HUBZone certification in Texas

To get HUBZone certified in Texas, 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. Cross Timbers APEX Accelerator (UT Arlington) helps Texas businesses apply at no cost.

Texas converted its HUB program to VetHUB under rules effective May 12, 2026; minority- and women-owned HUB certifications were revoked, so women- and minority-owned firms no longer have a state HUB certification.^[17]

1. 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]

2. 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 Texas office and employee addresses on the HUBZone map.^[3][4]

3. 03

   Get free help in Texas

   Cross Timbers APEX Accelerator (UT Arlington) or UTRGV APEX Accelerator (UT Rio Grande Valley): free counseling on SAM.gov, certification and bidding.^[14][15]

4. 04

   Apply on MySBA Certifications

   Apply at certifications.sba.gov with your office address and an employee roster showing where each employee lives.^[2]

5. 05

   Register with Texas too

   HUBZone covers federal contracts. To sell to Texas agencies, register on Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL) ($70 a year).

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

• Cross Timbers APEX Accelerator (UT Arlington)
• UTRGV APEX Accelerator (UT Rio Grande Valley)

SBA district offices

• SBA Dallas / Fort Worth District Office
• SBA El Paso District Office
• SBA Houston District Office
• SBA Lower Rio Grande Valley District Office
• SBA San Antonio District Office
• SBA West Texas District Office

None of the Texas programs we verified is specific to small businesses with their principal office in a Historically Underutilized Business Zone and at least 35% of employees living in one, so HUBZone is the main certification to pursue. Texas's other state programs are listed below.

• VetHUB (formerly HUB), Texas Comptroller, Statewide Procurement Division. Limited to businesses at least 51% owned and operated by Texas-resident service-disabled veterans.^[16]

137 open bids in Texas right now; 0 name HUBZone in the title.

No open bids right now. Browse all open bids

• 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]

1. sam.gov/entity-registration
2. certifications.sba.gov/
3. sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/hubzone-program
4. maps.certify.sba.gov/hubzone/map
5. ecfr.gov/current/title-13/part-126/section-126.500
6. acquisition.gov/far/2.101
7. uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section644&num=0&edition=prelim
8. sba.gov/district/dallas-fort-worth
9. sba.gov/district/el-paso
10. sba.gov/district/houston
11. sba.gov/district/lower-rio-grande-valley
12. sba.gov/district/san-antonio
13. sba.gov/district/west-texas
14. uta.edu/research/centers/cross-timbers
15. utrgv.edu/apex/
16. comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/vendor/hub/index.php
17. comptroller.texas.gov/purchasing/vendor/hub/hub-faq.php