Small Business

Every year, the Department of Defense (DoD) awards approximately $1B in contracts to small businesses in Hawaii. The range in products and services vary from professional services to construction to food and produce. There are numerous resources to help small businesses interested in doing business with the Department of Defense in Hawaii. For a list of resources, go here.

The current government-wide procurement goal stipulates that at least 23 percent of all federal government contracting dollars should be awarded to small businesses. In addition, targeted sub-goals are established for small business categories, including: Women-Owned Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business and HUBZone. For more information on federal government contracting assistance programs go here.

Women-Owned Small Business

The Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) Federal Contract Program was implemented to expand the number of industries WOSB were able to compete for business with the federal government. The program allows for Economically Disadvantaged WOSBs and WOSBs to compete for federal contracts in industries where women-owned businesses are underrepresented.

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business

The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concern Program was established to assist these businesses to participate in government contracts. In order to be eligible, the company must be 51 percent owned by a Service-Disabled Veteran (SDV), and the SDV must control the management and daily operations, as well as hold the highest officer position of the company.

8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business

The 8(a) Business Development Program provides assistance to small disadvantaged businesses to firms that are owned and controlled, at least 51 percent by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Some of the groups recognized as socially disadvantaged include: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans (including American Indians, Native Alaskans and Native Hawaiians), Asia Pacific Americans and Subcontinent Asian Americans.

HUBZone Program 

Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) program helps small businesses in urban and rural communities gain preferential access to federal procurement opportunities. HUBZone businesses must be located in a designated area and 35 percent of its employees must reside in the HUBZone. The state of Hawaii has numerous HUBZones, which can be checked here.

If you are interested in finding small business partners located in Hawaii, the Small Business Administration (SBA) offers a Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) application. In addition, the following data tool can be used to search for small businesses in special set-aside categories based on recent prime contract awards.

Data Analysis Tool – Find Companies in Special Categories

Select a special category in Box A, a 6 digit NAICS code in Box B, or a state where the org./ business is physically located, e.g. HI for Hawaii based companies (Box C). A list of org./ businesses will appear in Box D that have received prime contract awards over the last 12 months. If you select a specific org./ business in Box D, a list of that entity’s contracts will appear in Section E.