HUBZone Set-Aside
HUBZone is the only set-aside category that also carries a price evaluation preference in full-and-open competition. Certified firms get two distinct advantages, which makes maintaining certification unusually valuable.
- Who can bid
- SBA-certified HUBZone small businesses
- Authority
- FAR 19.13
- Typical thresholds
- Set-aside or sole source up to program thresholds; plus 10% price preference in open competition
- Where to search
- SAM.gov set-aside filter
Key takeaways
- Set-asides shrink the field — your real competition is often three to eight firms, not fifty.
- Limitations on subcontracting apply: you must perform the required share of the work yourself.
- Eligibility is determined as of your initial offer including price, so certifications must be current at submission.
- Ineligible bids are protestable, and size or status protests are common in tight competitions.
How the set-aside works
Awards go only to certified HUBZone firms that continue to meet the principal-office and 35% employee-residency requirements. Sole source is permitted within thresholds when only one certified firm is likely to bid at a fair price.
Finding these opportunities
Use the SAM.gov HUBZone set-aside filter, and separately track full-and-open solicitations where your 10% price preference could flip the best-value calculation in your favor.
Competing and winning
Keep continuous residency documentation, because losing certification mid-pursuit voids your eligibility. In open competition, price to your strengths — the preference means you can propose a more experienced team at a modestly higher price and still win.
FAQ
Does the price preference apply to set-asides?
No. It applies in full-and-open competitions, not within HUBZone-restricted competitions.
Must I stay certified after award?
You must be eligible at offer and comply with program requirements, including recertification obligations.
Do subcontractors need to be in a HUBZone?
No, but limitations on subcontracting still apply to how much work can go to other-than-small firms.
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