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Formalizing your small business may seem like a long and tedious process, but the benefits can be greater when you know the requirements, benefits, and how to navigate effectively to ensure your business is well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities available.
California state agencies are mandated to develop an “economic equity first” action plan and policy to ensure active participation and benefit of small businesses in the contracting process and other benefits, experts said during a briefing held by Ethnic Media Services.
To start registration, you must find out about the requirements on the website: https://caleprocure.com/ or Caleprocure.ca.gov.
Joann Patty, the Small Business Liaison for the Office of Small Business and DVBE (Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise) and the California Department of General Services, explained the process in general terms, as it is done online on the website, so every person has the opportunity to register their small business.
He explained that the goal is to support individuals to ensure that the state as a whole and each department and agency meet the goal of spending 25 percent of the contract money with certified California small businesses and 3 percent with disabled veterans' business enterprises, among other purposes.
The purpose of the certification and recognition programs is to promote and increase the participation of SB, SB-PW, DVBE, NVSA, and NP in government contracting. By having knowledge of each of these, one can act more effectively in each case: Small Businesses (SB), Small Businesses for Public Works (SB-PW), Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises (DVBE), Non-Profit Veterans Service Agency (NVSA), and Non-Profit Organizations (NP).
“The state is mandated to spend 25 percent of all contract money on small businesses and 3 percent of all contract money on disabled veteran-owned businesses, so all small businesses get up to 5 percent preference on the contract, and as a DVBEs, they can receive up to 5 percent incentive and contracts, and that really gives your business a leg up,” Patty said.
There are many benefits to becoming a certified company, so the community is invited to register and carry out their process effectively and, as each company is different, the requirements must be considered in each case.
“Right now we have about 45 percent of all subcontractors – the main contractor gets the benefit of their certification, which makes them look like a much more desirable subcontractor to someone, generating more trust,” he added.
To research UNSPSC codes you can visit the website: https://unspscsearch.apps.dgs.ca.gov
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