The purpose of our SBP is to create a more level playing field that creates a fair and equitable environment for QSB, SDB, VOSB, SD-VOSB, HUBZone and WOSB firms who wish to pursue supply chain and contracted service opportunities with Crowley.

Crowley prohibits discrimination against any person or business pursuing these opportunities on the grounds of race, creed, color, national origin or sex. Crowley manages its contracting and purchasing programs so as to prevent and resolve any claims of discrimination and is committed to expanding the SBP participation in its direct contracts and subcontracts when possible.

This overview applies to anyone who applies for supply chain or contracted service opportunities with Crowley.

The Small Business Liaison Officer (SBLO) contributes to the development and implementation of the SBP.

Opportunities for QSBs may include the general procurement of products and services and the provision of professional services, such as IT consulting, engineering, personnel services, custodial, catering, building maintenance, equipment maintenance and construction contracts.

Federal Regulations and Title 28 require adequate and timely consideration of minority business enterprises in all Crowley contracting decisions. To qualify under these guidelines, a minority group must control the business enterprise (see below).

To ensure that African American, Alaska Native and/or American Indian, Asian American, Pacific Islanders, Hispanic, Women Business Enterprise and HUBZone firms benefit from procurement opportunities created by Crowley and its contractors, the SBP will require the following from QSBs:

1. Proof of ownership
2. Control
3. Management Agreement Capacity, including required bonding and insurance, and,
4. Certification by the Small Business Administration (SBA).

QSBs can be sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations or joint ventures that meet the following criteria:

1. At least 51% owned, controlled and actively managed by minority group members
2. Currently performing a business function that is useful to Crowley, and,
3. Current certification from SBA for SDB and HUBZone classifications.

To the extent the definitions reflected below differ from federal regulations, the federal definitions shall prevail.

Alaska Native Business Enterprise (ANBE) —  An Alaska Native owned business, as follows:

1. The business must be a continuing, independent, for-profit business that performs a commercially useful function, and is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more Alaska Native individuals. Or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51% of the stock of must be owned and controlled by one or more Alaska Natives.
2. One or more Alaska Native individuals must control the management and daily business operations, as follows:
3. “Control” as used in the above clause, means exercising the power to make policy decision.
4. “Operate” as used in the above clause, means being actively involved in the day-to-day management of the business.

Minority: A person who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S. and who is either one or a combination of:

1. African American (a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa)
2. Alaskan Native and/or American Indian (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North America)
3. Asian American (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent or the Pacific Islands)
4. Hispanic (a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race)
5. Woman (a person of the female gender)
6. Veteran (The term “veteran” means a person who has served in the active military, naval or air service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable)
7. Service Disabled Veteran (A Service-Disabled Veteran is a person who has served in the active military, naval or air service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable, and whose disability was incurred or aggravated in line of duty in the active military, naval or air service. To be considered a Service-Disabled Veteran, the veteran must have an adjudication letter from the Veterans Administration (VA), a Department of Defense Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty or a Statement of Service from the National Archives and Records Administration, stating that the veteran has a service-connected disability)

HUBZone: To qualify for the HUBZone program, a business (except tribally owned concerns) must meet the following criteria:

1. It must be a small business by SBA standards
2. It must be certified by the SBA as a HUBZone business
3. It must owned and controlled at least 51% by U.S. citizens, a Community Development Corporation or an agricultural cooperative or an Indian tribe
4. Its principal office must be located within a “Historically Underutilized Business Zone,” which includes lands considered Indian Country and military facilities closed by the Base Realignment and Closure Act
5. At least 35% of its employees must reside in a HUBZone
6. Existing businesses that choose to move to qualified areas are eligible. To fulfill the requirement that 35% of a HUBZone firm’s employees reside in the HUBZone, employees must live in a primary residence within that area for at least 180 days or be a currently registered voter in that area.

Small Disadvantaged Business: A business that is at least 51% unconditionally owned by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals as set forth in Sec. 124.105. For the requirements relating to tribes and ANCs, NHOs or CDCs, see Sec. 124.109, 124.110 and 124.111, respectively. All Small Disadvantaged Businesses must be certified as such by the SBA. 

African American Business Enterprise (AABE): An African American-owned business meeting the following criteria:

1. The business must be a continuing, independent, for-profit business that performs a commercially useful function and is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more African American individuals. Or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51% of the stock must be owned and controlled by one or more African American individuals
2. One or more African American individuals must control the management and daily business operations, as follows:
3. “Control” as used in the above clause, means exercising the power to make policy decision.
4. “Operate” as used in the above clause, means being actively involved in the day-to-day management of the business.

Small Business:  Size standards that define the maximum size that a firm, including all of its affiliates, may be to participate in federal government programs that are reserved for small businesses. The Small Business Act’s definition of what constitutes a small business will vary from industry to industry to reflect industry differences accurately. Learn more about the SBA’s Size Standards.

Women Business Enterprise (WBE): A female owned business, that meets the following criteria: 

1. The business must be a continuing, independent, for profit-business that performs a commercially useful function, and is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more women. Or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock must be owned and controlled by one or more women.
2. One or more women must control the management and daily business operations.
3. “Control” as used in the above clause, means exercising the power to make policy decision.
4. “Operate” as used in the above clause, means being actively involved in the day-to-day management of the business.