By: Nicole Bobco | Sea Grant Fellow, Aquaculture Program, CA Dept Fish & Wildlife | Nicole.Bobco@wildlife.ca.gov
Are you a small business catfish or trout farmer looking for more business opportunities? Then the CA state program Fishing in the City is looking for you! If you aren’t currently a certified small business you can apply through the Department of General Services (DGS). They have online information on requirements, a web application platform, and friendly staff available if you have any questions about the process. Click to view full certification instructions and requirements.
What perks come with being a Certified Small Business (CSB)?
– A five percent (5%) bid preference on applicable State solicitations e.g. a CSB bid that is 5% higher than non-CSB bids is considered equivalent in price by the state.
– Eligible for the State’s Small Business Participation Program whose goal is to use small businesses in at least 25% of the State’s overall annual contract dollars.
– The State pays CSBs higher interest penalties (13.25%) for late payment of an undisputed invoice.
– State agencies may use a streamlined process for solicitation valued at more than $5000 (requires price quotes from at least two certified small businesses) e.g. meaning faster transactions for everyone.
Some of the Small Business (SB) requirements include:
– Be independently owned and operated.
– Not dominant in field of operation.
– Principal office located in CA.
– Owners (officers, if a corporation) domiciled in CA.
– Including affiliates: A business with 100 or fewer employees with an average annual gross receipts of $14 million or less, over the last three tax years.
Notes: See DGS website for full details. There may be additional requirements for having certified clean stocks of fish for the Fishing in the City program.
DGS Office of Small Business contact information: OSDSHelp@dgs.ca.gov or at 916.375.4940.
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About Fishing in the City: https://www.dfg.ca.gov/fishinginthecity/overview.html#home
DGS Certified Small Business page: http://www.dgs.ca.gov/pd/Programs/OSDS/GetCertified.aspx
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