Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE)

A for-profit business, regardless of size, physically located in the United States or its trust territories, that is:  (1) at least 51percent owned by one or more minority individuals or in the case of a publicly owned business, at least 51percent of the stock is owned by one or more minority individuals, and (2) whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more minority individuals.

Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)

A for-profit business, regardless of size, physically located in the United States or its trust territories that is: (1) at least 51 percent owned by one or more women or in the case of a publicly owned business, at least 51percent of the stock owned by one or more women, and (2) whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women.

Small Business Enterprise (SBE)

A for-profit small business concern, including its affiliates, that is independently owned and operated, is organized for profit, and is not dominant in its field. Depending on the industry, size standard eligibility is based on the average number of employees for the preceding twelve months or on sales volume averaged over a three-year period.  Classifications are as follows:

• Small HUBZone Business – Located in a historically underutilized business zone. At least 35 percent of employees must reside in a HUBZone.
  
  
• Small Veteran-Owned Business – At least 51 percent owned, operated, and controlled by individuals who have served in the U.S. military armed services.
  
  
• Small Service-Disabled Veterans-Owned Business – At least 51 percent owned, operated, and controlled by individuals who were injured while serving in the U.S. military armed services.
  
  
• Small Disadvantaged-Owned Business – At least 51 percent owned, operated, and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
  
  
• Small 8(a) Business – At least 51 percent owned, operated, and controlled by one or more certified disadvantaged individuals. 8(a) is a business development program created to help small, disadvantaged businesses compete in the American economy and access the federal procurement market.
  
  
• Small Woman-Owned Business – A small business concern that is: (1) at least 51percent owned by one or more women or in the case of a publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock owned by one or more women, and (2) whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women.

Definitions

• Socially disadvantaged – Subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or culture bias based on their identity with a group.
  
  
• Economically disadvantaged – Socially disadvantaged person 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 business who are not socially disadvantaged.

In the U.S., people who meet the following descriptions are considered members of an economically or socially disadvantaged group:

• African American – A U.S. citizen whose origins are people of color (“Black”) from Africa.
  
  
• Asian-Indian American – A U.S. citizen whose origins are in India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh.
  
  
• Asian-Pacific American - A U.S. citizen whose origins are in Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific or the Northern Marinas.
  
  
• Hispanic American - A U.S. citizen of true-born Hispanic heritage from any of the Hispanic-speaking areas of Latin America or the following regions: Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean basin only.
  
  
• Native American – A person who is an American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, or Native Hawaiian, and regarded as such by the community of which the person claims to be a part. Native (continental) Americans must be documented members of a North American tribe, band, or otherwise organized group of native people who are indigenous to the continental United States and proof can be provided through a Native American Blood Degree Certificate.