This Supporting Documents Guide is provided to help eligible small businesses understand all the documentation they will need to provide to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This documentation must be provided within 60 days of beginning their electronic application in order for their certification submission to be considered complete and ready for screening and review.
Purpose of Required Documentation
The SBA uses the documentation provided by the business to verify its compliance with the program requirements for the certification(s) the business is seeking. The SBA may also conduct independent research, including reviewing the company’s website and other public websites. In processing an application, the SBA is looking for consistency in the information contained in the business’s online application, supporting documentation submitted, and the independent research it conducts to ensure that the owners are in control of the business and the business meets all requirements. The SBA will make a final eligibility determination based on the information provided in the application, the documents submitted, any explanations provided, and any other available information.
Prepare and Plan Ahead
If you gather the materials in this checklist and follow the guidelines before you initiate an application, you will have greater success in completing the application smoothly. If you have questions as you review this document and prepare your application, please access our customer support resources:
Reach out to the Help Desk at certifications@sba.gov.
Call: 1-866-443-4110
Visit MySBA Certifications for tips, tools, fact sheets, and frequently asked questions (FAQs): http://certification.sba.gov .
Common Application Pitfalls
The following are the most common issues that arise in application submissions and prevent the SBA from initiating or completing a full review.
Failure to submit all required documents. The SBA cannot initiate a review until all required documents are present.
Failure to submit all required documents within 60 days of your draft application. The SBA will close the application if all required documents have not been submitted within 60 days.
Failure to respond to requests for additional information during the screening and review process within 7 calendar days. If the business fails to provide any of the requested documents or information within the 7 calendar days required, the SBA may draw an adverse inference and conclude that the business does not meet eligibility requirements and may close or deny the application.
Determining Final Proof of Eligibility
The SBA requires that your business be eligible from the time of submission through final decision. If circumstances change after you submit your application and the SBA has not yet made a final decision regarding your application, you are required to inform the SBA. This is important because if the eligibility of your business is protested in connection with a set-aside contract award, you will be required to provide proof of your business’s eligibility as of the business’s certification (approval) date. It is your responsibility to notify us of any changes and to maintain your records proving eligibility as of your certification date.
Re-Applying
Please note that a business that voluntarily closes or withdraws an application may re-apply at any time. A business that is declined by the SBA can re-apply 90 days from the date of the decline notice. If a business is declined with appealable rights for 8(a), VOSB, and SDVOSB applications, the business may appeal the decision to the SBA’s Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA). The business’s petition must be filed in accordance with the requirements set forth in 13 C.F.R. Part 134 and §124.206f.