California Introduces Online Certification for Small Businesses.Certification Time for Small Businesses Cut From 6 Months to One Day LONG BEACH, Calif. -- As part of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's promise to give California's small businesses and disabled veteran business enterprises (DVBEs) better access to the $9 billion annually in state contracts, Rosario Marin Rosario Marin (originally: Marín) was the 41st Treasurer of the United States from August 21, 2001 to June 30, 2003 under President George W. Bush. Education , Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Consumer Services refers to the formulation, deformulation, technical consulting and testing of most consumer products, such as food, herbs, beverages, vitamins, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, hair products, household cleaners, [paints, plastics, metals, waxes, coatings, minerals, Agency, today introduced online certification for state contracting. This online process will dramatically reduce the time needed to certify cer·ti·fy v. cer·ti·fied, cer·ti·fy·ing, cer·ti·fies v.tr. 1. a. To confirm formally as true, accurate, or genuine. b. small businesses and DVBEs for access to the bidding process. Previously, the process could take as long as six months. Now, it just takes one day for small businesses (SBs). DVBEs can take longer because of the need to validate veteran status, but the new online process speeds up the application process and reduces the amount of paperwork for them too. Certified See certification. businesses can receive contract bid preferences and email notifications of contracting opportunities. These can help businesses compete for state contracts and grow their local economies. "When Governor Schwarzenegger took office," said Marin, "he promised to make government truly responsive to the real needs of the people. Today's announcement delivers on that promise." The California Department of General Services The California Department of General Services (DGS) is a state government agency in the executive branch of the government of California in the United States. It provides a large number of services to other agencies in the government of California, playing a role that is similar to , which will operate the new online service, is one of the departments supervised by Secretary Marin. The online certification system is now easily accessible 24 hours a day via the DGS DGS Department of General Services DGS Digeorge Syndrome DGS Dynamic Geometry Software DGS Defected Ground Structure DGS Diego Garcia (space launch ground station) DGS Diocesan Girls' School DGS Digital Station website. For SBs and DVBEs, certification is the first key step in gaining access to the bidding process for state contracts. Automated, online certification removes a major obstacle that had been delaying some small businesses from getting certified under the older, paper-intensive system. "Online SB certification now only takes minutes to complete if the applicant has all the required financial information handy," said Secretary Marin. "Businesses can get certified today and conduct business tomorrow - and start funneling dollars into their local economy. That stimulates the economy for all Californians." Through a secure log-on, the "no-fee" online service allows businesses to apply for the following certifications with the State: * Small Business (SB) * Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE DVBE Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise network ) * Combined SB and DVBE * Nonprofit A corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive. Nonprofits are also called not-for-profit corporations. Nonprofit corporations are created according to state law. registration * Nonprofit Veteran Service Agency (NVSA) Once certified, businesses can go online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to update their business profile, renew their certifications and search for potential competitive bidding Competitive bidding A securities offering process in which securities firms submit competing bids to the issuer for the securities the issuer wishes to sell. competitive bidding 1. opportunities to grow their businesses. "Our organization has been working with the state for quite some time to fine-tune the small business and DVBE certification process," said Betty Jo Toccoli, president of the California Small Business Association and co-chair of the DGS Small Business Advisory Council. "This new online service is exactly the type of program development we've been looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. . Many small businesses and DVBEs work 24/7, so it's great to see that some of the critical programs offered by the state are likewise becoming available to us around the clock." An estimated 98 percent of all businesses in California are small businesses. They employ more than half of all California workers, and they contribute over 60 percent of the state's gross domestic product. Last year Governor Schwarzenegger signed Executive Order S-02-06 directing all departments of state government to achieve a goal of at least 25 percent small business participation in all state contracts and procurements. As a result, California is now committed to getting more SBs and DVBEs connected to the $9 billion in state contracts. Businesses seeking to become California certified may access the on-line application at: www.getcertified.dgs.ca.gov |
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