BUSINESS CLASSIFICATIONS/DEFINITIONS
Small Business (S) - You can quickly determine if you qualify as a "small" business by using the
SBA’s North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) or Standard Industry Classification (SIC)
Code Lookup Table. Simply enter your business description or NAICS/SIC code. Then use the resulting
table to locate your products/services and see the size standards for your business type.
Go to SBA's NAICS Lookup at https://eweb1.sba.gov/naics/dsp_naicssearch2.cfm
Simply enter your product or service in the description area and then locate your business area.
8a Program - is a business development program created to help small disadvantaged businesses
compete in the American economy and access the federal procurement market.
Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) - While the 8(a) Program offers a broad scope of assistance
to socially and economically disadvantaged firms, SDB certification strictly pertains to benefits in
federal procurement. 8(a) firms automatically qualify for SDB certification. Effective 1 July 1999, SELF
CERTIFICATION IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE for Small is advantaged Businesses. You must apply for
Small Disadvantaged status through your local small business Administration office or one of their
approved vendors. Applications can be found on the SBA website www.sba.gov and follow the links to
Small Disadvantaged Business. You may also request a copy by dialing (202) 619-1850 or write to
U.S. SBA, Office of Small Disadvantaged Business Certification & Eligibility, 409 3rd Street,
SW, Washington, DC 20416. After receipt of your SBA certification, please forward a copy to:
Vanguard Contractors, Attn: Scherrie Morrison, P.O. Box 2850, Paducah, Kentucky 42002 or FAX:
(270) 442-0313.
Women-Owned Business (WOSB) - women-owned small business concern means a small business
concern—(a) which is at least 51 percent owned by one or more women; or, in the case of any publicly
owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more women; and (b)
whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women
.
Veteran-Owned Business (SV) - a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service,
and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.
Service Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVOSB) - a person who served in the active military, naval, or
air service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable, and whose
disability was incurred or aggravated in line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service.
Historically Black Colleges & Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) - The Higher
Education Act of 1965, as amended, defines an HBCU as "any historically black college or university
that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission and is the education of black Americans,
and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accredited agency or association determined by the
Secretary [of Education] to be reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is according to
such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation".
HUBZone (Historical Underutilized Business Zone) - The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting
Program stimulates economic development and creates jobs in urban and rural communities by
providing Federal contracting preferences to small businesses. These preferences go to small
businesses that obtain HUBZone certification in part by employing staff who live in a HUBZone. The
company must also maintain a "principal office" in one of these specially designated areas. [A principal
office can be different from a company headquarters, as explained in our section dedicated to
Frequently Asked Questions.] SELF CERTIFICATION IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE. You must apply for
HUBZone status through your local small business Administration (SBA) office. You can visit the
website www.sba.gov or you may request a copy by dialing 202-619-1850 or write to U.S. SBA,
Office of HUBZone Business Certification & Eligibility, 409 3rd Street, SW, Washington, DC
20416. After receipt of your SBA certification, please forward a copy to: Vanguard Contractors, Attn:
Scherrie Morrison, P.O. Box 2850, Paducah, Kentucky 42002 or FAX: (270) 442-0313.
Alaska Native Corporation (ANC) - any Regional Corporation, Village Corporation, Urban
Corporation, or Group Corporation organized under the laws of the State of Alaska in accordance with
the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, as amended (43 U.S.C.A. 1601, et seq.) and which is
considered a minority and economically disadvantaged concern under the criteria at 43 U.S.C.
1626(e)(1). This definition also includes ANC direct and indirect subsidiary corporations, joint ventures,
and partnerships that meet the requirements of 43 U.S.C. 1626(e) (2).
Indian Tribe - any Indian tribe, band, group, pueblo, or community, including native villages and
native groups (including corporations organized by Kenai, Juneau, Sitka, and Kodiak) as defined in the
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C.A. 1601 et seq.), that is recognized by the Federal
Government as eligible for services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in accordance with 25 U.S.C.
1452(c). This definition also includes Indian-owned economic enterprises that meet the requirements
of 25 U.S.C. 1452(e).
Northern American Industry Classification System (NAICS) - SBA's size standards define
whether a business entity is small and, thus, eligible for Government programs and preferences
reserved for "small business" concerns. Size standards have been established for all for-profit economic
activities, or industries, in the NAICS. NAICS replaced the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)
System in October 2000.
