's application for HUBZone certification and is the date specified in the concern's certification letter. If a concern leaves the HUBZone program and reapplies for certification, its HUBZone certification date is the date SBA approves the concern's most recent application.
HUBZone Map means a publicly accessible online tool that depicts HUBZones.
HUBZone resident employee means an individual who meets the definition of an employee and who SBA has determined resides in a HUBZone.
HUBZone small business concern or certified HUBZone small business concern means a small business concern that meets the requirements described in § 126.200 and that SBA has certified as eligible for Federal contracting assistance under the HUBZone program.
Indian reservation (1) Has the same meaning as the term “Indian country” in 18 U.S.C. 1151, except that such term does not include:
(i) Any lands that are located within a State in which a tribe did not exercise governmental jurisdiction as of December 21, 2000, unless that tribe is recognized after that date by either an Act of Congress or pursuant to regulations of the Secretary of the Interior for the administrative recognition that an Indian group exists as an Indian tribe (25 CFR part 83); and
(ii) Lands taken into trust or acquired by an Indian tribe after December 21, 2000 if such lands are not located within the external boundaries of an Indian reservation or former reservation or are not contiguous to the lands held in trust or restricted status as of December 21, 2000; and
(2) In the State of Oklahoma, means lands that:
(i) Are within the jurisdictional areas of an Oklahoma Indian tribe (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior); and
(ii) Are recognized by the Secretary of the Interior as of December 21, 2000, as eligible for trust land status under 25 CFR part 151.
Indian Tribal Government means the governing body of any Indian Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, or other organized group or community which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians, or is recognized as such by the State in which the Tribe, band, nation, group, or community resides.
Interested party means any certified HUBZone small business concern that submits an offer for a specific HUBZone set-aside contract (including a multiple award contract) or order, any concern that submitted an offer in full and open competition and its opportunity for award will be affected by a price evaluation preference given to a certified HUBZone small business concern or by a reserve of an award given to a certified HUBZone small business concern, the contracting activity's contracting officer, or SBA.
Lands within the external boundaries of an Indian reservation include all lands within the perimeter of an Indian reservation, whether tribally owned and governed or not. For example, land that is individually owned and located within the perimeter of an Indian reservation is “lands within the external boundaries of an Indian reservation.” By contrast, an Indian-owned parcel of land that is located outside the perimeter of an Indian reservation is not “lands within the external boundaries of an Indian reservation.”
Native Hawaiian Organization (NHO) means any community service organization serving Native Hawaiians in the State of Hawaii which is a not-for-profit organziation chartered by the State of Hawaii, is controlled by Native Hawaiians, and whose business activities will principally benefit such Native Hawaiians.
Non-metropolitan has the meaning used by the Bureau of the Census, United States Department of Commerce, in its publication titled, “1990 Census of Population, Social and Economic Characteristics,” Report Number CP-2, page A-9. This publication is available for inspection at any local Federal Depository Library. For the location of a Federal Depository Library, call toll-free (888) 293-6498 or contact the Bureau of the Census, Population Distribution Branch, Population Division, Washington D.C. 20233-8800.
Person means a natural person.
Primary industry classification or primary industry means the six-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code designation which best describes the primary business activity of the HUBZone applicant or certified HUBZone small business concern. SBA utilizes § 121.107 of this chapter in determining a concern's primary industry classification.
Principal Office means the location where the greatest number of the concern's employees at any one location perform their work.
(1) In order for a location to be considered the principal office, the concern must provide a deed or an active lease that includes a start date that was at least 30 calendar days prior to the relevant date of review, and an end date that is at least 60 calendar days after the relevant date of review, as well as any other documentation requested by SBA;
(2) In order for a location to be considered the principal office, the concern must conduct business at this location. The concern may be required to demonstrate that it is doing so by submitting evidence including but not limited to the following:
(i) Photos and/or a live or virtual walk-through of the space; and
(ii) For shared working spaces, evidence that the firm has dedicated space within any shared location, and that such dedicated space contains sufficient work surface area, furniture, and equipment to accommodate the number of employees claimed to work from this location;
(3) If an employee works at multiple locations, then the employee will be deemed to work at the location where the employee spends more than 50% of his or her time. If an employee does not spend more than 50% of his or her time at any one location and at least one of those locations is a non-HUBZone location, then the employee will be deemed to work at a non-HUBZone location.
(4) For those concerns whose “primary industry classification” is services or construction ( see § 121.201 of this chapter), the determination of principal office excludes the concern's employees who perform more than 50% of their work at job-site locations to fulfill specific contract obligations. If all of a concern's employees perform more than 50% of their work at job sites, the concern does not comply with the principal office requirement.
(i) Example 1. A business concern whose primary industry is construction has a total of 78 employees, including the owners. The business concern has one office (Office A), which is located in a HUBZone, with 3 employees working at that location. The business concern also has a job-site for a current contract, where 75 employees perform more than 50% of their work. The 75 job-site employees are excluded for purposes of determining principal office. Since the remaining 3 employees all work at Office A, Office A is the concern's principal office. Since Office A is in a HUBZone, the business concern complies with the principal office requirement.
(ii) Example 2. A business concern whose primary industry is services has a total of 4 employees, including the owner. The business concern has one office located in a HUBZone (Office A), where 2 employees perform more than 50% of their work, and a second office not located in a HUBZone (Office B), where 2 employees perform more than 50% of their work. Since there is not one location where the greatest number of the concern's employees at any one location perform their work, the business concern would not have a principal office in a HUBZone.
(iii) Example 3. A business concern whose primary industry is services has a total of 6 employees, including the owner. Five of the employees perform all of their work at job-sites fulfilling specific contract obligations. The business concern's owner performs 45% of her work at job-sites, and 55% of her work at an office located in a HUBZone (Office A) conducting tasks such as writing proposals, generating payroll, and responding to emails. Office A would be considered the principal office of the concern since it is the only location where any employees of the concern work that is not a job site and the 1 individual working there spends more than 50% of her time at Office A. Since Office A is located in a HUBZone, the small business concern would meet the principal office requirement.
Qualified base closure area means a base closure area that is treated by SBA as a HUBZone for a period of at least 8 years, beginning on the date on which the Administrator designates the base closure area as a HUBZone and ending on the date on which the base closure area ceases to be a qualified census tract or a qualified nonmetropolitan county in accordance with the online tool prepared by the Administrator.
Qualified census tract. (1) Qualified census tract means a census tract which is designated by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and for the most recent year for which census data are available on household income in such tract, either in which 50 percent or more of the households have an income which is less than 60 percent of the area median gross income for such year or which has a poverty rate of at least 25 percent. See 26 U.S.C. 42(d)(5)(B)(ii)(I).
(2) The portion of a metropolitan statistical area (as defined by the Bureau of the Census, United States Department of Commerce, in its publications on the Census of Population, Social and Economic Characteristics) which may be designated as “qualified census tracts” shall not exceed an area having 20 percent of the population of such metropolitan statistical area. See 26 U.S.C. 42(d)(5)(B)(ii)(II). This paragraph does not apply to any metropolitan statistical area in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico until December 22, 2027, or the date on which the Financial Oversight and Management Board for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico created by the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) (Pub. L. 114-187, June 30, 2016) ceases to exist, whichever event occurs first.
Qualified Disaster Area. (1) Qualified Disaster Area means any census tract or non-metropolitan county located in an area where a major disaster declared by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) has occurred or an area in which a catastrophic incident has occurred if such census tract or non-metropolitan county ceased to be a Qualified Census Tract or Qualified Non-Metropolitan County during the period beginning 5 years before the date on which the President declared the major disaster or the catastrophic incident occurred.
(2) A census tract or non-metropolitan county shall be considered to be a Qualified Disaster Area for the period of time starting on the date on which the President declared the major disaster for the area in which the census tract or non-metropolitan county, as applicable, is located (or in the case of a catastrophic incident, on the date on which the catastrophic incident occurred in the area in which the census tract or non-metropolitan county, as applicable, is located) and ending on the date when SBA next updates the HUBZone Map in accordance with § 126.104(a).
Qualified non-metropolitan county means any county that was not located in a metropolitan statistical area (as defined by the Bureau of the Census, United States Department of Commerce, in its publications on the Census of Population, Social and Economic Characteristics) at the time of the most recent census taken for purposes of selecting qualified census tracts under section 26 U.S.C. 42(d)(5)(B)(ii), and in which:
(1) The median household income is less than 80% of the State median household income, based on a 5-year average of the available data from the Bureau of the Census of the Department of Commerce;
(2) The unemployment rate is not less than 140% of the average unemployment rate for the United States or for the State in which such county is located, whichever is less, based on a 5-year average of the data available from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics report, produced by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics; or
(3) There is located a Difficult Development Area within Alaska, Hawaii, or any territory or possession of the United States outside the 48 contiguous States. A Difficult Development Area (DDA) is an area designated by the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, in accordance with section 26 U.S.C. 42(d)(5)(B)(iii), with high construction, land, and utility costs relative to its area median gross income.
Recertification (or certification renewal), for purposes of this subpart, means the process by which a concern represents that it continues to meet the requirements of the HUBZone program.
Redesignated Area means any census tract that ceases to be a Qualified Census Tract or any non-metropolitan county that ceases to be a Qualified Non-Metropolitan County. A Redesignated Area generally shall be treated as a HUBZone for a period of three years, starting from the date on which the area ceased to be a Qualified Census Tract or a Qualified Non-Metropolitan County. The date on which the census tract or non-metropolitan county ceases to be qualified is the date on which the official government data affecting the eligibility of the HUBZone is released to the public.
Reside means to live at a location full-time and for at least 90 calendar days immediately prior to the relevant date of review.
(1) To determine residence, SBA will first look to an individual's address identified on his or her driver's license or other government-issued identification card. Where such documentation is not available (or where the address on the individual's driver's license does not match the residence claimed), SBA will require other specific proof of residency, such as deeds, leases, and/or utility bills, as well as an explanation as to why a driver's license is unavailable or inconsistent.
(2) For HUBZone purposes, SBA will consider individuals temporarily residing overseas in connection with the performance of a contract to reside at their U.S. residence.
(i) Example 1. A person possesses the deed to a residential property and pays utilities and property taxes for that property. However, the person does not live at this property, but instead rents out this property to another individual. For HUBZone purposes, the person does not reside at the address listed on the deed and is not considered a HUBZone employee.
(ii) Example 2. A person moves into an apartment under a month-to-month lease and lives in that apartment full-time. SBA would consider the person to reside at the address listed on the lease if the person can show that he or she has lived at that address for at least 90 calendar days immediately prior to the relevant date of review.
(iii) Example 3. A person is working overseas on a contract for the small business and is therefore temporarily living abroad. The employee can provide documents showing he has paid rent for an apartment located in a HUBZone for at least 90 calendar days immediately prior to the relevant date of review. That person is deemed to reside in a HUBZone.
Small agricultural cooperative means an association (corporate or otherwise), comprised exclusively of other small agricultural cooperatives, small business concerns, or U.S. citizens, pursuant to the provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Act, 12 U.S.C. 1141j, whose size does not exceed the applicable size standard pursuant to part 121 of this chapter. In determining such size, an agricultural cooperative is treated as a “business concern” and its member shareholders are not considered affiliated with the cooperative by virtue of their membership in the cooperative.
Small business concern means a concern that, with its affiliates, meets the size standard corresponding to any NAICS code listed in its profile in the System for Award Management (or successor system), pursuant to part 121 of this chapter.
System for Award Management (SAM) has the same meaning as in FAR 2.101.
§ 126.104   How can a Governor petition for the designation of a Governor-designated cover area?
(a) Petition. Each calendar year, the Governor of a State may submit a petition to the SBA Office of the HUBZone Program requesting that certain covered areas be designated as Governor-designated covered areas. For a specific covered area to receive a designation as a Governor-designated covered area, the Governor of the State in which the identified covered area is wholly contained shall include such area in a petition to SBA requesting such a designation.
(1) A Governor may submit not more than one petition described in this section per calendar year.
(2) The petition described in this section shall include all covered areas in a State for which the Governor seeks designation as a Governor-designated covered area. The total number of covered areas included in such petition may not exceed ten percent of the total number of covered areas in the State.
(3)(i) The total number of covered areas in a State shall be calculated by aggregating the number of census tracts and counties that qualify as covered areas as described in paragraph (d) of this section.
(ii) A petition need not seek SBA approval for those covered areas previously designated as Governor-designated covered areas.
(b) SBA Review. In reviewing a request for designation included in such a petition, SBA may consider:
(1) The potential for job creation and investment in the covered area;
(2) The demonstrated interest of small business concerns in the covered area to be designated as a Governor-designated covered area;
(3) How State and local government officials have incorporated the covered area into an economic development strategy; and
(4) If the covered area was a HUBZone before becoming the subject of the petition, the impact on the covered area if the Administrator did not approve the petition.
(c) SBA Decision. The AA/GCBD (or designee) is authorized to grant the petitions described in this section. If the AA/GCBD (or designee) grants a petition described in this section, SBA will issue a written notice to the petitioning Governor and add the newly designated Governor-designated covered areas to the HUBZone Map.
(d) Length of designation. A Governor-designated covered area will be treated as a HUBZone until SBA next updates the HUBZone Map in accordance with § 126.105(a), or one year after the petition is approved, whichever is later.
(e) Definitions. In this section:
(1) The term “covered area” means a census tract or county in a State—
(i) That is located outside of an urban area, as determined by the Bureau of the Census, with a population of not more than 50,000; and
(ii) For which the average unemployment rate is at least 120 percent of the average unemployment rate of the United States or of the State in which the covered area is located, whichever is less, based on the most recent data available from the American Community Survey conducted by the Bureau of the Census.
(2) The term “Governor” means the chief executive of a State.
(3) The term “State” means each of the States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa.
§ 126.105   How often will the HUBZone Map be updated?
The HUBZone Map will be updated as follows:
(a) Qualified Census Tracts and Qualified Non-Metropolitan Counties will be updated every 5 years.
(b) Redesignated Areas will be added to the HUBZone Map when areas cease to be designated as Qualified Census Tracts or Qualified Non-Metropolitan Counties, in accordance with the 5-year cycle described in paragraph (a) of this section, and will be removed after 3 years.
(c) Qualified Base Closure Areas will be added to the HUBZone Map after SBA receives information from the Department of Defense that a new base closure area has been created and will be removed after 8 years.
(d) Qualified Disaster Areas generally will be added to the HUBZone Map on a monthly basis, based on data received by SBA from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and generally will be removed on the effective date of the 5-year HUBZone Map update following the declaration.
(e) Governor-Designated Covered Areas will be added to the HUBZone Map after SBA approves a petition in accordance with § 126.104 and will be removed on the effective date of the 5-year HUBZone Map update following the approval, or one year after the petition is approved, whichever is later.
§ 126.200   What requirements must a concern meet to be eligible as a certified HUBZone small business concern?
(a) Ownership. In order to be eligible for HUBZone certification and to remain certified, a small business concern must be owned in accordance with this paragraph. The concern must be:
(1) At least 51% owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are United States citizens;
(2) An ANC or at least 51% owned by an ANC or a wholly-owned business entity of an ANC;
(3) At least 51% owned by one or more Indian Tribal Governments, or by a corporation that is wholly owned by one or more Indian Tribal Governments;
(4) At least 51% owned by one or more CDCs;
(5) A small agricultural cooperative organized or incorporated in the United States, or at least 51% owned by one or more small agricultural cooperatives organized or incorporated in the United States; or
(6) At least 51% owned by one or more NHOs, or by a corporation that is wholly owned by one or more NHOs.
(b) Size. (1) In order to be eligible for HUBZone certification and recertification, a concern, together with its affiliates, must qualify as a small business concern as defined in part 121 of this chapter under the size standard corresponding to any NAICS code listed in its profile in SAM (or successor system). In determining whether a concern qualifies as small under the size standard corresponding to a specific NAICS code, SBA will accept the concern's size representation in SAM (or successor system), unless there is evidence indicating that the concern is other than small. SBA will request a formal size determination pursuant to § 121.1001(b)(8) of this chapter where any information it possesses calls into question the concern's SAM size representation.
(2) In order to be eligible for a HUBZone contract, a certified HUBZone small business concern must qualify as small under the size standard corresponding to the NAICS code assigned to the HUBZone contract.
(3) If the concern is a small agricultural cooperative, in determining size, the small agricultural cooperative is treated as a “business concern” and its member shareholders are not considered affiliated with the cooperative by virtue of their membership in the cooperative.
(c) Principal office. In order to be eligible for HUBZone certification, a concern's principal office must be located in a HUBZone, except for concerns owned in whole or in part by one or more Indian Tribal Governments.
(1) Long-term investment —(i) General. A concern that has purchased a building or entered a long-term lease of at least 10 years for a property in a HUBZone (other than in a Redesignated Area or Qualified Disaster Area) will be deemed to have its principal office located in a HUBZone for up to 10 years from the date of the investment, as long as that building or property qualifies as the concern's principal office and continues to qualify as the concern's principal office, and as long as the firm maintains the long-term lease or continues to be the sole owner of the property.
(ii) Commencement of 10-year period. The 10-year principal office long-term investment protection period starts to run on the firm's HUBZone certification date (if the investment was made prior to the firm's certification) or on the date of the investment (if the investment was made after the firm's HUBZone certification date).
(iii) Exceptions. The following do not qualify for this provision:
(A) An office located in a Redesignated Area or Qualified Disaster Area at the time of initial HUBZone certification;
(B) An office that is shared with one or more other concerns or individuals;
(C) Any location being used as a personal residence; or
(D) An investment made within 180 calendar days of the expiration of an area's designation as a Qualified Census Tract, Qualified Non-Metropolitan County, Governor-Designated Covered Area, or Qualified Base Closure Area.
(2) Tribally-owned concerns. A concern that is owned in whole or in part by one or more Indian Tribal Governments (or by a corporation that is wholly owned by Indian Tribal Governments) must either:
(i) Maintain a principal office located in a HUBZone and ensure that at least 35% of its employees reside in a HUBZone as provided in paragraph (d)(1) of this section; or
(ii) Certify that when performing a HUBZone contract, at least 35% of its employees engaged in performing that contract will reside within any Indian reservation governed by one or more of the Indian Tribal Government owners, or reside within any HUBZone adjacent to such Indian reservation.
(d) Employees. (1) General. In order to be eligible for HUBZone certification, at least 35% of a concern's employees must qualify as HUBZone resident employees. When determining the percentage of employees that must reside in a HUBZone to meet the 35% HUBZone residency requirement, if the percentage results in a fraction, SBA rounds to the nearest whole number, except for a firm with only one employee. For firms with only one employee, that one employee must reside in a HUBZone.
(2) Tribally-owned concerns. If the concern is owned in whole or in part by one or more Indian Tribal Governments (or by a corporation that is wholly owned by one or more Indian Tribal Governments), see paragraph (c)(2) of this section.
(3) Legacy HUBZone employees. (i) An individual will be considered a Legacy HUBZone Employee and count as a HUBZone resident employee, even if the employee subsequently moves to a location that is not in a HUBZone or the area in which the employee's residence is located no longer qualifies as a HUBZone, if the individual:
(A) Continues to live in a HUBZone for at least 180 calendar days immediately after the firm's HUBZone certification date (or certification anniversary date); and
(B) Continues to meet the definition of “employee” in § 126.103 continuously and without interruption.
(ii) A certified HUBZone small business concern may have up to four Legacy HUBZone Employees at a given time, but must have at least one other HUBZone employee in order for any legacy employee to count as a HUBZone employee.
(iii) The certified HUBZone small business concern must maintain records of the Legacy HUBZone Employee's original HUBZone address, as well as records of any HUBZone other address in which the individual resided, as well as records of the individual's continuous and uninterrupted employment by the HUBZone small business concern, for the duration of the concern's participation in the HUBZone program. In order to demonstrate that an individual resided in a HUBZone for 180 days after the firm's HUBZone certification date (or certification anniversary date), the concern must submit to SBA copies of leases, utility bills, or property tax records.
(iv) The HUBZone certification date (or certification anniversary date) being used to establish the HUBZone residency of the employee must be after December 26, 2019.
(v) The following individuals do not qualify as Legacy HUBZone Employees:
(A) An individual who initially qualified as a HUBZone Resident Employee by residing in a Redesignated Area or a Qualified Disaster Area; and
(B) An individual who works less than 30 hours per week.
(e) Attempt to maintain. (1) At the time of application, each recertification required by § 126.500(a), and offer for a HUBZone contract, a concern must certify that it will “attempt to maintain” ( see § 126.103) having at least 35% of its employees reside in a HUBZone during the performance of any HUBZone contract it receives.
(2) At the time of recertification, a firm that is currently performing a HUBZone contract and falls below the 35% HUBZone residency requirement may recertify as a HUBZone small business concern as long as at least 20% of its total employees reside in a HUBZone and it is making substantive and documented efforts to meet the HUBZone residency requirement.
(3) During performance of a HUBZone contract, a HUBZone small business concern must attempt to maintain having at least 35% of its employees residing in HUBZones.
(f) Suspension and Debarment. At the time of application and at all times while a concern is HUBZone-certified, such concern and any of its owners must not have an active exclusion in SAM.
(g) Federal financial obligations. A business concern is ineligible to be certified as a HUBZone small business concern or to participate in the HUBZone program if either the concern or any of its principals has failed to pay significant financial obligations owed to the Federal Government, including unresolved tax liens and defaults on Federal loans or other Federally assisted financing. However, a small business concern may be eligible if the concern or the affected principals can demonstrate that they are current on an approved repayment plan, or the financial obligations owed have been settled and discharged/forgiven by the Federal Government.
§ 126.201   Who does SBA consider to be an owner of a HUBZone small business concern?
For purposes of qualifying for HUBZone certification, SBA considers any person who owns any legal or equitable interest in a concern to be an owner of the concern. If an Employee Stock Ownership Plan owns all or part of the concern, SBA considers each stock trustee and plan member to be an owner. If a trust owns all or part of the concern, SBA considers each trustee and trust beneficiary to be an owner. In addition:
(a) Corporations. SBA considers any person who owns stock, whether voting or non-voting, to be an owner. SBA considers options to purchase stock and the right to convert debentures into voting stock to have been exercised.
(b) Partnerships. SBA considers all partners, whether general or limited, to be owners in a partnership.
(c) Sole proprietorships. The proprietor is the owner.
(d) Limited liability companies. SBA considers each member to be an owner of a limited liability company.
§ 126.202   Who does SBA consider to control a HUBZone small business concern?
Control means both the day-to-day management and long-term decision-making authority for the HUBZone small business concern. Many persons may share control of a concern, including each of those occupying the following positions: officer, director, general partner, managing partner, managing member and manager.
§ 126.203   [Reserved]
§ 126.204   May a HUBZone small business concern have affiliates?
(a) A HUBZone small business concern may have affiliates, provided that the HUBZone small business concern, together with its affiliates, qualifies as a small business concern as defined in part 121 of this chapter under the size standard corresponding to any NAICS code listed in its profile in SAM (or successor system), except as otherwise provided for small agricultural cooperatives.gov in § 126.103.
(b) Employees of affiliates are not automatically considered employees of a HUBZone applicant or HUBZone small business concern solely on the basis of affiliation.
(c) The employees of an affiliate may be counted as employees of a HUBZone applicant or HUBZone small business concern for purposes of determining compliance with the HUBZone program's principal office and 35% residency requirements in certain circumstances. In determining whether individuals should be counted as employees of a HUBZone applicant or HUBZone small business concern, SBA will consider the totality of circumstances, including criteria used by the IRS for Federal income tax purposes and those set forth in SBA's Size Policy Statement No. 1. Employees of the concern's affiliate will not be counted as the concern's employees if there is a clear line of fracture between the concern and its affiliate.
(1) SBA generally will find that there is a clear line of fracture where the concern demonstrates that it does not share employees, facilities, or equipment with the affiliate; has different customers or lines of business (or is distinctly segregated geographically); and does not receive significant contracts or financial assistance from the affiliate.
(2) The use of common administrative services between parent and/or sister concerns by itself will not result in an affiliate's employees being counted as employees of the HUBZone applicant or HUBZone small business concern.
(3) Minimal business activity between the concern and its affiliate alone will not result in an affiliate's employees being counted as employees of the HUBZone applicant or HUBZone small business concern.
(4) SBA will not treat the employees of one company as employees of another for HUBZone program purposes if the two firms would not be considered affiliated for size purposes under Part 121 of this chapter.
§ 126.205   May participants in other SBA programs be certified as HUBZone small business concerns?
Participants in other SBA programs may be certified as HUBZone small business concerns if they meet all of the requirements set forth in this part.
§ 126.206   May nonmanufacturers be certified as HUBZone small business concerns?
Nonmanufacturers (referred to in the HUBZone Act of 1997 as “regular dealers”) may be certified as HUBZone small business concerns if they meet all of the requirements set forth in § 126.200. For purposes of this part, a “nonmanufacturer” is defined in § 121.406(b) of this chapter.
§ 126.207   Do all of the offices or facilities of a certified HUBZone small business concern have to be located in a HUBZone?
A HUBZone small business concern may have offices or facilities in multiple HUBZones or even outside a HUBZone. However, in order to be certified as a HUBZone small business concern, the concern's principal office must be located in a HUBZone (except see § 126.200(c)(2) for concerns owned by Indian Tribal Governments).
§ 126.300   How may a concern be certified as a HUBZone small business concern?
(a) A concern must apply to SBA for HUBZone certification. SBA will consider the information provided by the concern in order to determine whether the concern qualifies.
(b) SBA, at its discretion, may rely solely upon the information submitted, may request additional information, may conduct independent research, or may verify the information before making an eligibility determination.
(c) If SBA determines that a concern meets the eligibility requirements of a HUBZone small business concern, it will notify the concern and designate the concern as a certified HUBZone small business concern in DSBS (or successor system).
§ 126.301   Is there any other way for a concern to obtain certification?
No. SBA certification is the only way to qualify for HUBZone program status.
§ 126.302   When may a concern apply for certification?
A concern may apply to SBA and submit the required information whenever it can represent that it meets the eligibility requirements, subject to § 126.309. All representations and supporting information contained in the application must be complete and accurate as of the date of submission.
§ 126.303   Where must a concern submit its application for certification?
A concern seeking certification as a HUBZone small business concern must submit an electronic application to SBA's HUBZone Program Office via SBA's website at https://SBA.gov . The majority owner must take responsibility for the accuracy of all information submitted on behalf of the applicant.
§ 126.304   What must a concern submit to SBA in order to be certified as a HUBZone small business concern?
(a) General. To be certified by SBA as a HUBZone small business concern, a concern must submit a completed application and all documents requested by SBA. The concern must also represent to SBA that it meets the requirements set forth in § 126.200 and that all of the information provided as of the date of the application (and any subsequent information provided) is complete, true and accurate. The representation must be signed by an owner or officer of the applicant.
(b) Supporting documents. (1) SBA may request documents to verify that the applicant meets the HUBZone program's eligibility requirements. The documents must show that the concern meets the program's requirements at the time it submits its application to SBA.
(2) The concern must document compliance with the requirements listed in § 126.200, including but not limited to employment records and documentation showing the address of each HUBZone resident employee. Records sufficient to demonstrate HUBZone residency include copies of driver's licenses; only where such documentation is unavailable will SBA accept alternative documentation (such as copies of leases, deeds, and/or utility bills).
(c) Changes after submission of application. After submitting an application, a concern applying for HUBZone certification must immediately notify SBA of any changes that could affect its eligibility and provide information and documents to verify the changes. If the changed information indicates that the concern is not eligible, the applicant will be given the option to withdraw its application, or SBA will decline certification and the concern must wait 90 days to reapply.
(d) HUBZone areas. Concerns applying for HUBZone status must use SBA's website ( e.g., maps or other tools showing qualified HUBZones) to verify that the location of the concern's principal office and the residences of at least 35% of the concern's employees are within HUBZones. If SBA's website indicates that a particular location is not within a HUBZone and the applicant disagrees, then the applicant must note this on the application and submit relevant documents showing why the applicant believes the area meets the statutory criteria of a HUBZone. SBA will determine whether the location is within a HUBZone using available methods ( e.g., by contacting Bureau of Indian Affairs for Indian reservations or Department of Defense for BRACs).
§ 126.305   [Reserved]
§ 126.306   How will SBA process an application for HUBZone certification?
(a) The D/HUB or designee is authorized to approve or decline applications for HUBZone certification. SBA will receive and review all applications and request supporting documents. SBA must receive all required information, supporting documents, and a completed HUBZone representation before it will begin processing a concern's application. SBA will not process incomplete packages. SBA will make its determination within 60 calendar days after receipt of a complete package.
(b) The burden of proof to demonstrate eligibility is on the applicant concern. If a concern does not provide requested information within the allotted time provided by SBA, or if it submits incomplete information, SBA may draw an adverse inference and presume that the information that the applicant failed to provide would demonstrate ineligibility and deny certification on this basis.
(1) If a concern submits inconsistent information that results in SBA's inability to determine the concern's compliance with any of the HUBZone eligibility requirements, SBA will decline the concern's application.
(2) If, during the processing of an application, SBA determines that an applicant has knowingly submitted false information, regardless of whether correct information would cause SBA to deny the application, and regardless of whether correct information was given to SBA in accompanying documents, SBA will deny the application.
(c) SBA's decision will be based on the facts set forth in the application, any information received in response to SBA's request for clarification, any independent research conducted by SBA, and any changed circumstances.
(d) An applicant must be eligible as of the date SBA issues a decision.
(e) If SBA approves the application, it will send a written notice to the concern and designate the concern as a certified HUBZone small business concern in DSBS (or successor system) as described in § 126.307.
(f) If SBA denies the application, it will send a written notice to the concern and state the specific reasons for denial.
(g) SBA will presume that notice of its decision was provided to an applicant if SBA sends a communication to the concern at a mailing address, email address, or fax number provided in the concern's profile in the SAM (or successor system).
(h) SBA's decision to approve or deny an application is the final agency decision.
§ 126.307   Where is there a list of certified HUBZone small business concerns?
SBA designates concerns as certified HUBZone small business concerns in DSBS (or successor system).
§ 126.308   What happens if a HUBZone small business concern receives notice of its certification but it does not appear in DSBS as a certified HUBZone small business concern?
(a) A certified HUBZone small business concern that has received SBA's notice of certification, but does not appear in DSBS (or successor system) as a certified HUBZone small business concern within 10 business days, should immediately notify the D/HUB via email at hubzone@sba.gov.
(b) A certified HUBZone small business concern that has received SBA's notice of certification must appear as a certified HUBZone small business concern in DSBS (or successor system) in order to be eligible for HUBZone contracts ( i.e., it cannot “opt out” of a public display in the SAM ( SAM.gov ) or DSBS (or successor systems)).
§ 126.309   May a declined or decertified concern apply for certification at a later date?
(a) A concern that SBA has declined may apply for certification after ninety (90) calendar days from the date of decline if it believes that it has overcome all reasons for decline through changed circumstances and is currently eligible.
(b) A concern that SBA has decertified may apply for certification immediately after the date of decertification, if it believes that it has overcome all reasons for decertification through changed circumstances and is currently eligible.
(c) A concern that voluntarily withdraws from the HUBZone program may immediately re-apply for certification, if it believes that it is currently eligible.
§ 126.400   Who will conduct program examinations?
SBA field staff or others designated by the D/HUB will conduct program examinations.
§ 126.401   What is a program examination?
A program examination is an investigation by SBA officials, which verifies the accuracy of any certification made or information provided as part of the HUBZone application process, as part of the recertification process, or in connection with a HUBZone contract.
§ 126.402   When will SBA conduct program examinations?
(a) SBA may conduct a program examination at any time after the concern submits its application, during the processing of the application, and at any time while the concern is a certified HUBZone small business concern.
(b) SBA will conduct program examinations periodically as part of the recertification process set forth in § 126.500.
(c) Upon receipt of specific and credible information alleging that a certified HUBZone small business concern no longer meets the eligibility requirements for continued program eligibility, SBA will examine the concern's eligibility for continued participation in the program.
§ 126.403   What will SBA review during a program examination?
(a) SBA will determine the scope of a program examination and may review any information related to the concern's HUBZone eligibility including, but not limited to, documentation related to the concern's size, principal office, ownership, compliance with the 35% HUBZone residency requirement, and compliance with the “attempt to maintain” ( see § 126.103) requirement. A representative from SBA may visit one or more of a concern's offices as part of a program examination.
(b) SBA may require that a HUBZone small business concern submit additional information as part of the program examination. If SBA requests additional information, SBA will presume that written notice of the request was provided when SBA sends such request to the concern at an email address provided in the concern's profile in DSBS or SAM (or successor systems). The burden of proof to demonstrate eligibility is on the concern. If a concern does not provide requested information within the allotted time provided by SBA, or if it submits incomplete information, SBA may draw an adverse inference and presume that the information that the concern failed to provide would demonstrate ineligibility and decertify the concern (or deny certification) on this basis.
(c) The concern must retain documentation provided in the course of a program examination for 6 years from the date of submission.
§ 126.404   What are the possible outcomes of a program examination and when will SBA make its determination?
(a) Timing. SBA will make its determination within 90 calendar days after SBA receives all requested information, when practicable.
(b) If SBA determines that the concern is eligible, SBA will send a written notice to the HUBZone small business concern and continue to designate the concern as a certified HUBZone small business concern in DSBS (or successor system).
(c) If SBA determines that the concern is not eligible, the firm will be suspended from the HUBZone program. The concern will have 30 calendar days to submit sufficient documentation showing that it was in fact eligible on the date of review. During the suspension period, SBA will remove the firm as a certified HUBZone small business concern from DSBS. In addition, the concern may not compete for or be awarded a HUBZone contract during that suspension period and must provide written notice of the concern's ineligibility to the contracting officer for any pending HUBZone award. If such concern fails to submit documentation sufficient to demonstrate its eligibility, the concern will be decertified. If SBA overturns its determination, SBA will lift the suspension and reinstate the firm as an eligible certified HUBZone small business concern in DSBS.
§ 126.500   How does a concern maintain HUBZone certification?
(a) Recertification. (1) Any concern seeking to remain a certified HUBZone small business concern in DSBS (or successor system) must recertify to SBA that it continues to meet all HUBZone eligibility criteria ( see § 126.200) every three years. In order to recertify—
(i) A certified HUBZone small business concern that was not awarded a HUBZone contract during the 12-month period preceding its recertification must represent that, at the time of its recertification, at least 35% of its employees reside in HUBZones and the concern's principal office is located in a HUBZone.
(ii) A certified HUBZone small business concern that was awarded a HUBZone contract during the 12-month period preceding its recertification must represent that, at the time of its recertification, it is attempting to maintain compliance with the 35% HUBZone residency requirement and the concern's principal office is located in a HUBZone.
(2) The concern's recertification must be submitted in the 90 calendar days before the triennial anniversary of its HUBZone certification date.
(3) If a concern fails to recertify, SBA will decertify the concern at the end of its eligibility period. However, if a concern is able to recertify its eligibility within 30 days of the end of its eligibility period, SBA will reinstate the firm as a certified HUBZone small business concern.
(4) For a certified HUBZone small business concern that is also a certified WOSB or SDVOSB, the firm may have to recertify less than three years after its previous recertification in order to align certification date.
(b) Program examinations. SBA will conduct a program examination of each certified HUBZone small business concern at least once every three years to ensure continued program eligibility, but may conduct more frequent program examinations using a risk-based analysis to select which concerns are examined.
§ 126.501   What are a certified HUBZone small business concern's ongoing obligations to SBA?
A certified HUBZone small business concern that acquires, is acquired by, or merges with another business entity must provide evidence to SBA, within 30 calendar days of the transaction becoming final, that the concern continues to meet the HUBZone eligibility requirements. A concern that no longer meets the requirements may voluntarily withdraw from the program or it will be removed by SBA pursuant to program decertification procedures.
§ 126.502   Is there a limit to the length of time a concern may be a certified HUBZone small business concern?
There is no limit to the length of time a concern may remain designated as a certified HUBZone small business concern in DSBS (or successor system) so long as it continues to comply with the provisions of §§ 126.200, 126.500, and 126.501, and all other requirements described in this part.
§ 126.503   What happens if SBA is unable to verify a HUBZone small business concern's eligibility or determines that a concern is no longer eligible for the program?
(a) Proposed decertification —(1) Bases for proposed decertification. SBA may propose a certified HUBZone small business concern for decertification from the HUBZone program if:
(i) SBA has found the concern to be ineligible based on a program examination;
(ii) The concern failed to respond to a program examination;
(iii) SBA has information indicating that the concern is performing a HUBZone but is not attempting to maintain ( see § 126.103) compliance with the 35% HUBZone residency requirement; or
(iv) SBA is unable to verify the concern's eligibility or otherwise has information indicating that the concern may not meet the eligibility requirements of this part,
(2) Notice of proposed decertification. SBA will notify the HUBZone small business concern by email that SBA is proposing to decertify it and state the reason(s) for the proposed decertification. The notice of proposed decertification will notify the concern that it has 30 calendar days from the date SBA emails the letter to submit a written response to SBA explaining why the proposed ground(s) should not justify decertification. SBA will consider that written notice was provided if SBA sends the notice of proposed decertification to the concern at the email address provided in the concern's profile in DSBS (or successor system).
(3) Response to notice of proposed decertification. The HUBZone small business concern must submit a written response to the notice of proposed decertification within the timeframe specified in the notice. In this response, the concern must rebut each of the reasons set forth by SBA in the notice of proposed decertification, and where appropriate, the rebuttal must include documents showing that the concern is eligible for the HUBZone program as of the date specified in the notice.
(4) Adverse inference. If a HUBZone small business concern fails to cooperate with SBA or fails to provide the information requested, SBA may draw an adverse inference and assume that the information that the concern failed to provide would demonstrate ineligibility.
(5) SBA's decision. SBA will determine whether the HUBZone small business concern remains eligible for the program within 90 calendar days after receiving all requested information, when practicable. SBA will provide written notice to the concern stating the basis for the determination.
(i) If SBA finds that the concern is not eligible, SBA will decertify the concern and remove its designation as a certified HUBZone small business concern in DSBS (or successor system).
(ii) If SBA finds that the concern is eligible, the concern will continue to be designated as a certified HUBZone small business concern in DSBS (or successor system).
(b) Decertification pursuant to a protest. The procedures described in paragraph (a) of this section do not apply to HUBZone status protests. If the D/HUB sustains a protest pursuant to § 126.803, SBA will decertify the HUBZone small business concern immediately and change the concern's status in DSBS (or successor system) to reflect that it no longer qualifies as a certified HUBZone small business concern without first proposing it for decertification.
(c) Decertification based on false or misleading information. (1) If SBA discovers that a certified HUBZone small business concern or its representative submitted false or misleading information, SBA will propose the firm for decertification. In addition, SBA will refer the matter to the SBA Office of Inspector General for review and may recommend that Government-wide debarment or suspension proceedings be initiated.
(2) A firm that is decertified from the HUBZone program due to the submission of false or misleading information may be removed from SBA's other small business contracting programs, including the 8(a) Business Development Program, the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program, the Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) Program, and SBA's Mentor-Protégé Program.
(3) A firm that is decertified or terminated from the 8(a) BD Program, the WOSB Program, or the VetCert Program due to the submission of false or misleading information may be decertified from the HUBZone Program.
(4) SBA may require a firm that is decertified or terminated from the HUBZone Program, 8(a) BD Program, the WOSB Program, or the VetCert Program due to the submission of false or misleading information to enter into an administrative agreement with SBA as a condition of admission or re-admission to the HUBZone program.
(d) Decertification due to debarment. If a certified HUBZone small business concern is debarred from Federal contracting, SBA will decertify the HUBZone small business concern immediately and change the concern's status in DSBS (or successor system) to reflect that it no longer qualifies as a certified HUBZone small business concern, without first proposing it for decertification.
(e) Effect of decertification. Once SBA has decertified a concern, the concern is ineligible for the HUBZone program and may not submit an offer or quote for a HUBZone contract. If a concern does so, it may be in violation of criminal laws, including section 16(d) of the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 645(d). If the concern has already certified as a HUBZone small business on a pending procurement, the concern must immediately inform the contracting officer for the procuring agency of the adverse eligibility determination. A contracting officer shall not award a HUBZone contract to a concern that the D/HUB has determined is not an eligible HUBZone small business concern for the procurement in question.
§ 126.504   When will SBA remove the designation of a concern in DSBS (or successor system) as a certified HUBZone small business concern?
(a) SBA will remove the designation of a concern in DSBS (or successor system) as a certified HUBZone small business concern if the concern has:
(1) Been decertified as a result of a HUBZone status protest pursuant to § 126.803;
(2) Been decertified as a result of the procedures set forth in § 126.503;
(3) Been debarred pursuant to the procedures in FAR 9.4; or
(4) Voluntarily withdrawn from the HUBZone program.
(b) SBA will remove the designation of a concern in DSBS (or successor system) as a certified HUBZone small business concern as soon as the D/HUB issues a decision decertifying the concern from the program.
§ 126.600   What are HUBZone contracts?
HUBZone contracts are prime contracts awarded to a certified HUBZone small business concern (or a HUBZone joint venture that complies with the requirements of § 126.616), regardless of the place of performance, through any of the following procurement methods:
(a) Sole source awards awarded pursuant to § 126.612 to certified HUBZone small business concerns (or HUBZone joint ventures that comply with the requirements of § 126.616);
(b) Set-aside awards (including partial set-asides and set-aside multiple award contracts) based on competition restricted to certified HUBZone small business concerns;
(c) Awards through full and open competition after the HUBZone price evaluation preference is applied to an other than small business in favor of a certified HUBZone small business;
(d) Awards based on a reserve for certified HUBZone small business in an unrestricted solicitation;
(e) Orders awarded to certified HUBZone small business concerns under a multiple award contract that was set-aside for certified HUBZone small business concerns;
(f) Orders set-aside for certified HUBZone small business concerns under a multiple award contract that was awarded using full and open competitive procedures;
(g) Orders set-aside for certified HUBZone small business concerns under a multiple award contract that was awarded as a small business set-aside.
§ 126.601   What additional requirements must a certified HUBZone small business concern meet to submit an offer on a HUBZone contract?
(a) Only certified HUBZone small business concerns are eligible to submit offers for a HUBZone contract or to receive a price evaluation preference under § 126.613.
(1) An offeror for a HUBZone contract must be identified as a certified HUBZone small business concern in DSBS (or successor system) and meet the HUBZone requirements in § 126.200 as of the date it submits its initial offer that includes price.
(2) A certified HUBZone small business concern that was awarded a HUBZone contract during the 12-month period prior to submitting an offer relating to the award of another HUBZone contract may submit an offer and be eligible as a certified HUBZone small business concern as long as at least 20% of its total employees reside in a HUBZone and it is making substantive and documented efforts to meet the HUBZone residency requirement.
(3) For a multiple award contract, where concerns are not required to submit price as part of the offer for the contract, an offeror must be identified as a certified HUBZone small business concern in DSBS (or successor system) and meet the HUBZone requirements in § 126.200 as of the date it submits its initial offer, which may not include price.
(4) A HUBZone joint venture must have its joint venture agreement in place that complies with the requirements in § 126.616 as of its final offer.
(5) As long as a concern was a certified HUBZone small business and met the HUBZone requirements as of the date of its initial offer for a HUBZone contract, it may be awarded a HUBZone contract even if it no longer appears as a certified HUBZone small business concern on DSBS, or successor system, or no longer qualifies as an eligible HUBZone small business on the date of award.
(b) At the time a certified HUBZone small business concern submits its initial offer (including price) on a specific HUBZone contract, it must certify to the contracting officer that it:
(1) Is a certified HUBZone small business concern in DSBS (or successor system) and meets the HUBZone requirements in § 126.200, including having 35% of its employees residing in HUBZones and having its principal office located in a HUBZone;
(2) Is small, together with its affiliates, at the time of its offer under the size standard corresponding to the NAICS code assigned to the procurement;
(3) Will “attempt to maintain” having at least 35% of its employees residing in a HUBZone during the performance of the contract, as set forth in § 126.200(e); and
(4) Will comply with the applicable limitations on subcontracting during performance of the contract, as set forth in § 125.6 of this chapter and §§ 126.200(f) and 126.700.
(c) A certified HUBZone small business concern may submit an offer on a HUBZone contract for supplies as a nonmanufacturer if it meets the requirements of the nonmanufacturer rule set forth at § 121.406 of this chapter.
(d) Where a subcontractor that is not a certified HUBZone small business will perform the primary and vital requirements of a HUBZone contract, or where a HUBZone prime contractor is unduly reliant on one or more small businesses that are not HUBZone-certified to perform the HUBZone contract, the prime contractor is not eligible for award of that HUBZone contract.
(1) When the subcontractor qualifies as small for the size standard assigned to the procurement, this issue may be grounds for a HUBZone status protest, as described in § 126.801. When the subcontractor is alleged to be other than small for the size standard assigned to the procurement, this issue may be grounds for a size protest under the ostensible subcontractor rule, as described at § 121.103(h)(3) of this chapter.
(2) In the case of a contract or order for services, specialty trade construction or supplies, SBA will find that a prime HUBZone contractor is performing the primary and vital requirements of the contract or order, and is not unduly reliant on one or more subcontractors that are not HUBZone-certified, where the prime contractor can demonstrate that it, together with any subcontractors that are certified HUBZone small business concerns, will meet the limitations on subcontracting provisions set forth in § 125.6 of this chapter.
(3) In a general construction contract, the primary and vital requirements of the contract are the management, supervision and oversight of the project, including coordinating the work of various subcontractors, not the actual construction work performed.
(e) For two-step procurements to be awarded as HUBZone contracts ( e.g., architect-engineering and design-build procurements), a certified HUBZone small business concern must be eligible as of the date that it submits its initial bid or proposal (which may or may not include price) during phase one.
(f) In general, an offeror on a HUBZone contract is not required to be HUBZone-certified on the date the contract is awarded. However, for HUBZone sole source contracts, the concern must be a certified HUBZone small business concern and meet the requirements in § 126.200 at the time of award and must qualify as small as of that date under the size standard corresponding to the NAICS code assigned to the procurement.
§ 126.602   Must a certified HUBZone small business concern maintain the HUBZone employee residency percentage during contract performance?
(a) A certified HUBZone small business concern that has been awarded a HUBZone contract must “attempt to maintain” ( see § 126.103) having 35% of its employees residing in a HUBZone during the performance of any HUBZone contract. If a certified HUBZone small business concern is awarded a HUBZone contract within 12 months prior to the due date for its triennial recertification, then such concern must attempt to maintain compliance with the 35% HUBZone residency requirement at the time of such recertification. However, such a concern must have at least 35% of its employees residing in HUBZones at the time of each recertification thereafter, even if the concern is still performing that HUBZone contract.
(b) For orders under indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts (including orders under multiple award contracts), a certified HUBZone small business concern must “attempt to maintain” the HUBZone residency requirement during the performance of each order that is set aside for HUBZone small business concerns.
(c) A certified HUBZone small business concern that is tribally-owned, and made the certification in § 126.200(c)(2)(ii) at the time of its HUBZone certification (or at the time of its most recent recertification), must have at least 35% of its employees engaged in performing a HUBZone contract residing within any Indian reservation governed by one or more of the concern's Indian Tribal Government owners, or residing within any HUBZone adjoining any such Indian reservation.
(d) A certified HUBZone small business concern that has less than 20% of its total employees residing in a HUBZone during the performance of a HUBZone contract has failed to attempt to maintain the HUBZone residency requirement. Such failure will result in proposed decertification pursuant to § 126.503.
§ 126.603   Does HUBZone certification guarantee receipt of HUBZone contracts?
HUBZone certification does not guarantee that a certified HUBZone small business concern will receive HUBZone contracts. Certified HUBZone small business concerns should market their capabilities to appropriate contracting activities in order to increase the prospect that the contracting activity will adopt an acquisition strategy that includes HUBZone contract opportunities.
§ 126.604   Who decides if a contract opportunity for HUBZone set-aside competition exists?
The contracting officer for the contracting activity determines if a contract opportunity for HUBZone set-aside competition exists.
§ 126.605   What requirements are not available for HUBZone contracts?
A contracting activity shall not make a requirement available for a HUBZone contract if:
(a) The contracting activity otherwise would fulfill that requirement through award to Federal Prison Industries, Inc. under 18 U.S.C. 4124 or 4125, or to Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act participating non-profit agencies for the blind and severely disabled, under 41 U.S.C. 46 et seq., as amended; or
(b) An 8(a) participant currently is performing the requirement through the 8(a)BD program or SBA has accepted the requirement for award through the 8(a)BD program, unless SBA has consented to release the requirement from the 8(a)BD program.
§ 126.606   May a procuring activity request that SBA release a requirement from the 8(a) BD program for award as a HUBZone contract?
A procuring activity may request that SBA release an 8(a) requirement for award as a HUBZone contract under the procedures set forth in § 124.504(d).
§ 126.607   When may a contracting officer set aside a requirement for certified HUBZone small business concerns?
(a) The contracting officer first must review a requirement to determine whether it is excluded from HUBZone contracting pursuant to § 126.605.
(b) Contracting Among Small Business Programs —(1) Acquisitions Valued at or below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold. The contracting officer shall set aside any acquisition with an anticipated dollar value exceeding the Micro-purchase Threshold but not exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (defined in the FAR at 48 CFR 2.101) for small business concerns when there is a reasonable expectation that offers will be obtained from at least two small business concerns that are competitive in terms of quality and delivery and award will be made at fair market prices. This requirement does not preclude a contracting officer from making an award to a small business under the 8(a) BD, HUBZone, Veteran Small Business Certification or WOSB Programs.
(2) Acquisitions Valued Above the Simplified Acquisition Threshold. (i) The contracting officer shall set aside any acquisition with an anticipated dollar value exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (defined in the FAR at 48 CFR 2.101) for small business concerns when there is a reasonable expectation that offers will be obtained from at least two small business concerns that are competitive in terms of quality and delivery and award will be made at fair market prices. However, after conducting market research, the contracting officer shall first consider a set-aside or sole source award (if the sole source award is permitted by statute or regulation) under the 8(a) BD, HUBZone, Veteran Small Business Certification or WOSB programs before setting aside the requirement as a small business set-aside. There is no order of precedence among the 8(a) BD, HUBZone, Veteran Small Business Certification or WOSB programs. The contracting officer must document the contract file with the rationale used to support the specific set-aside, including the type and extent of market research conducted. In addition, the contracting officer must document the contract file showing that the apparent successful offeror's certifications in the System for Award Management (SAM) (or any successor system) and associated representations were reviewed.
(ii) SBA believes that Progress in fulfilling the various small business goals, as well as other factors such as the results of market research, programmatic needs specific to the procuring agency, anticipated award price, and the acquisition history, will be considered in making a decision as to which program to use for the acquisition.
(c) If the contracting officer decides to set aside the requirement for competition restricted to certified HUBZone small business concerns, the contracting officer must:
(1) Have a reasonable expectation after reviewing the list of certified HUBZone small business concerns contained in DSBS (or successor system) that at least two responsible certified HUBZone small business concerns will submit offers; and
(2) Determine that award can be made at fair market price.
§ 126.608   Are there HUBZone contract opportunities at or below the simplified acquisition threshold or micropurchase threshold?
A CO may make a requirement available as a HUBZone set-aside or sole source award if it is at or below the simplified acquisition threshold. In addition, a CO may award a requirement as a HUBZone contract to a certified HUBZone small business concern at or below the micropurchase threshold.
§ 126.609   Can a HUBZone competition be limited or authorize preferences to small business concerns having additional socioeconomic certifications?
A procuring activity cannot restrict a HUBZone competition (for either a contract or order) to require SBA socioeconomic certifications other than HUBZone certification ( i.e., a competition cannot be limited only to business concerns that are both HUBZone and 8(a), HUBZone and WOSB, or HUBZone and SDVO) or give evaluation preferences to firms having one or more other certifications.
§ 126.610   May SBA appeal a contracting officer's decision not to make a procurement available for award as a HUBZone contract?
(a) The Administrator may appeal a CO's decision not to make a particular requirement available for award as a HUBZone contract to the Secretary of the department or head of the agency.
(b) An appeal is initiated by SBA's Procurement Center Representative to the CO, and may be in response to information supplied by the D/HUB, his or her designee, or other interested parties.
§ 126.611   What is the process for an appeal of a contracting officer's decision not to issue a procurement as a HUBZone contract?
(a) Notice of appeal. When the contracting officer rejects a recommendation by SBA's Procurement Center Representative to make a requirement available for award as a HUBZone contract, he or she must notify the Procurement Center Representative as soon as practicable. If the Administrator intends to appeal the decision, SBA must notify the contracting officer no later than five business days after receiving notice of the contracting officer's decision.
(b) Suspension of action. Upon receipt of notice of SBA's intent to appeal, the contracting officer must suspend further action regarding the procurement until the head of the contracting activity issues a written decision on the appeal, unless the head of the contracting activity makes a written determination that urgent and compelling circumstances which significantly affect the interests of the United States compel award of the contract.
(c) Deadline for appeal. Within 15 business days of SBA's notification to the CO, SBA must file its formal appeal with the Secretary of the department or head of the agency, or the appeal will be deemed withdrawn.
(d) Decision. The contracting activity must specify in writing the reasons for a denial of an appeal brought under this section.
§ 126.612   When may a contracting officer award sole source contracts to HUBZone small business concerns?
(a) A contracting officer may award a sole source contract to a HUBZone small business concern only when the contracting officer determines that:
(1) None of the provisions of §§ 126.605 or 126.607 apply;
(2) The anticipated award price of the contract, including options, will not exceed: (i) $7,000,000 for a contract assigned a manufacturing NAICS code, or
(ii) $4,500,000 for all other contracts.
(3) Two or more HUBZone small business concerns are not likely to submit offers;
(4) A HUBZone small business concern is a responsible contractor able to perform the contract; and
(5) In the estimation of the contracting officer, contract award can be made at a fair and reasonable price.
(6) The intended awardee is a certified HUBZone small business concern at the time of its initial offer and continues to be eligible on the date of award.
(b) A contracting officer may rely on the firm's status as a certified HUBZone small business concern in awarding a sole source HUBZone contract. However, if there is a status protest relating to the apparent successful offeror, SBA will determine eligibility as of the intended date of award.
§ 126.613   How does a price evaluation preference affect the bid of a certified HUBZone small business concern in full and open competition?
(a) General. (1) Where a contracting officer will award a contract on the basis of full and open competition, the contracting officer must deem the price offered by a certified HUBZone small business concern to be lower than the price offered by an offeror that is not a small business concern if: the other than small business initially is the lowest responsive and responsible offeror, and the price offered by the certified HUBZone small business concern is not more than 10% higher than the price offered by the other than small business.
(2) The HUBZone price evaluation preference does not apply where the initial lowest responsive and responsible offeror is a small business concern.
(3) The HUBZone price evaluation preference does not apply to the portion of a multiple award contract that is reserved for certified HUBZone small business concerns. However, the HUBZone price evaluation preference does apply to the non-reserved portion of a multiple award contract.
(4) To apply the HUBZone price evaluation preference, the contracting officer must add 10% to the offer of the otherwise successful other than small business offeror. If the certified HUBZone small business concern's offer is lower than that of the other than small business after the preference is applied, the certified HUBZone small business concern must be deemed the lowest-priced offeror. For a best value procurement, the contracting officer must first apply the 10% price preference to the offers of any other than small businesses and then determine which offeror represents the best value to the Government, in accordance with the terms of the solicitation. Where, after considering the price evaluation adjustment, the offer of a certified HUBZone small business concern is determined to be the best value to the Government, award shall be made to the certified HUBZone small business concern.
(b) Agricultural commodities. (1) For purchases by the Secretary of Agriculture of agricultural commodities, the price evaluation preferences shall be:
(i) 10%, for the portion of a contract to be awarded that is not greater than 25% of the total volume being procured for each commodity in a single invitation for bids (IFB);
(ii) 5%, for the portion of a contract to be awarded that is greater than 25%, but not greater than 40%, of the total volume being procured for each commodity in a single IFB; and
(iii) Zero, for the portion of a contract to be awarded that is greater than 40% of the total volume being procured for each commodity in a single IFB.
(2) The 10% and 5% price evaluation preferences for agricultural commodities apply to all offers from certified HUBZone small business concerns up to the 25% and 40% volume limits specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section. As such, more than one certified HUBZone small business concern may receive a price evaluation preference for any given commodity in a single IFB.
(i) Example :
There is an IFB for 100,000 pounds of wheat. Bid 1 (from a large business) is $1/pound for 100,000 pounds of wheat. Bid 2 (from a HUBZone small business concern) is $1.05/pound for 20,000 pounds of wheat. Bid 3 (from a HUBZone small business concern) is $1.04/pound for 20,000 pounds. Bid 3 receives a 10% price evaluation adjustment for 20,000 pounds, since 20,000 is less than 25% of 100,000 pounds. With the 10% price evaluation adjustment, Bid 1 changes from $20,000 for the first 20,000 pounds to $22,000. Bid 3's price of $20,800 ($1.04 × 20,000) is now lower than any other bid for 20,000 pounds. Thus, Bid 3 will be accepted for the full 20,000 pounds. Bid 2 receives a 10% price evaluation adjustment for that amount of its bid when added to the volume in Bid 3 that does not exceed 25% of the total volume being procured. Since 25,000 pounds is 25% of the total volume of wheat under the IFB, and Bid 3 totaled 20,000 pounds, a 10% price evaluation adjustment will be applied to the first 5,000 pounds of Bid 2. With the price evaluation adjustment, the price for Bid 1, as measured against Bid 2, for 5,000 pounds changes from $5,000 to $5,500. Bid 2's price of $5,250 ($1.05 × 5,000) is lower than Bid 1 for 5,000 pounds. Bid 2 will then receive a 5% price evaluation adjustment for the remaining 15,000 pounds, since the total volume of Bids 3 and 2 receiving an adjustment does not exceed 40% of the total volume of wheat under the IFB ( i.e. , 40,000 pounds). With the 5% price evaluation adjustment, Bid 1's price for the next 15,000 pounds changes from $15,000 to $15,750. Bid 2's price for that 15,000 pounds is also $15, 750 ($1.05 × 15,000). Because the evaluation price for Bid 2 is not more than 10% higher than the price offered by Bid 1, Bid 2's price is deemed to be lower than the price offered by Bid 1. Since the evaluation price for both the first 5,000 pounds (receiving a 10% price evaluation adjustment) and the remaining 15,000 pounds (receiving a 5% price evaluation adjustment) is less than Bid 1, Bid 2 will be accepted for the full 20,000 pounds.
(ii) [Reserved]
(c) International food aid operations. For purchases by the Secretary of Agriculture of agricultural commodities for export operations through international food aid programs administered by the Farm Service Agency, the price evaluation preference shall be 5% on the first portion of a contract to be awarded that is not greater than 20% of the total volume being procured for each commodity in a single IFB.
(d) Not treated as partial set-aside. A contract awarded to a certified HUBZone small business concern under a preference described in paragraph (b) of this section shall not be counted toward the fulfillment of any requirement partially set aside for competition restricted to small business concerns.
(e) Applicability to HUBZone joint ventures. The HUBZone price evaluation preference applies only to a joint venture consisting of a certified HUBZone small business concern and a small business concern that complies with the requirements of § 125.9. The HUBZone price evaluation preference does not apply to a joint venture consisting of a certified HUBZone small business concern and its other than small mentor.
§ 126.614   [Reserved]
§ 126.615   May an other than small business participate on a HUBZone contract?
Except as provided in §§ 125.9 and 126.618, an other than small business may not participate as a prime contractor on a HUBZone award but may participate as a subcontractor to a certified HUBZone small business concern, subject to the limitations on subcontracting set forth in § 125.6.
§ 126.616   What requirements must a joint venture satisfy to submit an offer and be eligible to perform on a HUBZone contract?
(a) General. A certified HUBZone small business concern may enter into a joint venture agreement with one or more other small business concerns, or with an SBA-approved mentor authorized by § 125.9 of this chapter, for the purpose of submitting an offer for a HUBZone contract.
(1) SBA does not certify HUBZone joint ventures, but the joint venture should be designated as a HUBZone joint venture in SAM (or successor system) with the HUBZone-certified joint venture partner identified.
(2) A certified HUBZone small business concern cannot be a joint venture partner on more than one joint venture that submits an offer for a specific contract or order set-aside or reserved for certified HUBZone small business concerns.
(b) Size. (1) A joint venture of at least one certified HUBZone small business concern and one or more other business concerns may submit an offer as a small business for a HUBZone procurement or sale so long as each concern is small under the size standard corresponding to the NAICS code assigned to the procurement or sale.
(2) A joint venture between a protégé firm and its SBA-approved mentor ( see § 125.9 of this chapter) will be deemed small provided the protégé qualifies as small for the size standard corresponding to the NAICS code assigned to the HUBZone procurement or sale.
(c) Contents of joint venture agreement. Every joint venture agreement to perform a HUBZone contract, including those between a protégé firm that is a certified HUBZone small business concern and its SBA-approved mentor authorized by § 124.520 or § 125.9 of this chapter, must contain a provision:
(1) Setting forth the purpose of the joint venture;
(2) Designating a certified HUBZone small business concern as the managing venturer of the joint venture, and designating a named employee of the certified HUBZone small business managing venturer as the manager with ultimate responsibility for performance of the contract (the “Responsible Manager”).
(i) The managing venturer is responsible for controlling the day-to-day management and administration of the contractual performance of the joint venture, but other partners to the joint venture may participate in all corporate governance activities and decisions of the joint venture as is commercially customary.
(ii) The individual identified as the Responsible Manager of the joint venture need not be an employee of the certified HUBZone small business concern at the time the joint venture submits an offer, but, if he or she is not, there must be a signed letter of intent that the individual commits to be employed by the certified HUBZone small business concern if the joint venture is the successful offeror. The individual identified as the Responsible Manager cannot be employed by the mentor and become an employee of the certified HUBZone small business concern for purposes of performance under the joint venture.
(iii) Although the joint venture managers responsible for orders issued under an IDIQ contract need not be employees of the protégé, those managers must report to and be supervised by the joint venture's Responsible Manager.
(3) Stating that with respect to a separate legal entity joint venture, the certified HUBZone small business concern must own at least 51% of the joint venture entity;
(4) Stating that the certified HUBZone small business concern must receive profits from the joint venture commensurate with the work performed by the certified HUBZone small business concern, or a percentage agreed to by the parties to the joint venture whereby the certified HUBZone small business concern receives profits from the joint venture that exceed the percentage commensurate with the work performed by the certified HUBZone small business concern;
(5) Providing for the establishment and administration of a special bank account in the name of the joint venture. This account must require the signature or consent of all parties to the joint venture for any payments made by the joint venture to its members for services performed. All payments due the joint venture for performance on a HUBZone contract will be deposited in the special account; all expenses incurred under the contract will be paid from the account as well;
(6) Itemizing all major equipment, facilities, and other resources to be furnished by each party to the joint venture, with a detailed schedule of cost or value of each, where practical. If a contract is indefinite in nature, such as an indefinite quantity contract or a multiple award contract where the level of effort or scope of work is not known, the joint venture must provide a general description of the anticipated major equipment, facilities, and other resources to be furnished by each party to the joint venture, without a detailed schedule of cost or value of each, or in the alternative, specify how the parties to the joint venture will furnish such resources to the joint venture once a definite scope of work is made publicly available;
(7) Specifying the responsibilities of the parties with regard to negotiation of the contract, source of labor, and contract performance, including ways that the parties to the joint venture will ensure that the joint venture and the HUBZone partner(s) to the joint venture will meet the limitations on subcontracting requirements set forth in paragraph (d) of this section, where practical. If a contract is indefinite in nature, such as an indefinite quantity contract or a multiple award contract where the level of effort or scope of work is not known, the joint venture must provide a general description of the anticipated responsibilities of the parties with regard to negotiation of the contract, source of labor, and contract performance, not including the ways that the parties to the joint venture will ensure that the joint venture and the HUBZone partner(s) to the joint venture will meet the limitations on subcontracting requirements set forth in paragraph (d) of this section, or in the alternative, specify how the parties to the joint venture will define such responsibilities once a definite scope of work is made publicly available;
(8) Obligating all parties to the joint venture to ensure performance of the HUBZone contract and to complete performance despite the withdrawal of any member;
(9) Designating that accounting and other administrative records relating to the joint venture be kept in the office of the certified HUBZone small business concern managing venturer, unless approval to keep them elsewhere is granted by the District Director or his/her designee upon written request;
(10) Requiring that the final original records be retained by the certified HUBZone small business concern managing venturer upon completion of the HUBZone contract performed by the joint venture;
(11) Stating that quarterly financial statements showing cumulative contract receipts and expenditures (including salaries of the joint venture's principals) must be submitted to SBA not later than 45 days after each operating quarter of the joint venture; and
(12) Stating that a project-end profit and loss statement, including a statement of final profit distribution, must be submitted to SBA no later than 90 days after completion of the contract.
(d) Limitations on subcontracting. (1) For any HUBZone contract to be performed by a joint venture between a certified HUBZone small business concern and another certified HUBZone small business concern, the aggregate of the certified HUBZone small business concerns to the joint venture, not each concern separately, must perform the applicable percentage of work required by § 125.6 of this chapter.
(2) For any HUBZone contract to be performed by a joint venture between a certified HUBZone small business concern and a small business concern or its SBA-approved mentor authorized by § 125.9 or § 124.520 of this chapter, the joint venture must perform the applicable percentage of work required by § 125.6 of this chapter, and the certified HUBZone small business concern partner to the joint venture must perform at least 40% of the work performed by the joint venture.
(i) The work performed by the certified HUBZone small business concern partner to a joint venture must be more than administrative or ministerial functions so that it gains substantive experience.
(ii) The amount of work done by the partners will be aggregated and the work done by the certified HUBZone small business concern partner must be at least 40% of the total done by the partners. In determining the amount of work done by a mentor participating in a joint venture with a HUBZone qualified protégé, all work done by the mentor and any of its affiliates at any subcontracting tier will be counted.
(e) Certification of compliance —(1) At time of offer. If submitting an offer as a joint venture for a HUBZone contract, at the time of initial offer (and if applicable, final offer), each certified HUBZone small business concern joint venture partner must make the following certifications to the contracting officer separately under its own name:
(i) It is a certified HUBZone small business concern that appears in DSBS (or successor system) as a certified HUBZone small business concern and it meets the eligibility requirements in § 126.200;
(ii) It, together with its affiliates, is small under the size standard corresponding to the NAICS code assigned to the procurement;
(iii) It will “attempt to maintain” having at least 35% of its employees residing in a HUBZone during performance of the contract; and
(iv) It will comply with the applicable limitations on subcontracting during performance of the contract, as set forth in § 125.6 of this chapter and §§ 126.200(f) and 126.700.
(2) Prior to performance. Prior to the performance of any HUBZone contract as a joint venture, the HUBZone small business concern partner to the joint venture must submit a written certification to the contracting officer and SBA, signed by an authorized official of each partner to the joint venture, stating the following:
(i) The parties have entered into a joint venture agreement that fully complies with paragraph (c) of this section; and
(ii) The parties will perform the contract in compliance with the joint venture agreement.
(f) Capabilities, past performance, and experience. When evaluating the capabilities, past performance, experience, business systems, and certifications of an entity submitting an offer for a HUBZone contract as a joint venture established pursuant to this section, a procuring activity must consider work done and qualifications held individually by each partner to the joint venture as well as any work done by the joint venture itself previously. A procuring activity may not require the HUBZone small business concern to individually meet the same evaluation or responsibility criteria as that required of other offerors generally. The partners to the joint venture in the aggregate must demonstrate the past performance, experience, business systems, and certifications necessary to perform the contract.
(g) Contract execution. The procuring activity will execute a HUBZone contract in the name of the joint venture entity or the certified HUBZone small business concern, but in either case will identify the award as one to a HUBZone joint venture or a HUBZone mentor-protégé joint venture, as appropriate.
(h) Inspection of records. The joint venture partners must allow SBA's authorized representatives, including representatives authorized by the SBA Inspector General, during normal business hours, access to its files to inspect and copy all records and documents relating to the joint venture.
(i) Limitations on subcontracting reports. The certified HUBZone small business concern partner to a joint venture must describe how it is meeting or has met the applicable limitations on subcontracting requirements for each HUBZone contract it performs as a joint venture.
(1) The certified HUBZone small business concern partner to the joint venture must annually submit a report to the relevant contracting officer and to the SBA, signed by an authorized official of each partner to the joint venture, explaining how the limitations on subcontracting requirements are being met for each HUBZone contract performed during the year.
(2) At the completion of every HUBZone contract awarded to a joint venture, the certified HUBZone small business concern partner to the joint venture must submit a report to the relevant contracting officer and to the SBA, signed by an authorized official of each partner to the joint venture, explaining how and certifying that the limitations on subcontracting requirements were met for the contract, and further certifying that the contract was performed in accordance with the provisions of the joint venture agreement that are required under paragraph (c) of this section.
(j) Basis for suspension or debarment. The Government may consider the following as a ground for suspension or debarment as a willful violation of a regulatory provision or requirement applicable to a public agreement or transaction:
(1) Failure to enter a joint venture agreement that complies with paragraph (c) of this section;
(2) Failure to perform a contract in accordance with the joint venture agreement or limitations on subcontracting requirements in paragraph (d) of this section; or
(3) Failure to submit the certification required by paragraph (e) of this section or comply with paragraph (h) of this section.
(k) Any person with information concerning a joint venture's compliance with the limitations on subcontracting requirements may report that information to SBA and/or the SBA Office of Inspector General.
(l) Non-HUBZone contracts. On a non-HUBZone contract, for an award to a joint venture to be considered awarded to a certified HUBZone small business concern ( i.e., for a procuring agency to receive HUBZone credit for goaling purposes), the joint venture awardee must comply with the requirements of this section and § 125.8.
§ 126.617   Who decides contract disputes arising between a certified HUBZone small business concern and a contracting activity after the award of a HUBZone contract?
For purposes of the Disputes Clause of a specific HUBZone contract, the contracting activity will decide disputes arising between a certified HUBZone small business concern and the contracting activity.
§ 126.618   How does a certified HUBZone small business concern's participation in a Mentor-Protégé relationship affect its participation in the HUBZone Program?
(a) A certified HUBZone small business concern may enter into a mentor-protégé relationship under § 125.9 of this chapter or in connection with a mentor-protégé program of another agency, provided that such relationships do not conflict with the HUBZone requirements described in § 126.200.
(b) For purposes of determining whether an applicant to the HUBZone Program or a certified HUBZone small business concern qualifies as small under part 121 of this chapter, SBA will not find affiliation between the applicant or certified HUBZone small business concern and the firm that is its mentor in an SBA-approved mentor-protégé relationship (including a mentor that is other than small) on the basis of the mentor-protégé agreement or the assistance provided to the protégé firm under the agreement. SBA will not consider the employees of the mentor in determining whether the applicant or certified HUBZone small business concern meets (or continues to meet) the 35% HUBZone residency requirement or the principal office requirement, or in determining the size of the applicant or certified HUBZone small business concern for any employee-based size standard.
(c) A certified HUBZone small business concern that is a prime contractor on a HUBZone contract may subcontract work to its mentor.
(1) The certified HUBZone small business concern must meet the applicable limitations on subcontracting requirements set forth in § 125.6(c) of this chapter.
(2) SBA may find affiliation between a prime HUBZone contractor and its mentor subcontractor where the mentor will perform primary and vital requirements of the contract. See § 121.103(h)(3) of this chapter.
§ 126.619   When must a certified HUBZone small business concern recertify its status for a HUBZone contract?
A prime contractor that receives an award as a certified HUBZone small business concern must comply with the recertification requirements set forth in § 125.12 of this chapter regarding its status as a certified HUBZone small business.
§ 126.700   What are the limitations on subcontracting requirements for HUBZone contracts?
(a) Other than Multiple Award Contracts. For other than a Multiple Award Contract, a prime contractor receiving an award as a certified HUBZone small business concern must meet the limitations on subcontracting requirements set forth in § 125.6 of this chapter.
(b) Multiple Award Contracts —(1) Total Set-Aside Contracts. For a Multiple Award Contract that is totally set aside for certified HUBZone small business concerns, a certified HUBZone small business concern must comply with the applicable limitations on subcontracting ( see § 125.6), or if applicable, the nonmanufacturer rule ( see § 121.406 of this chapter), during the base term and during each subsequent option period. However, the contracting officer, at his or her discretion, may also require the concern to comply with the limitations on subcontracting or the nonmanufacturer rule for each individual order awarded under the Multiple Award Contract.
(2) Partial Set-Aside Contracts. For Multiple Award Contracts that are partially set aside for certified HUBZone small business concerns, paragraph (b)(1) of this section applies to the set-aside portion of the contract. For orders awarded under the non-set-aside portion of a Multiple Award Contract, a certified HUBZone small business concern need not comply with any limitations on subcontracting or nonmanufacturer rule requirements.
(3) Orders Set Aside for certified HUBZone small business concerns. For each individual order that is set aside for certified HUBZone small business concerns under a Multiple Award Contract that is not itself set aside for certified HUBZone small business concerns, a certified HUBZone small business concern must comply with the applicable limitations on subcontracting ( see § 125.6 of this chapter), or if applicable, the nonmanufacturer rule ( see § 121.406 of this chapter), in the performance of such order.
(4) Reserves. For an order that is set aside for certified HUBZone small business concerns against a Multiple Award Contract with a HUBZone reserve, a certified HUBZone small business concern must comply with the applicable limitations on subcontracting ( see § 125.6 of this chapter), or if applicable, the nonmanufacturer rule ( see § 121.406 of this chapter), in the performance of such order. However, the certified HUBZone small business concern does not have to comply with the limitations on subcontracting or the nonmanufacturer rule for any order issued against the Multiple Award Contract if the order is competed amongst certified HUBZone small business concerns and one or more other-than-small business concerns.
§ 126.701   Can the limitations on subcontracting requirements change?
Yes. The Administrator may change the limitations on subcontracting requirements if the Administrator determines that such action is necessary to reflect conventional industry practices.
§ 126.702   How can the subcontracting percentage requirements be changed?
SBA may change the required subcontracting percentage for a specific industry if the Administrator determines that such action is necessary to reflect conventional industry practices among SBCs that are below the numerical size standard for businesses in that industry group. The procedures for requesting changes in subcontracting percentages are set forth in § 125.6 of this chapter.
§ 126.800   Who may protest the status of a certified HUBZone small business concern?
(a) For a HUBZone sole source procurement, SBA or the contracting officer may protest the intended awardee's status as a certified HUBZone small business concern.
(b) For HUBZone contracts other than sole source procurements, including multiple award contracts ( see § 125.1 of this chapter), SBA, the contracting officer, or any other interested party may protest the apparent successful offeror's status as a certified HUBZone small business concern (or the HUBZone joint venture offeror's compliance with § 126.616).
(c) For other than HUBZone contracts, any offeror for that contract, the contracting officer or SBA may protest an apparent successful offeror's status as a certified HUBZone small business concern.
§ 126.801   How does an interested party file a HUBZone status protest?
(a) General. (1) A HUBZone status protest is the process by which an interested party may challenge the HUBZone status of an apparent successful offeror on a HUBZone contract, including a HUBZone joint venture submitting an offer under § 126.616. SBA will also consider a protest challenging whether a HUBZone prime contractor is unduly reliant on a small, non-similarly situated entity subcontractor or if such subcontractor performs the primary and vital requirements of the contract.
(2) The protest procedures described in this part are separate from those governing size protests and appeals. All protests relating to whether a certified HUBZone small business concern is other than small for purposes of any Federal program are subject to part 121 of this chapter and must be filed in accordance with that part. If a protester protests both the size of the HUBZone small business concern and whether the concern meets the HUBZone eligibility requirements set forth in § 126.200, SBA will process the protests concurrently, under the procedures set forth in part 121 of this chapter and this part.
(3) SBA does not review issues concerning the administration of a HUBZone contract.
(b) Format and specificity. (1) Protests must be in writing and must state all specific grounds as to why the protestor believes the protested concern did not qualify as a certified HUBZone small business concern. Specifically, a protestor must explain why:
(i) The protested concern did not meet the HUBZone eligibility requirements set forth in § 126.200;
(ii) The protested joint venture does not meet the requirements set forth in § 126.616;
(iii) The protested concern, as a HUBZone prime contractor, is unduly reliant on one or more small subcontractors that are not HUBZone-certified, or subcontractors that are not HUBZone-certified will perform the primary and vital requirements of the contract; and/or
(iv) The protested concern that was awarded a HUBZone contract during the 12-month period prior to submitting the offer at issue has less than 20% of its total employees that reside in a HUBZone and/or is not making substantive and documented efforts to meet the HUBZone residency requirement.
(2) Specificity requires more than conclusions of ineligibility. A protest merely asserting that the protested concern did not qualify as a HUBZone small business concern, or that it did not meet the principal office and/or 35% residency requirements, without setting forth specific facts or allegations, is insufficient and will be dismissed.
(3) For a protest filed against a HUBZone joint venture, the protest must state all specific grounds as to why:
(i) The HUBZone small business partner to the joint venture did not meet the HUBZone eligibility requirements set forth in § 126.200 at the time of offer; and/or
(ii) The protested HUBZone joint venture does not meet the requirements set forth in § 126.616 as of the date of its final proposal revision.
(4) For a protest alleging that the prime contractor has an ostensible subcontractor, the protest must state all specific grounds as to why:
(i) The protested concern is unduly reliant on one or more small subcontractors that are not HUBZone-certified, or
(ii) One or more subcontractors that are not HUBZone-certified will perform the primary and vital requirements of the contract.
(5) For a protest alleging that the protested concern failed to attempt to maintain compliance with the 35% HUBZone residency requirement during the performance of a HUBZone contract, the protest must state all specific grounds explaining why the protester believes that at least 20% of the protested firm's employees do not reside in a HUBZone and/or that the protested firm has not made any substantive and documented efforts to meet the HUBZone residency requirement.
(c) Filing. (1) An interested party other than a contracting officer or SBA must submit its written protest to the contracting officer.
(2) A contracting officer must submit his/her protest and forward an interested party's protest to SBA at hzprotests@sba.gov .
(d) Timeliness. A protest by an interested party challenging the HUBZone status of an apparent successful offeror on a HUBZone contract must be timely, or it will be dismissed. A protest by a contracting officer or SBA challenging the HUBZone status of an apparent successful offeror on a HUBZone contract or of an awardee on a HUBZone contract is always timely.
(1) For negotiated acquisitions, an interested party must submit its protest by close of business on the fifth business day after notification by the contracting officer of the apparent successful offeror.
(i) Except for an order or Blanket Purchase Agreement issued under a Federal Supply Schedule contract, for an order or Agreement that is set-aside for certified HUBZone small business concerns under a multiple award contract that was not itself set aside or reserved for certified HUBZone small business concerns, an interested party must submit its protest by close of business on the fifth business day after notification by the contracting officer of the intended awardee of the order or Agreement.
(ii) Where a contracting officer has required offerors for a specific order under a multiple award HUBZone contract to recertify their HUBZone status, an interested party must submit its protest by close of business on the fifth business day after notification by the contracting officer of the intended awardee of the order.
(2) For sealed bid acquisitions:
(i) An interested party must submit its protest by close of business on the fifth business day after bid opening, or where the identified low bidder is determined to be ineligible for award, by close of business on the fifth business day after the contracting officer has notified interested parties of the identity of that low bidder, or
(ii) If the price evaluation preference was not applied at the time of bid opening, an interested party must submit its protest by close of business on the fifth business day after the date of identification of the apparent successful low bidder.
(3) Any protest submitted after the time limits is untimely, unless it is from SBA or the CO.
(4) Any protest received prior to bid opening or notification of intended award, whichever applies, is premature.
(e) Referral to SBA. The contracting officer must forward to SBA any non-premature HUBZone status protest received, notwithstanding whether he or she believes it is sufficiently specific or timely. The contracting officer must send the protest, along with a referral letter, to the D/HUB by email to hzprotests@sba.gov.
(1) The contracting officer's referral letter must include information pertaining to the solicitation that may be necessary for SBA to determine timeliness and standing, including the following:
(i) The solicitation number;
(ii) The name, address, telephone number, email address, and facsimile number of the contracting officer;
(iii) The type of HUBZone contract at issue ( i.e., HUBZone set-aside; HUBZone sole source; full and open competition with a HUBZone price evaluation preference applied; reserve for HUBZone small business concerns under a Multiple Award Contract; or order set-aside for HUBZone small business concerns against a Multiple Award Contract);
(iv) If the procurement was conducted using full and open competition with a HUBZone price evaluation preference, whether the protester's opportunity for award was affected by the preference;
(v) If the procurement was a HUBZone set-aside, whether the protester submitted an offer;
(vi) Whether the protested concern was the apparent successful offeror;
(vii) Whether the procurement was conducted using sealed bid or negotiated procedures;
(viii) If the procurement was conducted using sealed bid procedures, the bid opening date;
(ix) The date the protester was notified of the apparent successful offeror;
(x) The date the protest was submitted to the contracting officer;
(xi) The date the protested concern submitted its initial offer or bid to the contracting activity; and
(xii) Whether a contract has been awarded, and if applicable, the date of contract award and contract number.
(2) Where a protestor alleges that a certified HUBZone small business concern is unduly reliant on one or more subcontractors that are not certified HUBZone small business concerns or a subcontractor that is not a certified HUBZone small business concern will perform primary and vital requirements of the contract, the D/HUB will refer the matter to the Government Contracting Area Office serving the geographic area in which the principal office of the certified HUBZone small business concern is located for a determination as to whether the ostensible subcontractor rule has been met.
§ 126.802   Who decides a HUBZone status protest?
The D/HUB or designee will determine whether the concern qualifies as a certified HUBZone small business concern.
§ 126.803   How will SBA process a HUBZone status protest and what are the possible outcomes?
(a) Date at which eligibility determined. (1) For competitively awarded HUBZone contracts, SBA will determine the eligibility of a concern subject to a HUBZone status protest as of the date of its initial offer that includes price.
(2) For sole source HUBZone contracts, SBA will determine the eligibility of a concern subject to a HUBZone status protest as of the date of the award or intended award.
(3) For protests filed against a HUBZone joint venture alleging that the joint venture does not comply with the requirements in § 126.616, SBA will determine the eligibility of the joint venture as of its final proposal revision for the procurement.
(4) For protests alleging undue reliance on one or more non-HUBZone subcontractors or alleging that such subcontractor(s) will perform the primary and vital requirements of the contract, SBA will determine the HUBZone small business concern's eligibility as of the date of its final proposal revision for the procurement.
(5) For two-step or two-phase procurements, SBA will determine the HUBZone small business concern's eligibility as of the date that it submits its initial bid or proposal (which may or may not include price) during phase one.
(b) Notice of receipt of protest. (1) SBA immediately will notify the contracting officer and the protestor of the date SBA receives a protest and whether SBA will process the protest or dismiss it in accordance with § 126.804.
(2) If SBA determines the protest is timely and sufficiently specific, SBA will notify the protested concern of the protest and the identity of the protestor. The protested concern must submit information responsive to the protest within 5 business days of the date of receipt of the protest.
(c) Burden of proof. In the event of a protest, the burden of proof to demonstrate eligibility is on the protested concern. If a concern does not provide requested information within the allotted time provided by SBA, or if it submits incomplete information, SBA may draw an adverse inference and presume that the information that the concern failed to provide would demonstrate ineligibility and sustain the protest on that basis.
(d) Time period for determination. (1) SBA will determine the HUBZone status of the protested concern within 15 business days after receipt of a complete protest referral.
(2) If SBA does not issue its determination within 15 business days (or request an extension that is granted), the contracting officer may award the contract if he or she determines in writing that there is an immediate need to award the contract and that waiting until SBA makes its determination will be disadvantageous to the Government. Notwithstanding such a determination, the provisions of paragraph (e) of this section apply to the procurement in question.
(e) Notice of determination. SBA will notify the contracting officer, the protestor, and the protested concern of its determination.
(f) Effect of determination. The determination is effective immediately and is final, unless overturned on appeal by SBA's Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) pursuant to part 134 of this chapter.
(1) Protest sustained. If the D/HUB finds the protested concern ineligible and sustains the protest, SBA will decertify the concern and remove its designation as a certified HUBZone small business concern in DSBS (or successor system). A contracting officer shall not award a contract to a protested concern that the D/HUB has determined is not an eligible HUBZone small business concern for the procurement in question.
(i) No appeal filed. If a contracting officer receives a determination sustaining a protest after contract award, and no appeal has been filed, the contracting officer shall terminate the award.
(ii) Appeal filed. (A) If a timely appeal is filed after contract award, the contracting officer must consider whether performance can be suspended until an appellate decision is rendered.
(B) If OHA affirms the initial determination finding the protested concern ineligible, the contracting officer shall either terminate the contract or not exercise the next option.
(iii) Update FPDS-NG. Where the contract was awarded to a concern that is found not to qualify as a HUBZone small business concern, the contracting officer must update the Federal Procurement Data System-Next Generation (FPDS-NG) and other procurement reporting databases to reflect the final agency HUBZone decision ( i.e., the D/HUB's decision if the protest determination is not appealed, or OHA's decision if the protest determination is appealed).
(2) Protest dismissed or denied. If the D/HUB denies or dismisses the protest, the contracting officer may award the contract to the protested concern.
(i) No appeal filed. If a contracting officer receives a determination dismissing or denying a protest and no appeal has been filed, the contracting officer may:
(A) Award the contract to the protested concern if it has not yet been awarded; or
(B) Authorize contract performance to proceed if the contract has been awarded.
(ii) Appeal filed. If OHA overturns the initial determination or dismissal, the contracting officer may apply the appeal decision to the procurement in question.
(3) A concern found to be ineligible may apply for HUBZone certification immediately after its decline if it believes that it has overcome all reasons for ineligibility through changed circumstances and is currently eligible.
§ 126.804   Will SBA decide all HUBZone status protests?
SBA will decide all protests not dismissed on the basis that they are premature, untimely, non-specific, moot, or not filed by an interested party.
§ 126.805   What are the procedures for appeals of HUBZone status protest determinations?
The protested concern, the protester, or the contracting officer may file an appeal of a HUBZone status protest determination with SBA's Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) in accordance with part 134 of this chapter.
§ 126.900   What are the requirements for representing HUBZone status, and what are the penalties for misrepresentation?
(a) Presumption of Loss Based on the Total Amount Expended. In every contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement, cooperative research and development agreement, or grant which is set aside, reserved, or otherwise classified as intended for award to HUBZone small business concerns, there shall be a presumption of loss to the United States based on the total amount expended on the contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement, cooperative research and development agreement, or grant whenever it is established that a business concern other than a HUBZone small business concern willfully sought and received the award by misrepresentation.
(b) Deemed Certifications. The following actions shall be deemed affirmative, willful and intentional certifications of HUBZone  status:
(1) Submission of a bid, proposal, application or offer for a Federal grant, contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement, or cooperative research and development agreement reserved, set aside, or otherwise classified as intended for award to HUBZone small business concerns.
(2) Submission of a bid, proposal, application or offer for a Federal grant, contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement or cooperative research and development agreement which in any way encourages a Federal agency to classify the bid or proposal, if awarded, as an award to a HUBZone small business concern.
(3) Registration on any Federal electronic database for the purpose of being considered for award of a Federal grant, contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement, or cooperative research and development agreement, as a HUBZone small business concern.
(c) Signature Requirement. Each offer, proposal, bid, or application for a Federal contract, subcontract, or grant shall contain a certification concerning the HUBZone  status of a business concern seeking the Federal contract, subcontract or grant. An authorized official must sign the certification on the same page containing the HUBZone status claimed by the concern.
(d) Limitation of Liability. Paragraphs (a)-(c) of this section may be determined not to apply in the case of unintentional errors, technical malfunctions, and other similar situations that demonstrate that a misrepresentation of HUBZone status was not affirmative, intentional, willful or actionable under the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729, et seq. A prime contractor acting in good faith should not be held liable for misrepresentations made by its subcontractors regarding the subcontractors' HUBZone status. Relevant factors to consider in making this determination may include the firm's internal management procedures governing HUBZone status representations or certifications, the clarity or ambiguity of the representation or certification requirement, and the efforts made to correct an incorrect or invalid representation or certification in a timely manner. An individual or firm may not be held liable where government personnel have erroneously identified a concern as a HUBZone small business concern without any representation or certification having been made by the concern and where such identification is made without the knowledge of the individual or firm.
(e) Penalties for Misrepresentation. (1) Suspension or debarment. The SBA suspension and debarment official or the procuring agency's suspension and debarment official may suspend or debar a person or concern for misrepresenting a firm's status as a HUBZone small business concern pursuant to the procedures set forth in 48 CFR subpart 9.4.
(2) Civil Penalties. Persons or concerns are subject to severe penalties under the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. 3729-3733, the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act, 31 U.S.C. 3801-3812, and any other applicable laws or regulations, including 13 CFR part 142.
(3) Criminal Penalties. Persons or concerns are subject to severe criminal penalties for knowingly misrepresenting the HUBZone status of a concern in connection with procurement programs pursuant to section 16(d) of the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 645(d), as amended, 18 U.S.C. 1001, 18 U.S.C. 287, and any other applicable laws. Persons or concerns are subject to criminal penalties for knowingly making false statements or misrepresentations to SBA for the purpose of influencing any actions of SBA pursuant to section 16(a) of the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 645(a), as amended, including failure to correct “continuing representations” that are no longer true.
(4) If SBA discovers that false or misleading information has been knowingly submitted by a small business concern in order to obtain or maintain HUBZone certification, SBA will propose the firm for decertification. In addition, SBA will refer the matter to the SBA Office of Inspector General for review and may recommend that Government-wide debarment or suspension proceedings be initiated.