Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises

Definition


For Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE) certification purposes, a "disabled veteran" is:
  • A veteran of the U.S. military, naval, or air service;
  • The veteran must have a service-connected disability of at least 10% or more; and
  • The veteran must reside in California.

Firm Qualifications


To be certified as a DVBE, your firm must meet the following requirements:
  • Your business must be at least 51% owned by one or more disabled veterans;
  • Your daily business operations must be managed and controlled by one or more disabled veterans

Owner Qualifications


The disabled veteran who manages and controls the business is not required to be an owner of the applicant business; and
  • Your home office must be located in the U.S. (the home office cannot be a branch or subsidiary of a foreign corporation, foreign firm, or other foreign based business).
  • All existing and all new DVBE applicants must submit to the Office of Small Business and DVBE Services (OSDS) complete copies of the DVBE's federal income tax returns for the previous three years. DVBEs who have been in business for less than three years shall submit the federal tax returns for each year they've been in business.
  • A DVBE applicant that is not a sole proprietorship and rents equipment to the state must provide the federal income tax returns for each of their disabled veteran owners or your firm will be deemed to be an equipment broker.
  • DVBE limited liability companies must be wholly owned by one or more disabled veterans.

State's DVBE Participation Program


State-certified DVBEs are eligible for the state's DVBE Participation Program. The program sets the goal to use DVBEs in at least 3% of the state's overall annual contract dollars. State agencies may use a streamlined process known as the "SB/DVBE Option" by contracting directly with a California certified DVBE business for goods, services, information technology and public works projects. The solicitation must be valued at more than $5,000, and the State agency must obtain price quotes from at least two California certified DVBE businesses. For more information, see Government Code Sections 14838.5 and 14838.7. Forms are available from the Department of General Services to become DVBE and Small Business certified.