DVBE Participation

Participation Goals

The State of California spends billions of dollars each year on contracts and procurement. The Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) programs help small businesses and California disabled veterans to compete more effectively for a portion of the billions of dollars that are competitively awarded through the State's bidding process.

For all agencies, the State has established a small business participation goal of at least 25% and a DVBE participation goal of at least 3%. The goals apply to the overall dollar amount expended each year by an awarding department.

CalVet has set its DVBE and small business participation goals at:

• DVBE: 5% participation
• Small Business: 25% participation

Participation Benefits

DVBE Eligibility Requirements

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

• Must be at least 51% unconditionally owned by one or more disabled veterans or must be 100% unconditionally owned by one or more disabled veterans if the business is a Limited Liability Company.
• Have its daily operations managed and controlled by one or more disabled veterans; the disabled veteran(s) who manages & controls the business is not required to be the disabled veteran business owner(s).
• Have its home office located in the United States; and the office cannot be a branch or subsidiary of a foreign corporation, foreign firm or other foreign-based business.

How Do You Get Certified?

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. Most DVBEs (80%) 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 DGS website (STD Form 812 ); and
• 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 1-800-827-1000.

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 brochure. For certification assistance, call the OSDS during regular State business hours at (916) 375-4940.

Certification Benefits

• State agencies are required to award at least 25% of their annual contracting dollars to certified SBs and at least 3% to DVBEs.
• State agencies may give a 5% bid preference to certified SBs and may offer up to a 5% DVBE bid incentive.
• As a certified DVBE and/or SB, your business is added to the DGS' data-base which State agencies use to find DVBEs and SBs.
• Ability to participate in streamlined procurements known as SB/DVBE Options. Contracts awarded using the SB/DVBE Option are valued from $5,000.01 to $249,999.99 for goods, information technology, and services (or valued up to $250,000 for public works contracts). This option enables State agencies to contract directly with certified businesses when they obtain price quotations from at least 2 responsible and responsive SBs or at least 2 responsible and responsive DVBEs.

Need Help or More Certification Info? OSDS can be reached at:

Office of Small Business and DVBE Services
707 3rd Street, 1st Floor, Room 400
West Sacramento, CA 95605
(916) 375-4940 or OSDSHelp@dgs.ca.gov