Getting certified as a DVBE with the State of California:

The certification process is the responsibility of the Department of General Services (DGS), Procurement Division (PD), Office of Small Business and DVBE Services (OSDS). The OSDS is available to assist in completing the necessary documents and appointments are available in Sacramento for personal assistance. Over 80% of the DVBEs also qualify for small business (SB) certification, which offers additional benefits. There is no cost involved with applying for DVBE or small SB certification. To obtain DVBE certification, a firm must:

• Submit a completed application found at the CalEProcure website.
• Provide a copy of an Award of Entitlement (AOE) letter from the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the U. S. Department of Defense, dated within six months of the date the application is submitted to OSDS. To obtain an AOE letter, you may call the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at (800) 827-1000.

Applicants are encouraged to register their business and complete the certification application on-line. Using the on-line system, SBs may receive immediate certification. Prospective DVBEs will be prompted to send eligibility documentation. For more information, see Steps 1 and 2 of the How to do Business with California State Government. For certification assistance, call the OSDS during regular State business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) at (916) 375-4940.

DVBE Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for certification the business must meet the following criteria:

• Disabled veterans must have a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent declared by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Department of Defense.
• The disabled veteran(s) who own the firm must be domiciled in California.
• Disabled veterans must have an established business that is operational and active prior to submission of an application.
• Daily business operations must be managed and controlled by one or more disabled veterans. The disabled veteran(s) who managed and controls the business is not required to be the disabled veteran business owner(s).
• Principal office must be located in the United States and cannot be a branch or subsidiary of a foreign corporation, foreign firm, or other foreign-based business.
• For more information on eligibility visit the DGS informational brochure.

Certification DVBE Benefits

State agencies may use a streamlined process known as the "DVBE Option" by contracting directly with a California certified DVBE business for goods, services, information technology and public works projects. The solicitation must be valued at more than $5,000, and the State agency must obtain price quotes from at least two California certified DVBE businesses.

• Your Business is added to the California Department of General Services database used by state and local agencies to find DVBEs.
• The DVBE Option allows agencies to contract directly with a California certified DVBE for goods, services, and information technology goods and services valued from $5,000.01 to $ 249,999.99 (up to $291,000 for public works contracts) after obtaining price quotes from at least two SBs or two DVBEs.
• DVBE subcontractors can find contracting opportunities and place ads seeking work with potential prime contractors at no cost.
• The state may offer up to a 5 percent incentive to bidders that promise to use DVBEs.

What You Should Know

DVBE certification is typically issued for two years. DVBE are subject to periodic reviews while actively certified. Certification does not guarantee you will be awarded a government contract. Contracting with the state is very competitive, you must market your business to the government agencies. If an applicant has a bidding opportunity, he/she may request an expedited application.

Accordingly, the State of California established the Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Program in 1989 under Public Contract Code 10115 to primarily help DVBEs compete more effectively for a portion of those dollars, and to promote self-reliance for California's disabled veterans by offering veterans the opportunity to gain experience in business, while sharing their expertise with the citizens of California and provide a goal of awarding 3% of all state contracts to certified DVBEs. The State of California contracts billions of dollars for goods and services to ensure California's economy stays healthy, strong, and prosperous and promotes business opportunities and participation for all of its citizenry. Small businesses, including veterans, disabled veterans, and disabled veteran business enterprises are instrumental to the good health of the State's economy and a principal source of new jobs in California. The program also facilitates the integration of disabled veterans into California's entrepreneurial economy because of their incomparable sacrifices made when they answered their Country's call.

California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program Advocate

(Military and Veterans Code 999.11)

CalVet's Roles and Responsibilities

• Participate in activities that include: attend or participate in hearings, workgroups, and meetings regarding the statewide DVBE program.
• Provide expertise and advocacy for efforts to comply with state legislation, and technical assistance to internal and external stakeholders regarding the statewide DVBE program.
• Assist CA state agencies and departments in implementing statewide action plans to increase DVBE participation.

State Agency DVBE Advocates

(Military and Veterans Code 999.12)

SB/DVBE Advocates Roles and Responsibilities

• Assist certified disabled veteran business enterprises in participating in that agency's contracting process.
• Assist contract officers in seeking disabled veteran business enterprises to participate in the agency's contract and procurement activities by performing outreach efforts to recruit disabled veteran business enterprises to offer their services as either a prime contractor or subcontractor on any contract proposed by the awarding department that requires disabled veteran business enterprise participation, and by other feasible means.
• Meet regularly with the California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program Advocate and contract and procurement staffs of their departments to disseminate information about the California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program.
• Serve as an advocate for the disabled veteran business enterprises that are utilized as the agency's contractors or subcontractors.
• Report to the Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services regarding any violation of this article.
• Coordinate and meet, on a regular basis, with the California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program Advocate at the Department of Veterans Affairs in an effort to meet the statewide 3-percent goal provided for in Section 999.2.
• The excel list below provides SB/DVBE Advocates for each awarding department.

DVBE ADVOCATE DIRECTORY

The above state certification information was brought to you by Veteran Owned Business. Veteran Owned Business is in no way affiliated with the above organization(s). We do not in any way endorse the above business/organization or guarantee the above news/press release. The Veteran Owned Business Project is simply providing information we feel is of interest to veterans, active duty military, reservists, service disabled veterans, veteran owned businesses, service disabled veteran owned businesses, families of veterans, families of our armed forces and any other person or persons directly or indirectly involved with the United States military community.

If your business is (or you know of another business) owned by a veteran (VOB), active duty military, reservist or military spouse of the United States, Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard or National Guard, please be sure to visit the sign up page to get your membership and business’ profile.

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