Added: May 22, 2008 4:46 pm
The HUBZone Program was enacted into law as part of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997. The purpose of the HUBZone Program is to provide for Federal contracting assistance to qualified HUBZone small business concerns. 15 U.S.C. 657a(a). Specifically, the program s purpose is to target government contracts to small businesses located in and that employ residents from historically underutilized business zones (HUBZones). The Federal contracting assistance provided to qualified HUBZone Small Business Concerns (SBCs) is in the form of sole source awards, HUBZone set-asides, or price evaluation preferences in full and open competition. To qualify as a HUBZone small business, in general, firms must meet the following criteria: its principal office must be located in a HUBZone; it must be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more US citizens; and at least 35% of its employees must reside in a HUBZone.
The Small Business Act defines the term HUBZone to mean any area located within 1 or more: (1) qualified census tracts; (2) qualified nonmetropolitan counties; (3) lands within the external boundaries of an Indian reservation; (4) redesignated areas; or (5) base closure areas. 15 U.S.C. 632(p)(1); see also 13 C.F.R. 126.103. Further information about the HUBZone Program is available at https://eweb1.sba.gov/hubzone/internet/index.cfm.
In 1998, at the inception of the program, the SBA created a web-based system that maps these HUBZone areas. Specifically, the SBA contracted with Caliper Corporation for a customized Maptitude version that provides end-user access to all software functions and geographic data sets provided with Maptitude, as well as a customer interface that supports convenient end-user access to SBA data sets and maps. The SBA updates these maps when it receives new data relating to a HUBZone area (e.g., SBA receives unemployment data from the U.S. Department of Labor).
Currently, the SBA has a need to update the HUBZone maps based upon data received from several Federal agencies relating to unemployment, census tracts, BRAC areas, and difficult development areas. This data needs to be uploaded into the customized HUBZone Geo-code mapping system. This customized system is Maptitude, GIS for Windows Version 4.1. SBA needs these maps updated within 8 weeks from the date of award of the contract. The SBA currently does not own the shape files relating to the HUBZone maps.
The purpose of this announcement is to get a better understanding of the marketplace for these services. Please note that this is a market survey for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation. There is no solicitation document available at this time and no reimbursement will be made for costs associated with responding to this announcement. All responses must be submitted via e-mail in accordance with the instructions that follow.
Responses to this announcement must provide detailed, concise information about your organization s capabilities in providing the services similar to those described above, as well as verifiable experience within the past five (5) years for similar services. Information on prior experience shall include the contract number, dollar value of the contract, period of performance, current status, and current Government point of contact information including name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address. In addition, the response must state business size status (small; 8(a); small disadvantaged; HUBZone, service disabled, veteran owned, etc.).
This information must be emailed to Joanie Newhart at joanie.newhart@sba.gov by May 30, 2008.
