Office of Small Business Enterprise

The SBE Program is designed to allow the participation of small businesses, regardless of race or gender, to bid as Prime Contractors or be a Subcontractor on locally-funded VIA contracts.

VIA is committed to developing relationships and increasing participation with small business concerns in a fiscally responsible manner. In compliance with 49 CFR Part 26.39, VIA established its SBE Program to facilitate competition by small businesses.

VIA will take all reasonable steps to eliminate obstacles that may preclude small business participation in procurements as Prime Contractors or Subcontractors.

For purposes of this Program, a small business concern is as defined in the Small Business Administration regulations implementing it (13 CFR Part 121) that also does not exceed the cap on average annual gross receipts specific in 49 CFR Part 26 – Section 26.65.

Certification

VIA only accepts SBE certifications from the following six (6) Texas Unified Certification Program (TUCP) agencies:

• South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (SCTRCA)
• North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (NCTRCA)
• Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
• City of Austin
• City of Houston
• Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (CCRTA)

Eligibility as SBEs on VIA Contracts

The following requirements must be met to be an SBE on VIA contracts:

1. The company’s annual gross income averaged over the past three (3) years does not exceed the size standards for small businesses as established by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) for the industry in which they work, generally under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
2. Small businesses can now apply for their SBE certification by submitting an SBE Certification Application online through South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (SCTRCA). If you are currently certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) with any of the six (6) Texas Unified Certification Program (TUCP) agencies (listed under Certification) you are considered an SBE and do not have to complete the SBE certification process.
3. Small businesses whose company headquarters is not located in any of the following counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Frio, Guadalupe, Kendall, Kerr, McMullen, Medina, Uvalde and Wilson or Texas can apply for a SBE certification by submitting an Out of Jurisdiction application application online through SCTRCA. A $250 application fee applies for all Out of Jurisdiction SBE applications (this fee is paid to SCTRCA not VIA).

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