Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services (OSDS)
Our Mission
OSDS commits to help small, diverse, and disabled veteran businesses thrive. OSDS assists businesses with CERTIFICATION and access to procurement opportunities through OUTREACH, EDUCATION and ADVOCACY. OSDS provides expert guidance and advocacy support for state departments to champion the state in exceeding its 25% Small Business and 3% Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise participation goals, and to expand and diversify the range of small, diverse and disabled veteran businesses in state procurement.
New Business Legislation:
The Department of General Services has published an In Focus document highlighting the legislative bills that support and uplift small business participation in state contracts.
In Focus – Summary of Recent Legislation Impacting SB/DVBE and State Strategies
2024 Economic Impact Study of SB and DVBE Programs – Key Highlights
Certification Services
OSDS administers and oversees the Small Business (SB), Small Business for the Purpose of Public Works (SB-PW), Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE), and Nonprofit Veteran Service Agency (NVSA) certification programs. OSDS also administers and oversees the Nonprofit Recognition (NP) program. The purpose of the certification and recognition programs is to promote and increase SB, SB-PW, DVBE, NVSA, and NP participation in state contracting. In addition, OSDS handles SB/DVBE-related complaints of noncompliance and program abuse allegations.
Certification Resource Accordions
Access eligibility requirements, benefits, application instructions, and more information about the Small Business (SB), Small Business for the Purpose of Public Works (SB-PW) and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Certifications.
Apply for SB/DVBE certification at www.caleprocure.ca.gov.
To search for Small Businesses or Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise please use the following web searches:
To search for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE), LGBT Business Enterprise (LGBTBE), and Persons with Disabilities Business Enterprise (PDBE) businesses, please use the following web searches:
Access eligibility requirements, benefits, application instructions, and more information about the Nonprofit Organization (NP) Recognition and Nonprofit Veteran Service (NVSA) Certification.
Apply for NP recognition and NVSA certification at www.caleprocure.ca.gov.
All California-certified Small Businesses (SB) and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE) doing business with the state must perform a Commercially Useful Function (CUF).
OSDS assistance and advocacy provides clarification of the Prompt Payment Act to certified businesses. The Prompt Payment Act requires state agencies to pay properly submitted, undisputed invoices within 45 calendar days of initial receipt. If the requirement is not met, state departments must automatically calculate and pay the appropriate late payment penalties.
CalSAT is an interactive mapping tool to assess the California SB/DVBE certification and outreach efficacy in the state's disadvantaged communities and inform future targeted outreach and certification strategies.
OSDS responds to complaints filed on the SB/DVBE programs and/or a state of California certified firm. OSDS also periodically performs certification compliance reviews on certified firms to ensure they continue to meet the certification eligibility requirements.
View current and upcoming regulations revisions affecting SBs and DVBEs.
Business Outreach
Business Outreach Resource Accordions
OSDS hosts and participates in various events throughout the state of California to support SBs and DVBEs in state contracting. We partner with other state agencies and various organizations to reach business communities throughout the state. At events we participate in exhibiting, business matchmaking, workshops, panel presentations, and speaking engagements. We are committed to expanding statewide outreach efforts for the SB and DVBE community.
Find resources to support small businesses and disabled veteran business enterprises in contracting with the state of California.
The SB/DVBE Advocates, as state employees, are here to help certified businesses pursue contract opportunities with the department they work for. They also work closely with the buyers in their department to include SBs and DVBEs in state procurement. Almost every agency and department in the state of California has an advocate.
Certified businesses interested in emergency contract work with the state should consider registering in the state’s SB/DVBE Emergency Registry. The Registry is a dedicated searchable listing of certified businesses that are ready and able to deploy goods or services to state departments during the event of an emergency. Find out if it is right for your business before registering.
A Reciprocity Partner is a city, county, agency, or special district that honors the state of California’s SB, SB-PW, and/or DVBE certifications as acceptance into their individual business enterprise programs.
The Small Business Advisory Council (SBAC) is a group of representatives of the California small business community that provides input on policies and practices that impact small business participation in the state procurement and contracting process.
OSDS administers the Strategic Partnership Program, which provides sponsorships to support nonprofit, diverse business organizations that provide resources and training to assist current and prospective California certified businesses in contracting with the state.
Strategic Partnership Overview
For more information, email strategicpartner@dgs.ca.gov.
Register for classes at SB/DVBE Training.
State Agency Support
State Agency Support Resource Accordions
The SB/DVBE Best Practices page has resources and best practices for buyers and SB/DVBE advocates throughout the state of California to help support the inclusion of SBs and DVBEs in state procurement.
The advocates are state employees who help SBs and DVBEs pursue contract opportunities in their department. OSDS co-chairs the advocate steering committee, hosts quarterly advocate meetings, works closely with advocates, and provides oversight.
OSDS prepares a Consolidated Annual Report (CAR) of state departments award statistics each year regarding the SB and DVBE participation goals.
For Consolidated Annual Reports see File a Consolidated Annual Report for State Contracting.
The State Agency Recognition Awards (SARA) honors state departments and SB/DVBE advocates for outstanding achievements in SB/DVBE advocacy and contracting.
Schedule a Virtual Consultation
Book a one-on-one consultation with a Business Outreach Liaison
Contact
Office of Small Business and DVBE Services
Procurement Division
Department of General Services
707 Third Street, 1-400
West Sacramento, CA 95605
Phone: (916) 375-4940
Certification Services:
Certification@dgs.ca.gov
SB/DVBE Complaints, Compliance & Program Abuse: SB.DVBECompliance@dgs.ca.gov
SB/DVBE Regulations:
SBDVBERegulations@dgs.ca.gov
Business Outreach: BusinessOutreach@dgs.ca.gov
Strategic Partnerships: StrategicPartner@dgs.ca.gov
Small Business Advisory Council: DGSSBCouncil@dgs.ca.gov
SB/DVBE Training Unit
SBDVBETraining@dgs.ca.gov
State Advocacy Support
Advocates: Advocate@dgs.ca.gov
Consolidated Annual Reports: OSDSReports@dgs.ca.gov