INSTRUCTIONS for CERTIFICATION

            Please Note Before You Begin:  There is a "Required Document Checklist" for each form of business ownership; sole-proprietor, partnership, and corporation (LLCs use the corporate checklist).  Be sure to submit the correct documents from the applicable checklist.  

 Firms seeking certification in the City's Emerging and Small Business Development (ESBD) Program must complete an Emerging and Small Business Development (ESBD) Program Certification Application.  To determine eligibility in the program, firms seeking certification must meet the following Small Business Enterprise (SBE) standards:

•  Be independently owned and operated
•  Not dominant in its field of operations
•  Have its principal office located in California
•  Have its owners and officers domiciled in California, and
•  together with its affiliates, is either:

•  a service, construction, or non-manufacturer that has 100 or fewer employees, with an average annual gross receipts not exceeding ten million ($10,000,000) over the previous three (3) tax years

OR,

•  a manufacturer that has 100 or fewer employees.

          Please review the Application carefully and complete all sections. When appropriate, indicate non-applicable items by using "N/A." Make sure to comply with the applicable "Required Documentation Checklist" and submit the required documents with the Application.

          Before proceeding, you might want to review the Definition of Terms.

       Note: Financial information requested is for staff review and analysis only and will be kept confidential to the extent provided by law.  Material misrepresentation will be grounds for terminating any contract that may have been awarded, and for initiating action under Federal, State, or local laws concerning false statements.

          Section 3 of the Application asks for Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes. These codes are very important in accurately describing your type of business and are used in searching the Vendor Databases for potential contract bidders or service providers, or by prime contractors looking for sub-contractors.

          In addition to the SIC codes required by the Application, the Bid List Application (PDF FILE) requires the selection of National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NGIP) Codes for input to the City's procurement vendor system.

         Staff is available to provide information and assistance, by phone or in person, by appointment, regarding the completion of the Application or the required supporting documentation.

          Completed Applications and supporting documentation should be mailed to:

City of Sacramento
Office of Small Business Development (OSBD)
921 10th St., Room 402
Sacramento, CA 95814- 2714

          Upon receipt of the completed Application, staff 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, rather, an opportunity for your firm to be recognized as an ESBD Program participant, bid on City contracts, and to be listed in the City's ESBD Vendor Referral Database.

          Also note that incomplete Applications or Applications without all required documents will delay processing.

If you're ready to proceed with Certification, here are the forms you'll need.

Updated 12-12-2003