Small-Local Business Preference Program

We want to help certain businesses and organizations compete for County contracts. If you qualify, you can get benefits including a 15% pricing preference when we evaluate your bid.

Eligibility

Your business must meet County definitions of both “small” and “local.”

Small business

Please review the County’s definition of small businesses on our Small Business Support page.

The County does not certify businesses. We do recognize certifications from other certifying institutions through our Reciprocal Small-Local Business Certification Program. 

The following certifications meet the County's criteria for small businesses:

  • Federal
    • HUBZone, from the Small Business Administration (SBA)
    • Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB)
    • Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOB)
  • State of California
    • Small Business (SB)
    • Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE)
  • City of San Diego
    • Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE)
    • Emerging Local Business Enterprise (ELBE)

Local business

To count as a “local business,” one or more of these must be true:

  • Your main office or headquarters is in San Diego County
  • You have a physical location in San Diego County where regular business work is done
  • You are part of a legal partnership or joint venture where at least one member meets the above criteria and:
    • Performs a commercially useful function
    • Has an ownership stake in the business
    • Is not simply a subcontractor

Get help with eligibility

If your business does not have one of the above certifications but you believe you may be eligible, you can get free technical assistance and resources through:

How to apply

  1. Make sure your business holds a valid certification from the list above and meets the definition of “local business” as listed above.
  2. Register on Buynet, the County’s procurement website, to get information on upcoming opportunities.
  3. When you respond to a procurement, complete and submit a Self Certification.

Contact

For more information or to recommend that a certification to be added to this program, please contact: econdev@sdcounty.ca.gov.