For-profit companies must register for All Awards as a small business on SAM.gov. To determine whether your company qualifies, see the SBA’s Table of Small Business Size Standards, which uses your company's primary NAICS code to determine size. Nonprofits will skip this step. SAM registration is FREE and valid for 1 year. 

For assistance, see resources below.

Log into CT Gateway and click on SMBE Small Business Application. Detailed instructions are provided on each application page. You may apply for either the Small Business Enterprise (SBE) or Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certificate. State certification is FREE and valid for 2 years. 

For assistance, read the FAQs, find an upcoming hands-on clinic on our calendar, reach out to a small business resource organization, or email us.

After submitting your S/MBE application, additional information may be requested, and companies may be subject to a site visit. All communication happens through email so check your email regularly! If your company does not respond to requests within a two-week period, the application will be closed.

After approval, certificates are available to print from the CT Gateway dashboard. At renewal time, the system will notify certified companies via a courtesy email 120, 90, 60, and 30 days before expiration. Applications are reviewed in the order received so renew as early as possible.

Once certified, if your company makes any organizational changes, you must communicate these changes in writing to the DAS Business Access Team. We will determine if the change(s) impacts your company’s certification eligibility as defined by the Connecticut General Statutes and/or applicable regulations. Failure to communicate changes may result in de-certification or denial of re-certification to the program.

All business types, from sole proprietorships to corporations and nonprofits, are eligible for certification. However, except for sole proprietorships and general partnerships, your company must be registered with Connecticut’s Secretary of the State, and your annual filings must be up to date. If you have questions about choosing a business structure or completing your registration, we encourage you to connect with a small business resource organization.

After registering on CTsource, the State Contracting Portal, you will receive an email each time a solicitation opens that is related to the products and services that you sell. You may also look for open solicitations on the Bid Board and find current/past contracts on the Contract Board. As an added benefit, your company will be available in CTsource buyer searches.