Unlock government sales opportunities with certifications

The U.S. government spends over $500 billion on contracts each year, providing a massive potential customer base for small businesses with the right credentials. By leveraging certifications, small businesses can find additional exposure with agencies who hold supplier certification guardrails and diversity initiatives.  For example, becoming a certified veteran-owned, minority or women-owned small business can make you eligible to bid on government contracts set aside for these categories. 

In May, Amazon’s “Sellers in Your Community” (SIYC) program hosted a seller-focused webinar with Antwaun Griffin, Head of Responsible Purchasing for Amazon Business, sharing information about business expansion through government procurement. The program Griffin leads makes it easier for business and public sector customers to meet their corporate social responsibility and environmental, social, and governance goals by leveraging Amazon Business’ Guided Buying feature.

With the Guided Buying feature, government buyers can set a ‘Diversity Certifications Policy’ to highlight products sold by sellers who hold select certifications, like small, minority, woman, veteran, and LGBT-owned businesses. In addition, they can implement guardrails within their accounts, allowing them to only view listings from sellers who possess “Section 889” compliance certification.

The “Section 889” compliance certification is an attestation form that confirms your commitment to not selling or utilizing telecommunications equipment from specific manufacturers: Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, Huawei Technologies Company, ZTE Corporation and Dahua Technology Company, including their subsidiaries and affiliates. By obtaining this certification, small businesses assure government buyers that their products meet these stringent requirements, making them an eligible supplier for their procurement needs. 

Certifications have made a difference for FLEXX ID owners Harold and Mauritha Hughes, unlocking new government contracts.

“Amazon’s recognition of our certifications has expanded our base and made it easy for government buyers who represent healthcare, public service, transportation, and hospitality industries to find our products,” said Mauritha Hughes, co-owner of FLEXX ID.

FLEXX ID is certified as a Small Business, Minority or Women-owned Business (MWBE), Airport Concessions Disadvantage Business Enterprise (ACDBE) and Black-owned Business, allowing the Hughes' products to appear when those preferences are selected by agencies. 

Simplifying the certification process

Women-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned, and other small and diverse businesses can get their eligible certifications (including 889) for free through sam.gov, the official U.S. government portal for vendor registration.

 For sellers with an active account on Amazon Business, complete steps 1-2. 

• Step 1: Complete the “Section 889” compliance certification form found here.
• Step 2: Upload the “Section 889” compliance certification form to your Amazon Business Seller Profile (you must have an active account to access). 

As the government procurement landscape continues to evolve, it's essential to stay ahead of the curve and meet the requirements set by government buyers. Certifications serve as a powerful tool to demonstrate a business’ compliance with regulations and win the trust of government agencies. They can also increase product visibility on e-procurement sites, such as Amazon Business, and unlock exciting sales opportunities in the government sector.

“Amazon’s recognition of our certifications has expanded our base and made it easy for government buyers who represent healthcare, public service, transportation, and hospitality industries to find our products.” - Mauritha Hughes, owner of FLEXX ID