Do you know that Governor Kaine has signed an executive order stating that the Commonwealth will work towards spending 40% of our money for goods and services with Certified Small Businesses?

In reference to this, the state policy for buyers now has a mandated set-aside for all non-technology related companies for purchases under $50,000.

Do you know what SWAM certification is?

Do you know how to certify your company as a SWAM business?

Any company who has 250 or less employees, or less than 10 million dollar gross over a three year period, may certify through the Department of Minority Business Enterprise as small business.

   This is for minority owned businesses 
                    or 
   women-owned businesses 
                    or 
   small-owned businesses (not women or minority)

What does the small set aside mean?    Example:    a janitorial company that has not certified through DMBE, cannot submit quotes for purchases under $50,000, unless the buyer cannot locate a fair and reasonable quote from a certified business.  There is a potential you are missing a lot of business due to the fact of not being certified.

For those vendors who are certified, do you know how to find the marketing reports in eVA which shows which agencies are buying your commodity, what vendors are receiving the awards, and how much we are paying the vendors?

Also, do you know there are 171 state agencies and their buyer contact information is available on the eVA homepage?

If you need assistance with eVA or with completing your SWAM certification, this one hour workshop is for you.  Appointments are still available on December 14th.

Contact Tammy Farmer, VCO, at 804-371-8258

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