HUBZone certification in Louisiana
HUBZone is a federal SBA certification with the same rules in every state. This guide covers what differs in Louisiana: the SBA offices and APEX Accelerators that help you apply, the state programs that sit alongside it, and how many open Louisiana bids there are now.
Facts checked
The short answer
To get HUBZone certified in Louisiana, register in SAM.gov, confirm you meet SBA's rules for small businesses with their principal office in a Historically Underutilized Business Zone and at least 35% of employees living in one, and apply free on MySBA Certifications. Louisiana APEX Accelerator (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) helps Louisiana businesses apply at no cost.
Step by step
- 01
Register in SAM.gov
Every certification and federal award needs an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID. Registration is free and must be renewed every 365 days.[1]
- 02
Check HUBZone eligibility
The business must be small under SBA size standards and at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens, a Community Development Corporation, an agricultural cooperative, an Alaska Native corporation, a Native Hawaiian organization or an Indian tribe. Check your Louisiana office and employee addresses on the HUBZone map.[3][4]
- 03
Get free help in Louisiana
Louisiana APEX Accelerator (University of Louisiana at Lafayette): free counseling on SAM.gov, certification and bidding.[9]
- 04
Apply on MySBA Certifications
Apply at certifications.sba.gov with your office address and an employee roster showing where each employee lives.[2]
- 05
Register with Louisiana too
HUBZone covers federal contracts. To sell to Louisiana agencies, register on LaGov Supplier Portal registration (No fee listed by the state).
- 06
Add the Louisiana certification
Hudson Initiative (small entrepreneurships), through Louisiana Economic Development.[10]
Free help in Louisiana
APEX Accelerators, funded by the Department of Defense, help with registration, certification and bids. SBA district offices run certification outreach and answer program questions.
APEX Accelerators
SBA district office
Louisiana programs alongside HUBZone
Louisiana certifies its own programs separately from SBA, for Louisiana state contracts. HUBZone does not carry over automatically; apply to this one on its own terms:
- Hudson Initiative (small entrepreneurships), Louisiana Economic Development. Race- and gender-neutral; for firms with fewer than 50 full-time employees.[10]
Open bids in Louisiana
145 open bids in Louisiana right now; 0 name HUBZone in the title.
No open bids right now. Browse all open bids
What HUBZone gets you
- Certified firms compete for HUBZone set-asides and sole-source awards, and get a 10% price evaluation preference in full and open competitions.[3]
- The government-wide goal is 3% of prime contract dollars for HUBZone firms.[3]
- There is no time limit on participation; firms recertify every three years, in the 90 days before the anniversary of certification.[5]
Related guides
Questions
Is HUBZone certification different in Louisiana?
No. HUBZone is a federal SBA certification with the same rules in every state, and it applies to federal contracts, including federal work performed in Louisiana. Louisiana state and local contracts follow Louisiana's own programs.
Where can I get free help with HUBZone in Louisiana?
Louisiana APEX Accelerator (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) offers free government-contracting counseling, and the SBA Louisiana District Office serves the state.
Does Louisiana have its own certification like HUBZone?
Louisiana runs Hudson Initiative (small entrepreneurships) (Louisiana Economic Development). It is separate from HUBZone, and you apply on its own terms.
How many open Louisiana bids mention HUBZone?
BidRover lists 145 open bids in Louisiana; 0 of them name HUBZone in the title. Most set-asides are marked in the solicitation rather than the title, so read each notice.
Sources
- sam.gov/entity-registration
- certifications.sba.gov/
- sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/hubzone-program
- maps.certify.sba.gov/hubzone/map
- ecfr.gov/current/title-13/part-126/section-126.500
- acquisition.gov/far/2.101
- uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section644&num=0&edition=prelim
- sba.gov/district/louisiana
- apex.louisiana.edu/
- opportunitylouisiana.gov/program/hudson-initiative
- opportunitylouisiana.gov/program/veteran-initiative