Section 4: Glossary of Terms & Common Acronyms

8(a) Business Development	The 8(a) program is for businesses owned by citizens who are socially and economically disadvantaged. A business that is certified as an 8(a) is eligible for sole-source and limited-competition government contracts.
Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)	Adjusted Gross Income = total income minus deductions (or "adjustments" to income) that a business/individual is eligible to take according to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules and regulations. Gross income includes wages, dividends, capital gains, business and retirement income as well as all other forms income.
AGCO	Agricultural Cooperatives, one of the approved Controlling Entities for Entity-Owned business applicants.
AIT	American Indian Tribes, one of the approved Controlling Entities for Entity-Owned business applicants.
ANC	Alaska Native Corporation, one of the approved Controlling Entities for Entity-Owned business applicants.
Associated Businesses	Businesses associated with a primary business through UEI. Examples of associated businesses could be parent companies or other companies owned by the Qualified Owner.
Business Dashboard	The persistent banner at the top of the MySBA Certifications interface from which a user can access various components of their account such as the Homepage, Messages, Documents, Support, Notifications, User Profile, and various items pertaining to their business’s application.
Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code	A five-character ID number used by the Federal Government to identify vendors.
Common Application	This refers to the common elements of questions, data, and documents between the 8a, WOSB, VOSB, and HUBZone certifications within the MySBA Certifications platform.
CDC	Community Development Corporations, one of the approved Controlling Entities for Entity-Owned business applicants.
Contributor	One of the three primary business applicant user roles in the MySBA Certifications application process. A Contributor is permitted to complete designated sections of the Common Application, upload their individual required documentation, and review/attest to the information they provide, however they must be invited to do so by a Qualified Owner or Delegate.
Controlling Entity	A company or organization designated by SBA that can own one or more applicant businesses. Controlling Entities must be from the following groups or organizations: Alaska Native Corporations (ANC) Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHO) Community Development Corporations (CDC) Indian Tribes Agricultural Cooperatives (AGCO)
Delegate	One of the three primary business applicant user roles in the MySBA Certifications application process. An individual enabled by the Qualified Owner (QO) to input firm-related information and documents on the QO’s behalf. MySBA Certifications applications may only have one assigned Delegate per application. A Delegate can be an owner (20% or more), board member, day-to-day manager, employee, eligible spouse, operating employee, officer, director, partner, consultant, or any other important member of the business.
Economically Disadvantaged (ED)	Economically disadvantaged refers to individuals whose ability to compete in the free enterprise system has been impaired due to diminished capital and credit opportunities as compared to others in the same or similar line of business.
Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Businesses (EDWOSB)	An Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Businesses (EDWOSB) certification is available to a small business in which one or more economically disadvantaged women unconditionally and directly own at least 51% of the business.
Entity-Owned	A business structure in which a person, group of people, or “parent” business entity owns a separate business organization. Such legal entities come in various forms to suit the financial and business needs of their owners. Entity structures vary based on liability, transferability, cost, taxation, and simplicity, and they can be arranged as sole proprietor, limited liability company (LLC), partnership, or corporation.
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)	The body of regulations which is the primary source of authority governing the government procurement process. The FAR, which is published as Chapter 1 of Title 48 of the Code of Federal Regulations, is prepared, issued, and maintained under the joint auspices of the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of General Services Administration, and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Actual responsibility for maintenance and revision of the FAR is vested jointly in the Defense Acquisition Regulatory Council (DARC) and the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council (CAAC).
Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone)	This program provides assistance to small businesses located in Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones) through limited-competition contract competitions, sole source awards, or price evaluation preferences in full and open competitions. The determination of whether an area is a HUBZone is based on criteria specified in SBA regulations. To be certified as a HUBZone small business, at least 35% of the small business’s employees must reside in the HUBZone.
HUBZone Calculator	The HUBZone Calculator, or HUBZone Eligibility Calculator, is used to enter information about a business’s employees and where they work. Once the steps are completed, you’ll be able to see if your business appears to meet the HUBZone Program’s requirement that the principal office is located in a HUBZone and at least 35% of the business’s employees reside in a HUBZone.
HUBZone Map	The HUBZone map displays a map of HUBZone boundaries within the U.S. It allows small businesses to determine if their principal office and 35% of their employees are located within a HUBZone area. An applicant can use the HUBZone Map to determine and document eligibility for the HUBZone Program.
Joint Venture	In the SBA Mentor-Protégé Program, an agreement between a certified 8(a) business and a mentor business to fulfill a specific federal contract.
Mentor	A business or other organization (usually large in size) that has created a specialized program to advance strategic relationships with small businesses.
Mentor Protégé Program (MPP)	The Mentor Protégé Program offers small businesses the chance to become protégés to a mentor organization, and thereby gain capacity and win government contracts through the partnership.
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)	NAICS (and its associated code list) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy.
NHO	Native Hawaiian Organizations, one of the approved Controlling Entities for Entity-Owned business applicants.
Ownership and Control Requirements	The Ownership and Control Requirements are documents that provide proof a business is at least 51 percent owned by U.S. citizens. Examples include: proof of citizenship, corporate documents, affiliate information (if applicable), and certification form (signature sheet). Organizations or entities owned by Indian tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, Native Hawaiian Organizations, or Community Development Corporations may hold exemption status from these requirements.
Ownership/Control Table	Completed by a business's Qualified Owner or Delegate as a prerequisite to Common Application initiation, this table functions to identify certification programs for which the business is eligible.
PDF	Portable Document Format, or PDF, is a file format developed by Adobe that presents text and/or graphical documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems. PDF documents are easily viewed, printed, and electronically transmitted.
Prime Contract	A contract awarded directly by the Federal government.
Principal Office Requirements	The Principal Office Requirements are documents required to determine and/or demonstrate proof that the business’s principal office is fully operational and located in a HUBZone. Examples include: lease/rental agreement or deed, utility bill, and HUBZone map of principal office address.
Qualified Owner (QO)	One of the three primary business applicant user roles in the MySBA Certifications application process. The QO is a designated business owner that owns and controls the business applying for certification, and serves as leader of the application effort.
Request for Information (RFI)	After a business has submitted their application, an SBA Analyst sends an RFI notice to a business applicant via MySBA Certifications when more information is needed to supplement what has already been provided in the initial application submission. When an RFI is received by a business, there is a specified time window for the business to respond and submit the supplementary information being requested. This information will generally be submitted to the Document Center section of the business’s account.
Return to Business (RTB)	After a business has submitted their application, an SBA Analyst sends an RTB notice to a business applicant via MySBA Certifications when the business's initial application is incomplete. When the RTB is received by the business, there is a specific time window for the business to input missing information and resubmit their application.
SBA Analyst	An analyst within the SBA who is responsible for decision-making and/or correspondence with a business once that business has submitted its application for review and processing.
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)	The SDVOSB program grants procuring agencies the authority to set acquisitions aside for exclusive competition among service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns.
Small Business	A business meeting a specific set of criteria related to its size, revenue, and/or number of employees.
Small Business Act	Requires that a fair portion of the total federal government contracts and expenses be placed with small businesses to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of the country.
System for Award Management (SAM)/SAM.gov	Business applicants are required to register in the System for Award Management (SAM). Each applicant may go to http://SAM.gov and answer the appropriate SAM questions found in the Representations and Certifications section, FAR 52.212-3, and Small Business Program Representations section, FAR 52.219-1.
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)	An identification number used by the IRS in the administration of tax laws. This could be a Social Security Number (SSN), Employer Identification Number (EIN), Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), or other TIN. If you are a small business applicant within MySBA Certifications, this number should be the TIN associated to your http://SAM.gov registration.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)	An independent agency of the federal government created in 1953 to help Americans start, build, and grow businesses by delivering lenders loan guarantees and by offering borrowers counseling sessions and other forms of assistance for their small businesses.
Unique Entity ID (UEI)	A 12-character alphanumeric ID assigned to an entity by http://SAM.gov.
Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB)	The Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) Federal Contract Program allows set-asides for VOSBs in industries where veteran-owned businesses are underrepresented. VOSBs must be at least 51% owned and controlled by veterans whose military service can be confirmed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Certified VOSBs are granted the opportunity to pursue sole-source and set-aside contracts in accord with the VA’s “Vets First” program.
Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)	The Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract Program allows set-asides for WOSBs in industries where women-owned businesses are underrepresented. WOSBs must be at least 51% owned and controlled by women.