Small Business Certification

For first time applicants

To apply for certification, please complete the following steps:

1. Obtain the appropriate “Required Document Checklist" for your form of business ownership below:
• Sole Proprietor
• Partnership
• Corporation

 

2. Complete the Emerging and Small Business Program Certification Application. (For re-certification, click on the link at the bottom of the page.) 
• Vendor Registration & Small Business Certification Application

 

3. Review supplemental information related to the application.
• Definition of Terms
• SIC Codes
• NIGP Codes
• Contractor License Codes
• Supplemental Codes List - California Licensed Contractors
• Affidavit of Un-audited Income
• Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (W-9)

 

4. Fax your completed application and the previous three tax year information to 916.808.6765 or send it by e-mail.

Once we receive your application, we will evaluate the information submitted to determine if the firm meets SBE size and revenue standards. Certification is not a guarantee of contract award, but is an opportunity for your firm to be recognized as an ESB Program participant, bid on City contracts, and listed in the City's ESB Vendor Referral Database.

For re-certification applicants

To re-certify, please download and complete the Emerging and Small Business Development (ESBD) Program Re-Certification Application. 

Please note: required documents for a re-certification (when not a Department of General Services Provisional) is financial (previous three years Federal Tax Returns, or CPA letter attesting to gross receipts for the previous three years) and State of California Employment Development Department Quarterly DE-6 Reports for the previous year, when applicable.

For Provisional Certification

In addition to the standard ESBD Certification process, there are three forms of Provisional Certification which can be granted under the City of Sacramento ESBD Program:

• Missing Documents
  Provisional Certification may be granted when a BID IS DUE and before all required documentation can be submitted.  This type of certification is for a limited time period; usually 30 days. The minimum documentation requirements that need to be met in order to receive a provisional certification are 1) a completed Application and 2) submission of the required Federal tax information.  
• Based on State of California, Department of General Services (DGS), Office of Small Business and DVBE Certification (OSDC)

The certification of a firm by the State of California, Department of General Services, Office of Small Business and DVBE Certification (OSDC), will be recognized by the City of Sacramento.  In order to be certified by the City, the firm merely needs to provide a copy of the Certification Notice received from the state.  In these instances, the firm's certification with the City will expire on the same date as the certification with the State.

• Based on California State Department of Transportation (CalTrans DBE)

The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program includes the categories of Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women Business Enterprises (WBEs).  The program is federally funded and is administered, in California, through the State Department of Transportation (CalTrans).  CalTrans is the agency responsible for certifying DBEs, and any such certification, when applicable, is "provisionally" accepted by the City of Sacramento. "When applicable," in this instance, means when a firm is doing a job or performing a function on a City of Sacramento project funded, at least in part, by the federal government.