Industry terms, certifications & ownership classifications

Small Business Concern
The term "small business" shall mean a business as defined pursuant to Section 3 of the Small Business Act and relevant regulations issued pursuant thereto. Generally, this means a small business organized for profit that is independently owned and operated, is not dominant in the field of operations in which it is bidding, and meets the size standards as prescribed in government regulations.

Large Business Concern
A business concern that exceeds the small business size code standards established by the SBA as set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 13, Part 121.

Foreign Business
A business concern organized under the law of a country other than the United States, its territories or possessions and is not incorporated in the United States.

Non-profit Organization
Any organization not conducted or maintained for the purpose of making profit (excluding HBCU/MI's and NIB/NISH affiliates). Includes universities, colleges, & local, state & federal governments.

Affiliate Member of (NIB)/(NISH-SourceAmerica)
A business that is affiliated with NIB or NISH (SourceAmerica). NIB/NISH is nationally not-for-profit agencies that create employment opportunities for people who are blind or severely disabled.

Historically Black College/University or Minority Institution (HBCU/MI)
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) are institutions that were established before 1964 and have a principal mission that was, and is, the education of Black Americans and that meet the requirements set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 34, Part 608. Minority Institutions (MI's) are institutions that substantially increase the higher education opportunities for minority and/or low income students education and meet the requirements set forth in Title 34 of the CFR, Part 607.2.

Ownership:

Minority Owned or Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
A business concern that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more minorities; or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock is owned by one or more minorities; and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more minorities.

HUBZone Small Business Concerns
A business concern located in a "historically underutilized business zone," owned and controlled by one or more U.S. Citizens, and at least 35% of its employees must reside in a HUB Zone. It must appear on the list of Qualified HUBZone Small Business Concerns maintained by the SBA.

Women Owned or Women Business Enterprise
A business concern that 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 is owned by one or more women, and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women.

Women Owned Small Business Concerns (WOSB)
A small business concern that 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 is owned by one or more women, and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women.

Veteran (V)
A person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released there from under conditions other than dishonorable as defined in title 38 of the U.S.C., section 101 (2).

Service-Disabled Veteran (SDV)
A veteran with a "service connected" disability, which means a disability that was incurred or aggravated, in the line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service as defined in Title 38, of the U.S.C., section 101 (16).

Veteran-Owned Small Business Concerns (VOSB)
A small business concern that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more veterans, or in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock is owned by one or more veterans, and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more veterans.

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concerns (SDVOSB)
A small business concern that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more service-disabled veterans, or in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock is owned by one or more service-disabled veterans, and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans or a permanent caregiver of a service-disabled veteran with permanent and severe disability.

Alaskan Native Corporation
Any Regional Corporation, Village Corporation, Urban Corporation and or Native Group organized under Alaska state laws and which is considered a minority and economically disadvantaged concern.  This definition includes eligible ANC direct and indirect subsidiaries, corporations, joint ventures, and partnerships. 

Indian Tribes or Tribally-Owned
Any Federally-recognized Indian Tribe, band, group, pueblo, or community (including native villages and native groups) that is eligible for services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).

Ethnicity/Minority Categories

Asian Pacific American
Persons with origins from Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Japan, China (including Hong Kong), Taiwan, Laos, Cambodia (Kampuchea), Vietnam, Korea, The Philippines, U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Republic of Palau), Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Samoa, Macao, Fiji, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, or Nauru.

African American
Persons having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

Hispanic American
Persons of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.

Native American
American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts or Native Hawaiians.

Subcontinent Asian American
Persons with origins from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives Islands or Nepal