Georgia Business Certification Program: Status and What to Do

What it is

The Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS) runs the Georgia Business Certification Program. It certifies minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses, each in a regular or "small" version. House Bill 128 rewrote the law (O.C.G.A. § 50-5-132) effective January 1, 2024, adding the women- and veteran-owned categories. Certified firms are listed in the state supplier database, and prime contractors that subcontract with certified small firms on state contracts can take a Georgia income tax adjustment.

Who qualifies

• Primary place of business in Georgia, with intent to stay. The business must be authorized to do business in Georgia and pay its taxes. Out-of-state firms are not eligible.
• At least 51% owned and controlled by members of the group (for public companies, 51% of each class of stock).
• Minority groups recognized: African American, Asian-Pacific American, Asian-Indian American, Hispanic and Native American.
• Veteran: active duty service in any branch without a dishonorable discharge. Guard or reserve members called to federal active duty also count.
• "Small" versions: independently owned, with up to 300 employees or $30 million in yearly gross receipts (DOAS uses three size tiers for reporting).
• You must already be certified by a DOAS-approved partner. The list includes GDOT (DBE), the Greater Women's Business Council (WBE), the National Veteran-Owned Business Association, the U.S. SBA (WOSB, EDWOSB, VOSB, 8(a)) and the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce.

What it means for your bids

• DOAS does not list contract goals or set-asides for certified firms.
• Prime contractors can subtract 10% of qualified payments to a certified small minority-, women- or veteran-owned subcontractor on a state contract, up to $100,000 a year (O.C.G.A. § 48-7-38). The subcontractor must be certified when paid. This makes certified small firms more attractive as subs.
• Georgia prefers Georgia-made goods when price and quality allow, and matches other states' preferences against Georgia vendors (O.C.G.A. § 50-5-60, per the Texas Comptroller's summary).

How to get certified

1. Get certified by one of the approved partners listed on the DOAS page: https://doas.ga.gov/state-purchasing/small-business-and-supplier-diversity/georgia-business-certification
2. Register in the GA@WORK Marketplace for Suppliers and note your Supplier ID: https://app01.jaggaer.com/apps/Router/SupplierLogin?CustOrg=Georgia
3. Log in, open "Georgia Business Certification Application" under Additional Resources, and attach your partner certificate. For a "small" certification, add your latest Schedule C or corporate tax return.
4. DOAS says there is no fee to apply.
5. DOAS will prompt you to renew before expiration. You must still hold a partner certification. The official pages do not say how long certification lasts or how long review takes.

Watch out for

• DOAS moved purchasing to GA@WORK, which it says "went live July 1." Some DOAS pages are still being updated, so older instructions may be out of date.
• City and county programs are separate from the state program. Check each one.
• Federal DBE (USDOT, through GDOT) is a separate program, even though GDOT DBE status can be your partner certification.
• Free help: procurementhelp@doas.ga.gov or 404-657-6000.

Programs in other states →

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Sources

• doas.ga.gov/state-purchasing/small-business-and-supplier-diversity/georgia-busine
• doas.ga.gov/state-purchasing/how-to/how-to-get-certified-as-a-minority-business-e
• doas.ga.gov/state-purchasing/information-for-ga-small-businesses
• doas.ga.gov/gawork/procurement-suppliers-swc-suppliers
• law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-50/chapter-5/article-3/part-4/section-50-5-132/
• law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-48/chapter-7/article-2/section-48-7-38/
• comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/bidder-preference/georgia.php

FindMyBids isn't affiliated with any certifying agency, and this isn't legal advice. Status can change quickly with court orders and new laws, so confirm with the program office before you rely on it.