proving status for racial or ethnic preference programs

PepeTheFrog said:

Has anyone heard of specific thresholds (percentage ancestry) to qualify for the various race-based or ethnicity-based federal contracting preference programs?

With respect to college grants and scholarships reserved for certain socioeconomic classes, many use the 25% test. E.g., if you are 25% Hispanic then you can claim to be Hispanic when applying for (many but not all) grants and scholarships.

On 9/24/2018 at 12:26 PM, PepeTheFrog said:

How soon before these questions pop up for the woman-owned small business (WOSB) program? What if a man decides he will self-identify as a woman and, as a total coincidence, win more federal contracts?

A person can self certify for a WOSB program, https://certify.sba.gov/prepare#wosb-anc, the document to determine gender is the birth certificate.  Some states allow an individual to change their sex on the certificate, for example California you can go to http://www.courts.ca.gov/25798.htm and request a change.  So if that was done I can find nothing that would not allow a WSOB designation.

jason_a said:

the document to determine gender is the birth certificate.

I don't see that at the website you gave.  There the birth certificate is used to show American citizenship.  Can you provide a quote that supports your statement?

Retreadfed said:

I don't see that at the website you gave.  There the birth certificate is used to show American citizenship.  Can you provide a quote that supports your statement?

Good catch, I can, (sort of).  There are multiple ways to certify, self or through another organization, They are: El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, National Women Business Owners Corporation, US Women’s Chamber of Commerce,  and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. 

The WBENC,  for example requires

 Evidence of gender for each female owner(s)-- Copy of current U.S. Passport, U.S. Birth Certificate, or Driver’s License

 Evidence of U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Legal Resident Alien Status for each female owner(s)-- Copy of current U.S. Passport, U.S. Birth Certificate, naturalization papers, or Permanent Legal Resident Alien Card (green card)

The SBA website didn't mention this specifically so I called the District Office in Virginia and asked the question.  I was told they use the Birth Certificate, DL, or Passport.  I mentioned this should be on the SBA website.

Thank you.  Do you know what the WBENC policy is about accepting amended birth certificates and whether SBA concurs with that policy?

I self-identify as a HUBZone.  The whole zone.