Virginia Department of Health ProfessionsAn official website of the Commonwealth of Virginia Here's how you knowAn official websiteHere's how you know
Governor Northam’s Executive Order 35, “advancing equity for small, women, minority, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses and state contracting,” which was signed into effect on 7/3/2019 will have some impact on the way DHP purchases goods and services. The Executive Order (EO) replaces Executive Order 20, signed into effect in 2014.
The Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (VDSBSD) supports and promotes economic development in the Commonwealth of Virginia by enhancing growth opportunities for Virginia’s small businesses to prosper through increased revenue and job creation thereby raising the standard of living for all Virginians.
Through the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD), we ensure that we continue to creatively seek new suppliers to fulfill the business opportunities at the Agency and ensure that minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and small business enterprises are given a full and fair opportunity to compete for these opportunities.
The Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned Business (SWaM) certification program is a state program of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The purpose is to enhance procurement opportunities for SWaM businesses participating in state-funded projects.
Micro: Micro Business is a certified Small Business under the SWaM Program and has no more than twenty-five (25) employees AND no more than $3 million in average annual revenue over the three-year period prior to their certification.
Small: “Small business” means a business that is at least 51% independently owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, and together with affiliates, has 250 or fewer employees, or average annual gross receipts of $10 million or less averaged over the previous three years.
Women-Owned: “Women-owned business” means a business that is at least 51% owned by one or more women who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, or in the case of a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity, at least 51% of the equity ownership interest is owned by one or more women who are citizens of the United States or legal resident aliens, and both the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women.
Minority-Owned: “Minority-owned business” means a business that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more minority individuals who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, or in the case of a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity, at least 51 percent of the equity ownership interest in the corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity is owned by one or more minority individuals who are U.S. citizens or legal resident aliens, and both the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more minority individuals, or any historically black college or university, regardless of the percentage ownership by minority individuals or, in the case of a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity, the equity ownership interest in the corporation, partnership, or limited liability company or other entity.
Service-Disabled Veterans: Veterans who are small business owners can obtain Service Disabled Veteran-owned “status” in the SWaM vendor database. This is not a separate certification; it is a designation of those businesses that are owned by Service Disabled Veterans who are certified as such by the Virginia Department of Veteran Services. Veterans wishing to apply for service disabled veteran status must first seek eligibility certification from the Department of Veteran Services by calling (804) 786-0286 or visiting the DVS website at https://www.DVS.Virginia.gov. Veterans can apply for small, women-owned or minority-owned certification with the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity before or after obtaining an eligibility certificate from DVS. Both services are available at no charge.
To begin the SWaM Certification process, click here for the Certification Application Portal. To apply for SWaM Certification, click here.
Step by Step SWaM Certification Tutorial is available .
