Hubzone Changes 2023

Have you looked at the changes to the SBA’s HubZone Maps based on the 2020 Census ? Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZONE) businesses have a special designation in the Federal Acquisition Regulations that allow the US Government to award up to 3% of total contracted dollars to Hubzone designated companies.

The agencies of the U.S. Federal Government are required by the HUBZone Empowerment Act to contract with HUBZone certified small businesses for more than 3% of their budget in the form of prime contracts to HUBZone firms. The government has made some progress towards these goals, but by and large remains below them. Because the program represents only 3% of the contracts awarded by federal agencies, the program has received an equivalent level of attention. In 2018, HUBZone companies started to become more proactive in trying to get opportunities ‘set-aside’ for HUBZone-certified companies. Through organizations such as the HUBZone Chamber of Commerce, companies are starting to collaborate to increase their responses to Sources Sought as posted through SAM.GOV

Once you get your Hubzone certification there are several reporting requirements that businesses have to comply with to retain their Hubzone certification. The basic qualifications for the program that the business is a #smallbusiness with their primary office in a SBA approved Hubzone area and 30% of their workforce live in a Hubzone area. You can get more information from the SBA here.

You can find the full qualification criteria in Title 13 Part 126 Subpart B of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).