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Orange County launches online small-business certification portal, outlines eligibility and support
Summary
Orange County on April 8 launched an online portal to certify local small businesses for county procurement. Manager Sheena Ferguson outlined employee and revenue caps, a CPA verification process, workshops, an advisory committee and a mentor–protégé program to expand opportunities.
Orange County launched an online certification portal on April 8 to register local firms as county-certified small business enterprises, county Business Development Division manager Sheena Ferguson said.
Ferguson said the division created the portal after a federal executive order required recipients of federal funds to be compliant. "We launched the actual portal that will allow small businesses that are located in Orange County to actually become a part of our program," she said, adding that the effort aims to expand procurement opportunities for county vendors.
The portal links to application documents, the county ordinance and policies on the county website (www.ocfl.net). Applicants will apply via the Vendor Services section under the Business Development Division page, Ferguson said. The county will review a three-year average of gross revenue when determining eligibility and will work with a contracted CPA firm to verify those figures.
Eligibility is limited by employee count and industry-specific revenue caps, Ferguson said. Firms must have 100 employees or fewer. "If you're a construction company, it cannot exceed $13.1 million," she said. "If you're a professional service firm—engineering, architect, landscape architect, survey and mapping—it cannot exceed $7 million."
Ferguson said startups are not barred by ordinance or policy and encouraged new businesses to apply. The division has begun offering workshops and held an initial certification workshop with strong attendance; additional trainings and resources are planned to help firms prepare to compete for county solicitations.
To improve program use and identify barriers, the county will establish a small business advisory committee, Ferguson said. The committee will advise on utilization and procedures. The county also plans a mentor–protégé program to pair experienced firms with less-experienced ones to build capacity and networking opportunities.
Ferguson noted the ordinance allows the county to seek reciprocity with other agencies. "If that criteria there is the same then wow we will have that," she said, describing potential reciprocity with the City of Orlando that could reduce duplicate administrative work for businesses certified by multiple jurisdictions.
County officials encouraged businesses to monitor the Business Development Division page at www.ocfl.net for application materials, workshop schedules and updates. The portal is live and the division is continuing outreach and trainings to help local firms complete certification.
