HUBZone Certification and GSA Schedules
The Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program provides small businesses located in specific economically distressed areas with access to federal set-aside contracts and a 10% price evaluation preference in full and open competitions. On GSA Schedules, HUBZone-certified vendors can compete for HUBZone set-aside orders and are identified as HUBZone vendors in eBuy and GSA Advantage! searches. The program aims to stimulate economic development in distressed communities by directing federal contract dollars to businesses operating there.
HUBZone Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for HUBZone certification through the SBA: the principal office of your business must be in a HUBZone (you can verify this using the HUBZone Map at sba.gov), at least 35% of your employees must reside in a HUBZone, the business must be small under SBA size standards, and the business must be at least 51% owned by U.S. citizens, or a Community Development Corporation, Agricultural Cooperative, Alaska Native Corporation, or Hawaiian Native Organization. Employee residency is the most challenging requirement to maintain — you must continuously meet the 35% threshold.
How HUBZone Areas Are Determined
HUBZone areas include: census tracts with poverty rates above 20% or median household income below 80% of state median, non-metropolitan counties with median household income below 90% of state median, Indian reservations, former military bases (Qualified Disaster Areas), and other designated distressed areas. HUBZone boundaries are updated periodically — an area that qualified when you received certification may no longer qualify at recertification. Monitor your principal office location's HUBZone status regularly.
| Requirement | Threshold | Monitoring Required |
|---|---|---|
| Principal office location | Must be in a HUBZone | Area maps updated; verify before renewal |
| Employee HUBZone residency | 35% minimum | Track continuously; must meet at time of proposal |
| Business size | SBA size standard | Check at recertification and for new contracts |
HUBZone on the GSA Schedule
Once SBA-certified, update your SAM.gov registration to reflect HUBZone status and update your GSA Schedule contract through eMod. GSA eBuy allows agencies to filter for HUBZone vendors when issuing set-aside RFQs. Agencies with HUBZone subcontracting goals may also seek out HUBZone Schedule holders for teaming arrangements. Maintain your certification through SBA's annual recertification process and monitor changes to HUBZone map designations that could affect your eligibility.