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Certification Information

Certification Information

SmallBusiness-Program2

Get certified as a Small Contractor and Supplier (SCS) and increase the competitiveness of your firm as a contractor, consultant or supplier for King County contracts.

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 now 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.

ATTENTION APPLICANTS:

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.

Program Overview

To create opportunities for King County and its contractors to make use of certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS) firms on county contracts and increase the competitiveness of these firms as:
  • Prime Contractors and Subcontractors;
  • Consultants; and
  • Suppliers

The program applies to county contracts for:

  • Goods & Services;
  • Consulting Services; and
  • Construction
Improves the effectiveness of certified SCS businesses to compete for King County contracts as contractors, consultants, and suppliers.
  • Goods & Services. Incentive: Fair Market Range to rank SCS for evaluation purposes;
  • Consulting. Incentive: Award of Points for the use of SCS firms;
  • Construction: Participation requirements for SCS firms
  • 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 $2.047M (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 & Events page on the Procurement and Payables website.


Quick Links:

Diversity Compliance Management System

SCS Directory


Register for Bid and Proposal email notification:

King County - E-Procurement

Port of Seattle - PRMS System

Sound Transit - eBid

Seattle Colleges Purchasing


Questions about Certification?

Email: SCSCertification@kingcounty.gov
or call (206) 848-0871

Business Hours

Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Certify Your Business

Standard Application Process

Small businesses can apply or recertify for SCS certification easily online. Visit https://kingcounty.diversitycompliance.com/

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 the Diversity Compliance Management System. (Average review period 10 business days.)

    OR

  2. You can 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 the Diversity Compliance Management System. (Average review period 15-30 business days.)
If you require an alternative submission method for your SCS application, please send an email to: scscertification@kingcounty.gov

Fast-Track Application Process

Small businesses who 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.

OMWBE Certifications Eligible for Fast-Track SCS Certification:
  • 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 certification program, your firm will not be eligible for the associated benefits available to SCS certified firms.

Right to Privacy

King County, as a government entity, conducts public business and 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 King County records. This privacy commitment must be balanced with the rights of public access under chapter 42.56 RCW, Washington Public Records Act, consistent with chapter 2.14 of the King County Code and any other applicable federal, state, and local statute or regulation.

You may read the King County Privacy Policy here.

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