• SBA 8(a) Business Development Program
• SBA Small Disadvantaged Business Program
• HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program
• DOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program
• Mentor-Protégé Programs

Indian Incentive Program C2 North specializes in guiding our clients through the application process and we adeptly assist our clients with:

• Program evaluation and recommendations
• Program benefits, regulations, and compliance
• Procurement advantages
• Board of Directors and staff training

SBA Certification Eligibility Requirements

As a courtesy to prospective C2 North clients we have included a brief summary of SBA and DOT programs below.

SBA 8(a) Business Development Program

The SBA 8(a) program is designed to help small disadvantaged businesses compete in the U.S. economy through business development. The program benefits the client as well as the contractor by providing small disadvantaged businesses with: 

• The ability to pursue and award sole-source procurements.
• Limited-competition opportunities in the government arena.
• Ensuring the client that bonding, insurance, and other legal requirements are met.

Through sole-source contracts, businesses are given an opportunity to enter the government- contracting arena and gain the experience necessary to compete in the full and open market. Competitive bidding on limited opportunities allows 8(a) contractors to gain valuable experience in various market arenas.

Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) and their subsidiaries are eligible to receive sole-source contracts greater than $3 million dollars. Per 13 CFR 124.506(b), ANCs are exempt from competitive threshold limitations. ANCs are also exempt from the $100 million total limit on competitive and sole-source contracts as outlined in 13 CFR 124.519(a).

SBA 8(a) Program website
Regulations governing 8(a) Program

SBA Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) Program

SBA's minority development programs are intended to assist in the future success of small businesses. SBA administers two particular business assistance programs for SDBs. These programs are the 8(a) Business Development Program and the Small Disadvantaged Business Certification Program. 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.

Benefits of SDB Certification

• Under the government's reformed affirmative action rules, small disadvantaged business are eligible for price evaluation adjustments of up to 10 percent when bidding on federal contracts in certain industries.
• The program also provides evaluation credits for prime contractors who achieve SDB subcontracting targets. The program is intended to help federal agencies achieve the government-wide goal of 5 percent SDB participation in prime contracting.

SBA SDB website

SBA HUBZONE Empowerment Contracting Program

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 (Historically Underutilized Business Zone) 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.

SBA HUBZone website

DOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program

The DOT DBE Program assists small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, including minorities and women, in participating in contracting opportunities created by DOT financial assistance programs. Primarily three major DOT operating administrations are involved in the DBE program. They are the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Transit Administration. The DOT DBE program is carried out by state and local transportation agencies under the rules and guidelines in the Code of Federal Regulations. The main objectives of the DBE Program are:

• To ensure that contractors comply with DBE laws and requirements.
• To ensure that DBEs can compete fairly for federally funded transportation-related projects.
• To ensure that only eligible firms participate as DBEs.
• To assist DBE firms in competing outside the DBE Program.

DBE page on OSDBU website
DBE page on Alaska DOT website

DOT Alaska Unified Certification Program (AUCP)

The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued regulations at 49 CFR 26.81 (Subpart E) requiring that all direct and indirect recipients of USDOT funding establish a Unified Certification Program (UCP).  The purpose of the UCP is to provide a one-stop certification process for all businesses in each state seeking certification to participate in the USDOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. 

The Alaska Department of Transportation began operating the AUCP in September 2002.  Applicants only need apply once for a DBE certification, which will be honored by all Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) agencies in Alaska.  (Note:  AUCP certification does not apply to SBA certification programs.)  The AUCP now serves as the centralized program for several state and local DBE certifications.  Current AUCP participants include Alaska boroughs, municipalities, cities and airports. 

AUCP Agreement
Final Certification Brochure

SBA 8(a) Mentor-Protégé Program

The SBA Mentor-Protégé program enhances the capability of 8(a) participants to compete more successfully for federal government contracts. The program encourages private-sector relationships and expands SBA's efforts to identify and respond to the developmental needs of 8(a) clients.

Mentor-Protégé page on SBA website

Department of Defense (DoD) Mentor-Protégé Program

This program was established to provide incentives for (major) DoD prime contractors (Mentors) to help SDB qualified organizations (Protégés) develop technical and business capabilities. The goal of the program is to assist Protégés to successfully compete for prime contract and subcontract awards. Successful Mentor-Protégé agreements provide a winning relationship for the Protégé, the Mentor and the DoD.

Mentor-Protégé Program page on DoD OSBP website

Indian Incentive Program (IIP)

The IIP provides for payment to the prime contractor of 5% on amounts subcontracted to a tribally owned organization or Indian-owned economic enterprise when authorized under the terms of the contract. DoD contracts that reference FAR 52.226-1, Utilization of Indian Organizations and Indian Owned Economic Enterprises, may be eligible for incentive payments under the program. Under these contracts, prime contractors are encouraged to provide the opportunity for Indian organizations and Indian-owned economic enterprises to participate in subcontracting.

IIP details on DoD OSBP website