الأسئلة الشائعة

الأسئلة العامة

1. ما هو برنامج فيرجينيا SWaM؟
The SWaM Procurement Initiative was established to enhance business opportunities for small, women- and minority-owned businesses and to ensure a level playing field for all small businesses in the Commonwealth of Virginia. SWaM is the acronym for Small, Women- and Minority-owned businesses. A SWaM vendor is a business that has been certified by the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity and is listed in the SWaM Vendor Directory


2. What are the benefits of SWaM certification?
On August 10, 2006, Governor Timothy Kaine signed Executive Order No. 33 (2006) focusing on enhancing business opportunities for small, women- and minority-owned (“SWaM”) businesses. Governor Kaine set forth a 40% goal of purchases from SWaMs for the Commonwealth and established a Small Business Set-Aside Program, as well as several other initiatives for state agencies and departments to enhance SWaM participation in procurement activities. Becoming SWaM certified includes you in the SWaM Vendor Directory, which is the listing used by state procurement officials to locate SWaM certified vendors. On July 22, 2014, Governor Terence McAuliffe signed Executive Order No. 20, replacing Executive Order No. 33 while continuing and expanding upon the efforts laid out in the original initiative. Governor McAuliffe has set a new target goal of 42% of discretionary expenditures, created the micro business designation and expanded the Set-Aside Program. The executive order created more robust systems for evaluating and monitoring SWaM procurement plans; and seeks to implement processes for producing SWaM subcontracting data and generally brought greater focus to the value of supporting small business in the Commonwealth.


3. Is there a cost to become certified?
There is no cost for certification in Virginia.


4. What is the definition of “Minority-owned Business”?
As defined in § 2.2-1604 of the Code of Virginia, “Minority-owned business” means a business that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more minority individuals who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, or in the case of a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity, at least 51 percent of the equity ownership interest in the corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity is owned by one or more minority individuals who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, and both the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more minority individuals, or any historically black college or university, regardless of the percentage ownership by minority individuals or, in the case of a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity, the equity ownership interest in the corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity.


5. What is the definition of Minority Individual?
“Minority individual” means an individual who is a citizen of the United States or legal resident alien and who satisfies one or more of the following definitions:
1. “African American” means a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Africa and who is regarded as such by the community of which this person claims to be a part.
2. “Asian American” means a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands, including but not limited to Japan, China, Vietnam, Samoa, Laos, Cambodia, Taiwan, Northern Mariana, the Philippines, a U.S. territory of the Pacific, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Sri Lanka and who is regarded as such by the community of which this person claims to be a part.
3. “Hispanic American” means a person having origins in any of the Spanish-speaking peoples of Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean Islands or other Spanish or Portuguese cultures and who is regarded as such by the community of which this person claims to be a part.
4. “Native American” means a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North America and who is regarded as such by the community of which this person claims to be a part or who is recognized by a tribal organization.


6. What is the definition of a Small Business?
“Small business” means a business that is at least 51% independently owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, and together with affiliates, has 250 or fewer employees, or average annual gross receipts of $10 million or less averaged over the previous three years. One or more of these individual owners shall control both the management and daily business operations of the small business.


7. What is the definition of a Women-Owned Business?
“Women-owned business” means a business that is at least 51% owned by one or more women who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, or in the case of a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity, at least 51% of the equity ownership interest is owned by one or more women who are citizens of the United States or legal resident aliens, and both the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women.


8. Can I be certified as “Service Disabled” or a “Veteran”?
Veterans who are small business owners can obtain Service Disabled Veteran-owned “status” in the SWaM vendor database. This is not a separate certification; it is a designation of those businesses that are owned by Service Disabled Veterans who are certified as such by the Virginia Department of Veteran Services. Veterans wishing to apply for service disabled veteran status must first seek eligibility certification from the Department of Veteran Services by calling (804) 786-0286 or visiting the DVS website at http://www.dvs.virginia.gov. Veterans can apply for small, women-owned or minority-owned certification with the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity before or after obtaining an eligibility certificate from DVS. Both services are available at no charge.


9. Should I apply for SWaM or DBE Certification? What’s the difference?
The SWaM Procurement Initiative is a Commonwealth of Virginia program, while the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (“DBE”) Program is a federal certification program under the U.S. Department of Transportation. The DBE Program focuses on Federally-funded projects through the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), and also includes rail, airport and seaport projects, as well as public transit projects. See below for more information on the DBE Program..


10. What is a DUNS number and how do I get one?
The Dun & Bradstreet or “DUNS” Number is a unique nine-digit identification sequence, which provides unique identifiers of single business entities, while linking corporate family structures together. It is recognized, recommended and/or required by more than 50 global, industry and trade associations, including the United Nations, the U.S. Federal Government, the Australian Government and the European Commission. In today’s global economy, the D&B DUNS Number has become the standard for keeping track of the world’s businesses. To get a DUNS Number, call 1-866-705-5711 and request for a DUNS number for doing business with federal and state government. There is no charge for the number. You can also go to the Dun & Bradstreet website at http://www.dnb.com/get-a-duns-number.html..


11. Why do I need an email address?
The Commonwealth of Virginia is quickly moving towards the use of electronic means for communication and for many of its procurement processes. In today’s world, having a computer and an email account is necessary in order to compete with other businesses.


12. I don’t have access to a computer. How do I become certified?
The Commonwealth of Virginia is quickly moving towards the use of electronic means for communication with businesses. Many of the Commonwealth’s procurement activities are electronic and having access to a computer with Internet access is vital. Businesses without computer or Internet access are strongly encouraged to obtain such access if they intend to do business with the Commonwealth. If Internet access is unavailable in your area, please contact the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity for assistance. You can also visit your local library or educational institution in your area to use their computers. You will need to obtain an electronic mail account (known as “email”) and can use many of the free services available, such as Yahoo, Hotmail, GMail, or any of the other available services.


13. How do I prove that I’m certified as a SWaM business?
Once your certification has been approved, you will receive an electronic approval letter sent to your email address. You can obtain a copy of your listing the SWaM Vendor Director by finding your business listing and printing out that page. You can also present a copy of your electronic approval letter or request a certificate from SBSD. Call the Customer Care Specialist at 804-786-6585 to make this request or email your request to sbsd@sbsd.virginia.gov


14. What is the difference between DSBSD (formerly DMBE) certification and DBE certification?
“SBSD” was the acronym for the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity: the business certification agency for the Commonwealth of Virginia. “DBE” is the acronym for certification under the federal procurement program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation: the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program. Becoming SBSD certified means that you are certified by the state and obtaining DBE certification means that you are certified to participate in the federal program for transportation-related projects.