District of Columbia Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise Preference

The District's certified business enterprise program gives preference in District contracting to businesses in several categories, one of which is veteran-owned. Who qualifies. D.C. Code 2-218.38: a business is eligible if it is a local business enterprise, is "not less than 51% owned and operated by one of more veterans (as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(2))", has at least 51 percent of its stock owned by veterans if publicly owned, and "One or more veterans control the management and daily operations". Because the definition is the federal one, any veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable counts, including a Space Force veteran. The Department of Small and Local Business Development asks for a DD Form 214. The local business prerequisite. Certification as a local business enterprise, which in general means a business headquartered in the District, is a prerequisite for every other certified business category. A veteran-owned business in Maryland or Virginia cannot be certified. What it is worth. D.C. Code 2-218.43(a) gives "Two points for a veteran-owned business enterprise" on proposals and "Two percent" off the price on bids. The preferences stack with the others a business holds, such as three for a small business and two for a local business, but subsection (b) caps the total at 12 points or 12 percent. How to apply. Through the Department of Small and Local Business Development's certification portal; the veteran-owned category is requested with or after the certified business enterprise application.