Many neighborhoods in San Bernardino, Riverside and across the Inland Empire are designated HUBZones, or Historically Underutilized Business Zones. If your business is based in one and hires locally, you may qualify for one of the strongest advantages in federal contracting.
What HUBZone certification unlocks
- Set-aside contracts that only certified HUBZone firms can bid on
- A 10% price evaluation preference in full and open competitions. A larger competitor’s price is treated as 10% higher when compared with yours.
- Sole-source awards in some circumstances
- Demand from prime contractors, since federal agencies aim to award 3% of contracting dollars to HUBZone firms
HUBZone eligibility
To qualify, your business must:
- Be a small business under SBA size standards
- Be at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens, or by a qualifying entity such as a tribe or community development corporation
- Have its principal office in a HUBZone, meaning the location where the most employees work
- Have at least 35% of its employees living in a HUBZone
The employees don’t have to live in the same HUBZone as your office. Any HUBZone counts.
How to check whether your address qualifies
Use SBA’s HUBZone map. Enter your office address and each employee’s home address. HUBZone boundaries follow census tracts, so two addresses a few blocks apart can get different results. Map designations change over time, so check again before you apply and before each recertification.
How to apply
- Make sure your SAM.gov registration is active and matches your office address.
- Gather proof of your principal office, payroll records and employee residency documents.
- Apply through MySBA Certifications.
- Recertify every three years, and keep meeting the 35% residency rule while you perform HUBZone contracts.
Why this matters for Inland Empire businesses
The Inland Empire is home to major federal buyers and prime contractors in logistics, defense, construction and public works. A local HUBZone firm with the right registrations can compete for set-asides and be the partner primes need to meet their HUBZone goals. See how prime contractors find subcontractors.
Frequently asked questions
What is a HUBZone?
A Historically Underutilized Business Zone is an area designated by the SBA, based on census and economic data, where federal contracting programs encourage business investment and local hiring.
What are the HUBZone certification requirements?
The business must be small, at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens, have its principal office in a HUBZone, and have at least 35% of its employees living in a HUBZone.
Are there HUBZones in San Bernardino?
Yes. Parts of San Bernardino and the wider Inland Empire are designated HUBZones. Check SBA’s HUBZone map, because eligibility depends on the exact census tract.
How often do I recertify for HUBZone?
HUBZone firms recertify every three years, and there is no time limit on participation as long as the business stays eligible.
Work with GERC
We check your office and employee addresses against the HUBZone map, prepare your application, and keep your certification on track. GERC is a woman-owned firm in San Bernardino, registered in SAM.gov under CAGE code 11SD2 and certified by the State of California as a Small Business (Micro) and a Small Business for Public Works (SB-PW). Book a consultation or see our capability statement.