About the HUBZone Program
The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting program was enacted into law as part of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997. The program falls under the auspices of the US Small Business Administration. The program encourages economic development in historically underutilized business zones - "HUBZones" - through the establishment of preferences.
SBA's HUBZone program is in line with the efforts of both the Administration and Congress to promote economic development and employment growth in distressed areas by providing access to more Federal contracting opportunities.
The US Small Business Administration (SBA) regulates and implements the program and:
- Determines which businesses are eligible to receive HUBZone contracts
- Maintains a listing of qualified HUBZone small businesses that Federal agencies can use to locate vendors
- Adjudicates protests of eligibility to receive HUBZone contracts
- Reports to the Congress on the program's impact on employment and investment in HUBZone areas
Publication of Final Rule
The final rule for the HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program was published on June 11, 1998. The interim Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) FAC 97-10, FAR Case 97-307 was published on December 18, 1998 to give effect to the contracting component of the program on January 4, 1999. The comment period for the FAR expired on February 18, 1999.
