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Dec
12

SCS Certification

King County is committed to developing and growing the pool of Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS) in our region. Your firm is invited to apply for SCS Certification to increase your competitiveness as a contractor, consultant or supplier for King County contracts. Get started by clicking the DCMS button below.

Diversity Compliance Management System (DCMS)

Do you have questions about SCS Certification? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.

Do you want to see the list of current SCS Certified firms? Check out our online directory.

Applicant information

Our goal is to make the application process faster and more efficient by enabling electronic processing. To achieve this, we no longer accept paper or fax submissions. Please submit your application using DCMS and any correspondence related to your application via email. Informal communication regarding your application can be sent via email, but for all applications including formal correspondence, please use DCMS.

SCS Fast Track Certification

King County has launched Pro-Equity Contracting efforts to promote diversity in contracting. As part of this program, Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Women Business Enterprises (WBE) certified by the Washington State Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises (OMWBE) will be automatically eligible for SCS Certification. This means that MBE and WBE firms will no longer have to go through a separate SCS application process, thus saving time and avoiding duplication of efforts.

SCS Program Overview

To create opportunities for King County and its contractors to make use of certified Small Contractor and Supplier (SCS) firms on county contracts and increase the competitiveness of these firms as:

  • Prime Contractors and Subcontractors
  • Consultants
  • Suppliers

The program applies to county contracts for:

  • Goods and Services
  • Consulting Services
  • Construction

Benefits

Improves the effectiveness of certified SCS businesses to compete for King County contracts as contractors, consultants, and suppliers.

  • Goods and Services Incentive: Fair Market Range to rank SCS for evaluation purposes
  • Consulting Incentive: Award of points for the use of SCS firms
  • Construction Incentive: Participation requirements for SCS firms

In addition, firms that join the King County SCS roster are also automatically eligible to compete as an SCS firm for contracts with the Port of Seattle, Sound Transit, and Seattle Colleges.

Eligibility criteria

  • For-Profit Small Business
  • Licensed to do business in Washington State
  • Meets the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) size standards for small businesses, and does not exceed an overall business size limit of $30.4 million in gross receipts over a three-year average
  • Personal net worth of majority owner(s) less than $2.047 million (excluding primary residence and equity in the business)

All SCS firms are strongly encouraged to attend one of King County's free vendor orientations online to learn about how to do business with King County. For a schedule of upcoming sessions and to register please visit the Training and Events page on the Procurement and Payables website.

Certify Your Business

Standard Application Process

Small businesses can apply or recertify for SCS certification easily online through DCMS.

In the online platform, you can complete an application and upload the required financial documents. There are two methods for providing financial information:

  1. CPA Affidavit - you may use your licensed CPA to document each owners' net worth and the business size. CPA Affidavit forms can be downloaded from DCMS. The average review period using this method is ten business days.
  2. Provide a personal net worth statement for the majority owner(s) and the past three years of your company's federal income tax returns, including all schedules. Personal Net Worth forms can be downloaded from DCMS. The average review period using this method is 15 to 30 business days.

If you require an alternative submission method for your SCS application, please send email to SCSCertification@kingcounty.gov.

Fast-Track Application Process

Small businesses that are state certified by the Washington State OMWBE with one of the certifications listed below automatically qualify for SCS certification and are not required to complete an SCS application.

  • Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) - owned by minorities
  • Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) - owned by women
  • Minority Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) - owned by minority women
  • Combination Business Enterprise (CBE) - owned by women and minorities
  • Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (SEDBE) - owned by non-minority men who are found to be socially and economically disadvantaged on a case-by-case basis

To opt-out of SCS certification, send an email to SCSCertification@kingcounty.gov requesting to opt out of SCS certification.

By choosing not to participate in the SCS Fast-Track process, your firm will not be eligible for the associated benefits available to SCS certified firms.

Right to Privacy

As a government entity, King County conducts public business in a transparent manner. Records related to the business of King County are generally available for public review. King County is committed, to the extent allowable by law, to protect and secure personal information contained in our records. This privacy commitment must be balanced with the rights of public access under state law, King County Code, and other applicable federal, state, and local statutes or regulations.

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