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    Learn how to get certified as a Small Business (SB) and have your third-party certification verified as a Small Diverse Business (SDB) - businesses owned by minorities, women, service-disabled veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community; or Veteran-Business Enterprise (VBE), with the Department of General Services, now! 

    Certifying your business with the Commonwealth can provide access to opportunities, resources, and support. The Department of General Services offers a range of services to help SB/SDB/VBE companies succeed, including training and education programs, networking opportunities, and marketing support. By taking advantage of these resources, small businesses can increase their knowledge, expand their networks, and grow their businesses more effectively. 

    The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is committed to supporting SBs/SDBs/VBEs when selecting potential suppliers, and many have goal setting figures around those business classifications. 

    How Long Does Certification Take? 

    Self-certify as a small business with DGS + diverse or + veteran owned business

    ​About 15 minutes
    		​Less than 10 days
    		​Approximately 1-90 days
    ​Self certify as a small business with DGS
    		​Verify as SDB/ VBE if you already hold a 3rd party certificate
    		​Apply for SDB/ VBE certification with external 3rd party certified partner
     
    Certifying as a small business that meets our criteria is a 15-20 minute process and self-certification is immediate upon process completion. 
    If you already hold a certificate from one or more third-party certifiers recognized by the Commonwealth of PA, BDISBO will verify the certificate within 10 business days. If you do not have a certificate, it can take up to 90 days for certification through a third party. 

    Registering as a Commonwealth Supplier and Obtaining a Vendor Number 

    Before certifying as a small business with DGS, small businesses must register as a Commonwealth Supplier with the Department of State and obtain a vendor number. Follow this link for more information. 

    Certify a Small Business 

    Certify as a Small Business Vendor with the Department of General Services. View the certification/verification checklist to make sure you have all the required information gathered ahead of time to streamline the application process. 

    Verify a Small Diverse Business or Veteran Business Enterprise

    To be verified as a Small Diverse Business (SDB) or Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE), you must already hold a certificate from one or more third-party certifiers recognized by the Commonwealth of PA and upload the certificate into BDISBO’s compliance portal. View the certification/verification checklist to make sure you have all the required information gathered ahead of time to streamline the application process. 
    Finding Business Opportunities for My SB/SDB/VBE
     
    Once SB certification and/or SDB/VBE verification is complete, vendors may begin looking for procurement opportunities.
     
    Go to E-marketplace, the Commonwealth’s official one-stop shop for bid announcements, awards and contract information, to find all current and archived bidding opportunities. Other solicitations can be found by contacting the agency’s procurement office. 
     
    You can also sign up for e-alerts to notify you of upcoming procurements and solicitations as they become available.  

    Additional Resources  

    There are a myriad of procurement opportunities and platforms available to vendors. Please take the time to review the PA Supplier Service Center. The Supplier Service Center assists with registration, bidding, and account management. This site provides assistance to companies that want to sell materials or services to state agencies.