Kentucky MWBE and SDVOSB Certification: Status and What to Do

What it is

The Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Contract Compliance, in the Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet, certifies minority- and women-owned businesses (MWBE) and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB). The Cabinet says certification improves your chances at small purchases of goods and services and at Cabinet construction contracts and subcontracts. It also lists you in the Kentucky Small Business CONNECTion database and can serve as "home state" certification in other states. The official pages do not list percentage goals or price preferences tied to certification.

Who qualifies

• MWBE: at least 51% owned and controlled by women or by African American, Hispanic American, Asian Pacific American, Subcontinent Asian American or Native American owners who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.
• MWBE: the qualifying owners must have owned and run the business for at least one full year and filed a full year of federal business tax returns. The business must be independent, located in the United States, and hold any required licenses.
• Out-of-state MWBE firms are eligible only if already certified by a government certifying body in their home state, with an owner interview in the last five years. Approval is not guaranteed.
• No automatic reciprocity. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet DBEs based in Kentucky can use a streamlined application.
• SDVOSB: at least 51% owned by veterans with a service-connected disability, small under SBA size standards, located in Kentucky with Kentucky-resident owners, and at least one full year of ownership and tax filing. Out-of-state firms are not eligible.

What it means for your bids

• You do not need certification to sell to the state. You do need to register in Kentucky Vendor Self Service (VSS): https://vss.ky.gov/
• State law lets the Cabinet set aside some contracts for small or small minority businesses when at least three are expected to bid (KRS 45A.675).
• Kentucky resident bidders get a reciprocal preference against bidders from states that favor their own firms (KRS 45A.494). A resident bidder is authorized to do business in Kentucky and, for the year before the bid is advertised, filed Kentucky corporate income taxes, paid into Kentucky unemployment insurance and kept Kentucky workers' compensation coverage.

How to get certified

1. Create a Kentucky.gov account, then apply on the Cabinet's online portal. Paper applications are no longer accepted. MWBE: https://finance.ky.gov/office-of-the-secretary/office-of-equal-employment-opportunity-contract-compliance/minority-and-women-business-enterprise-certification-program/Pages/application-and-instructions.aspx
2. Pick the right form: Kentucky business, out-of-state business, KYTC DBE streamlined, or non-profit. SDVOSB has its own portal and a streamlined form for SBA VetCert or Kentucky MWBE firms.
3. Cost: MWBE certification is free. The SDVOSB pages do not list a fee.
4. Timing: about 60 to 90 days for MWBE. The SDVOSB pages do not say.
5. Term: MWBE certification lasts three years. Report ownership, control or management changes in writing right away. The SDVOSB pages do not state a term.
6. Denied SDVOSB applicants may appeal within 30 days.

Watch out for

• We found no notice of a 2025 or 2026 change on the Cabinet's pages. The certified lists are dated August 2026.
• Cities and counties may run separate programs.
• Federal DBE (Kentucky Transportation Cabinet highway work) is a separate program.
• Free help: Finance.MWBE@ky.gov or 502-564-2875; Finance.SDVOSB@ky.gov or 502-564-2874; Customer Resource Center 502-564-9641 for vendor registration.

Programs in other states →

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Sources

• finance.ky.gov/office-of-the-secretary/office-of-equal-employment-opportunity-contra
• finance.ky.gov/office-of-the-secretary/office-of-equal-employment-opportunity-contra
• finance.ky.gov/office-of-the-secretary/office-of-equal-employment-opportunity-contra
• finance.ky.gov/office-of-the-secretary/office-of-equal-employment-opportunity-contra
• finance.ky.gov/office-of-the-secretary/office-of-equal-employment-opportunity-contra
• finance.ky.gov/office-of-the-secretary/office-of-equal-employment-opportunity-contra
• finance.ky.gov/office-of-the-secretary/office-of-equal-employment-opportunity-contra
• finance.ky.gov/office-of-the-secretary/office-of-equal-employment-opportunity-contra
• finance.ky.gov/office-of-the-secretary/office-of-equal-employment-opportunity-contra
• finance.ky.gov/eProcurement/Pages/default.aspx
• apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=53785
• apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=22464
• apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=22462

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.