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Florida Association of Veteran-Owned Businesses

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  • 01/20/2023 12:37 PM | Anonymous

    Kennedy Space Center Virtual Outreach

    Tuesday, February 7

    10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET

    SBA Updates on the 8(a) and SDB Programs 

    The U.S. Small Business Administration will share recent updates to the 8(a) and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) programs. 

    Click here to register.  (Duplicate registrations will be deleted.)

    Questions about this event?  Contact NASA OSBP-KSC at ksc-smallbusiness@mail.nasa.gov   

    Log-in information will be provided after registration, within the Eventbrite confirmation.  We look forward to your participation in our event! 


  • 01/18/2023 7:10 AM | Anonymous

    The SBA Veteran Small Business Certification program started to receive applications on January 9th at the following address:  veterans.certify.sba.gov

    Certification with SBA allows service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) to compete for federal sole-source and set-aside contracts across the federal government. Certified veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) have additional opportunities to pursue sole-source and set-aside contracts at the Veterans Administration (VA) under the VA’s Vets First program.

    SBA’s new Veteran Small Business Certification program implements changes from the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA 2021) which transferred the certification function from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to SBA as of January 1, 2023. The transfer provides veterans with a central support point for their small business certification needs.

    The final rule, which provides program and governance guidance, was published in the Federal Register on November 29, 2022.

    Benefits of SBA certification

    o    Certification allows SDVOSB firms the opportunity to compete for sole-source and set-aside contracts across the federal government. Certified VOSBs may also compete for sole-source and set-aside contracts from the VA.

    o    Self-certified firms seeking these restricted-competition opportunities must apply to SBA for certification by December 31, 2023.

    Eligibility requirements

    To apply for certification with SBA as a VOSB or SDVOSB, a firm must meet the following requirements:

    o    Be considered a small business, as defined by the size standard corresponding to any NAICS code listed in the business’s SAM profile.

    o    Have no less than 51% of the business owned and controlled by one or more veterans.

    o    For certification as a SDVOSB, have no less than 51% of the business owned and controlled by one or more veterans rated as service-disabled by the VA. 

    o    For those veterans who are permanently and totally disabled and unable to manage the daily business operations of their business, their business may still qualify if their spouse or appointed, permanent caregiver is assisting in that management.

    For a full list of eligibility requirements, see the final rule published in the Federal Register.

    Certification transfer from the VA and one-year extension

    o    Firms verified by the VA Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) as of January 1, 2023, are automatically granted certification by SBA for the remainder of the firm’s eligibility period.

    o    SBA intends to grant a one-time, one-year extension of certification to current VOSBs and SDVOSBs verified by the VA as of the transfer date on January 1, 2023. This additional year will be added to the existing eligibility period of a current participant.

    o    New applicants certified by SBA after January 1, 2023, will receive the standard three-year certification period.

    Grace period for self-certified firms

    o    The NDAA 2021 grants a one-year grace period for self-certified SDVOSBs until January 1, 2024.  During the grace period, self-certified businesses have one year to file an application for SDVOSB certification and may continue to rely on their self-certification to compete for non-VA SDVOSB set-aside contracts.

    o    Self-certified SDVOSBs that apply before January 1, 2024, will maintain their eligibility through the expiration of the grace period until SBA issues a final eligibility decision.

    o    VOSBs and SDVOSBs seeking sole-source and set-aside opportunities with the VA must be certified – there is no grace period.

    How to apply for certification

    To establish an SBA account and apply for certification, visit the Veteran Small Business Certification portal.

    Through the application portal, you will be able to:

    o    Access checklists and pre-application guides

    o    Check your firm’s eligibility

    o    Request information

    o    Create an account, login and proceed with an application

    o    Search for a certified VOSB or SDVOSB

    To help prepare for your application and gather the correct documents, use this SBA Veteran Small Business Certification fact sheet.

    For more details about the transfer and SBA’s Veteran Small Business Certification, see our Frequently Asked Questions.

    For questions about the transfer and SBA’s Veteran Small Business Certification, please email vetcert@sba.gov or call the dedicated toll-free call center at 800-862-8088.


  • 12/07/2022 10:46 AM | Anonymous

    First Look & Live Demo: SBA Veteran Small Business Certification Program

    SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman has updates to SBA’s Veteran Small Business Certification Program during a December 6 webinar.

    By SBA Office of Veterans Business Development

    Date and time

    Tue, Dec 6, 2022, 4:00 PM EST

    Location

    Online

    About this event

    • Duration = 1 hour

    Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman will share important updates about the SBA's new Veteran Small Business Certification Program and reveal the SBA's certification application portal in a live demonstration. The demonstration will be followed by a Q&A period.

    Get your registration done here: First Look & Live Demo: SBA Veteran Small Business Certification Program Tickets, Tue, Dec 6, 2022 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite


  • 11/30/2022 3:22 PM | Anonymous

    All,

    Staff Sergeant Brent Maney’s, combat AF Pararescue Veteran was injured in a parachute accident.  His story is compelling.  

    Montel William's Military Makeover is assisting the family with a full house renovation in Melbourne, FL December 1-10.  

    They are in need of volunteers to help.  Carpenters, electricians, plumbing, drywall and general labor and clean up.  This is the schedule to volunteer. 

    Please consider volunteering and share this information with your social network and let's lend a hand to a hero's family in need.  


  • 11/21/2022 12:59 PM | Anonymous

    On Veterans Day 2022, the National Park Service will unveil a lifetime pass providing free entrance to national parks for Veterans and their families. The Interagency Military Lifetime Pass waives entrance fees for the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and standard amenity recreation fees for the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites for current military service members and their dependents, Veterans and Gold Star Families.

    Veterans and their families have free access to approximately 2,000 public locations spread out across more than 400 million acres of public lands, which host activities to fit any lifestyle—from serene to high octane, including hiking, fishing, paddling, biking, hunting, stargazing, camping, and much more.

    The Military Pass has been expanded to include a pass that does not expire for Veterans and Gold Star Family members. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2022 authorized a free lifetime pass to national parks and other federal recreational lands for eligible Veterans and Gold Star Families. In recent years, they were able to receive annual passes.

    Are you eligible?

    For purposes of this program, a Veteran is identified as an individual who has served in the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserve, and is able to present one of the following forms of valid (unexpired) identification:

    Gold Star Families are next of kin of a member of the United States Armed Forces who lost his or her life in a “qualifying situation,” such as a war, an international terrorist attack, or a military operation outside of the United States while serving with the United States Armed Forces.

    The America the Beautiful – the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass (Interagency Pass) Program

    The Interagency Pass Program includes a free annual pass for active-duty members of the U.S. Military and their dependents. Current Military service members must show a valid (unexpired) Department of Defense ID. Dependents of current service members must show a valid (unexpired) DD Form 1173 AD or DEC.

    Other free or discounted passes, including some lifetime passes, are available for persons with permanent disabilities, fourth grade students, volunteers and senior citizens age 62 years or older.

    How to get your Interagency Pass

    Interagency Passes can be obtained in person while visiting a participating site. Visit Places to Get Interagency Passes for a searchable list and be sure to contact the site before you go, to make sure they are open and have passes in stock. In addition, Military passes, as well as those for seniors and persons with permanent disabilities, are available online through the USGS Online Store with an additional processing fee. Existing passes remain valid. You do not need to obtain a new pass if you already have a Lifetime Senior or Access Pass.

    For more information about eligibility and passes, visit Free Entrance to National Parks for Veterans and Gold Star Families (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).

    The participating agencies also offer several fee-free days for everyone throughout the year to mark days of celebration and commemoration. Examples of fee-free days include the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., National Public Lands Day, Veterans Day and the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act.

    Fee-free days and fee policies vary among the agencies, so it’s best to check the agency website or contact the site you plan to visit in advance of your trip.

    APPLY FOR A VETERAN ID CARD

    APPLY FOR A VETERAN HEALTH IDENTIFICATION CARD (VHIC)


  • 11/15/2022 11:34 AM | Anonymous

    éclat Law’s Foundation for Community Action and the Florida Association of Veteran-Owned Businesses (FAVOB) partnered together and raised $2,000 for Community Legal Services, the largest nonprofit legal aid in Florida. The law firm hosted a Veterans for Veterans event that highlighted resources for veterans. Kevin Ross, President of the Community Legal Services Board of Directors, and Founder/Managing Partner at éclat Law stated, “Veterans have served our country and deserve to have access to legal services regardless of their income bracket. With the first week in November being Veteran’s Small Business Week, we appreciated the opportunity to partner with FAVOB and their members.” “Community Legal Services fights for our Veterans every day with legal issues related to income, housing, family, and medical issues. The funds raised at Veterans for Veterans will continue to support these important needs.” stated Jeffrey Harvey, CEO of Community Legal Services, and veteran of the U.S. Army. Stuart Smith, CEO of FAVOB and U.S. Army veteran adds, “We are grateful for éclat Law’s support and for bringing together so many advocates for veterans. We continue to help veterans thrive through FAVOB and our partner organizations.” About éclat Law, LLP: éclat Law is an innovative law firm dedicated to delivering client-focused solutions in the practice areas of civil rights and employment law, complex litigation, business law, and entertainment and arts. Founded by Kevin Ross-Andino in 2015, the éclat team of experienced attorneys and staff is passionate about serving the needs of clients both in and out of the courtroom. https://eclatlaw.com

  • 11/09/2022 12:28 PM | Anonymous

    If you are interested in listening to the November 8th VOSB Certification program presentation, please click on the tile below. This presentation will only be available for 30 days.

    LOTS of changes to know about if you are interested in certifying your veteran small business.  

    LOTS of information in the presentation and the Q&A.  

    Teams Call 

  • 11/04/2022 9:35 AM | Anonymous

    FROM THE SBA -

    We are pleased to share with you updates related to the upcoming transfer of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), effective January 1, 2023.

    The Administrator recently announced the official name for the certification program at the SBA will be called the Veteran Small Business Certification program. The new name emphasizes the SBA’s commitment to the veteran community and to properly certifying veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) to compete for federal contracts.

    The Veteran Small Business Certification program is scheduled to officially begin operations and accept new applications in January 2023.

    Administrator Guzman also shared much-anticipated news that she intends to grant a one-time, one-year extension to current veteran-owned small businesses verified by the VA as of the transfer date on January 1, 2023. More details on the extension can be found in the press release: https://www.sba.gov/article/2022/nov/03/administrator-guzman-announces-path-forward-veteran-small-business-certification-program

    Along with the recertification extension, the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act grants a one-year grace period for self-certified SDVOSBs until January 1, 2024. Find out more about this extension in the press release: https://www.sba.gov/article/2022/nov/03/administrator-guzman-announces-path-forward-veteran-small-business-certification-program

    Until the SBA opens the VSBC program in January 2023, the recommended next step for uncertified veteran-owned small businesses is to self-certify so that you have federal contracting opportunities through all federal agencies, aside from the VA, until 2024.

    Join us for a public update on the SBA’s Veterans Small Business Certification program on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 from 1 PM to 2 PM ET. Register for the event here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marching-to-vosb-certification-tickets-459111774677

    In the meantime, please continue to direct any questions to our SBA HQs mailbox – cvetransfer@sba.gov.


  • 11/02/2022 2:56 PM | Anonymous

    eMerge Americas is a superbly designed and curated conference drawing over 20K attendees from around the world. More than 100 companies will be selected to participate in the global Startup Showcase on April 20-21 (2023), and 5 of them will be Mil/Vet/Spo led.

    Selected startups will have a chance to win over $400,000 in investment in a mega-pitch competition, get their own exhibition booth for both days, access to the world’s leading tech investors, corporate partners, and much more.

    The top 5 Mil/Vet/Spo startups will be selected.  Those interested must email pitch decks by November 21st. If selected, they will be fast-tracked and placed on the showcase list.

    Further details:

    • Qualifications (see here)
    • Exhibit booth for both days (free)
    • Conference Passes for 3 team members (free)
    • Access to all conference programming (free)
    • Travel & Lodging is at the startups' expense
    • For further questions, email 


  • 10/31/2022 11:37 AM | Anonymous

    NASA Office of Small Business Programs - Kennedy Space Center Virtual Outreach

    Tuesday, November 1 1030A

    Equity in Procurement: Women-Owned Small Business

    Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) play a pivotal role in supporting NASA’s missions. Learn about recent SBA changes to the WOSB program, including the recent NAICS Code update. Listen in as our speakers share tips, tools, and resources on navigating the world of federal contracting. Guests include the U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce®, and NASA Office of Small Business Programs.

    We look forward to your participation! This webinar is open to all, regardless of socioeconomic category.

    Log-in information will be sent with the Eventbrite confirmation. If you have questions regarding this topic, email them in advance to ksc-smallbusiness@mail.nasa.gov and type, “OSBP - KSC Virtual Outreach Question" in the subject line.

    Register Here

FAVOB

Creating opportunities for Veteran Business Owners to THRIVE.

CONTACTS

Email: ceo@favob.org
Physical Address: 835 Bennett Rd. 
Orlando, FL 32803

Mailing Address: 430 Crown Oak Centre Dr, Longwood, FL 32750

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