Small Business Program

Small Business Program (SBP)

Crowley’s SBP is designed to increase opportunities for qualified small business (SB), small disadvantaged (SDB), women owned business (WOB), veteran owned small business (VOSB), service disabled veteran owned small business (SD-VOSB), and HUBZone companies to market their products or services to CROWLEY and CROWLEY’s business partners.

The Small Business Liaison Officer (SBLO) provides services to minority and women-owned businesses including the maintenance of a database of qualified companies, one-on-one coaching on CROWLEY’S procurement and contracting opportunities and processes, and acts as an advocate for Small Business (SB) utilization both company-wide and with prime contractors as well as customers.

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SBP Process

The SBP SBLO is responsible for the development and implementation of the SBP. The process is as follows:

1. A Company is introduced to the SBLO by referral or direct contact.


2. The SBLO contacts the business to identify their area of expertise.


3. The business is required to register online with the SBA Pro-Net Database & CCR.


4. SBLO or Procurement Staff verifies the business is not in the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS)


5. Three commercial reference contacts must be provided to the Coordinator based on the company's past performance history. Contact information should include the Company's name, the contact person's name, and telephone number.


6. Following submission of registration on Pro-Net and the past performance documentation, the SBLO will request additional information and/or a meeting(s) with the company to become more familiar with their product or service.


7. Once the SBLO is familiar with the SB’s products or services that company will be introduced to the appropriate CROWLEY representatives to give a capabilities presentation(s) if necessary.


8. The SB’s will be placed on an internal source listing for their expertise, or if available, placed on a bidder list for an upcoming bid opportunity.


9. The SBLO will assist in matching the qualified SB’s source list companies to appropriate CROWLEY representatives as procurement opportunities are identified within CROWLEY company wide procurement operations.


10. All documentation is kept for reference and for review by the appropriate government agency.


11. Develops & manages supplier reporting systems to track diverse supplier spend on a regular basis. Responsible for all related reporting requirements.

Demonstrating capability by placement on a bidder or source list does not guarantee work with CROWLEY. Many other program requirements must be met such as safety, quality, staffing, environmental, and demonstrated responsibility etc.

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Opportunities

Some opportunities for SB’s may include the general procurement of products and services, the provision of professional services, such as IT consulting, engineering, personnel services, custodial, catering, building maintenance, equipment maintenance, and construction contracts.

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Small Business Program Policy

The purpose of CROWLEY’S Small Business Program is to assure methods that allow fair and equitable opportunity to SB, SDB, VOSB, SD-VOSB, HUBZone, and WOSB business firms for 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 to prevent and resolve any claims of discrimination and is committed to expanding the SBP participation in its direct contracts and subcontracts when possible.

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SB’s Qualification

Federal Regulations and Title 28 require adequate and timely consideration of minority business enterprises in CROWLEY's contracting decisions. To be qualified 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 Small Business Program will require the following from Small Businesses:

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

Qualified SB’s can be sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, or joint ventures that meet the following:

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

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Definitions

“Small Business” (Size standards 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 states that in determining what constitutes a small business, the definition will vary from industry to industry to reflect industry differences accurately. (Visit: SBA's Size Standards website.)

"Minority" means a person who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States 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. Women (a person of the female gender)


6. Veteran (The term "veteran" means a person who 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 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)


8. HUBZone (To qualify for the HUBZone program, a business (except tribally-owned concerns) must meet the following criteria:
   • It must be a small business by SBA standards;
   
   
   • It must be certified by the SBA as a HUBZone business
   
   
   • It must owned and controlled at least 51% by U.S. citizens, or a Community Development Corporation, or an agricultural cooperative or an Indian tribe;
   
   
   • 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; and
   
   
   • At least 35% of its employees must reside in a HUBZone.
   
   
   • Existing businesses that choose to move to qualified areas are eligible. To fulfill the requirement that 35% of a HUBZone firms 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.
   
   
9. Small Disadvantaged Business (A business which is at least 51 percent 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. Sec. 124.109, 124.110, and 124.111, respectively) Small Disadvantaged Businesses must be certified as such by the SBA.
   
   African American Business Enterprise" (AABE) shall mean an African American owned business, as follows:
   
   
   • The business must be a continuing, independent, for profit business which performs a commercially useful function, and is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more African American individuals. Or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned and controlled by one or more African American individuals; and
   
   
   • One or more African American individuals must control the management and daily business operations, as follows:
     
     
     1. "Control" as used in the above clause, means exercising the power to make policy decision.
     
     
     2. "Operate", as used in the above clause, means being actively involved in the day-to-day management of the business.
   
   Alaska Native Business Enterprise" (ANBE) shall mean an Alaska Native owned business, as follows:
   • The business must be a continuing, independent, for profit business that performs a commercially useful function, and is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more Alaska Native individuals. Or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned and controlled by one or more Alaska Natives.
   
   
   • One or more Alaska Native individuals must control the management and daily business operations, as follows:
     
     
     1. "Control" as used in the above clause, means exercising the power to make policy decision.
     
     
     2. "Operate", as used in the above clause, means being actively involved in the day-to-day management of the business.
   
   Women Business Enterprise" (WBE) shall mean a female owned business, that is, as follows:
   
   
   • The business must be a continuing, independent, for profit business which performs a commercially useful function, and is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by one or more women. Or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned and controlled by one or more women.
   
   
   • One or more women must control the management and daily business operations.
     
     
     1. "Control" as used in the above clause, means exercising the power to make policy decision.
     
     
     2. "Operate", as used in the above clause, means being actively involved in the day-to-day management of the business.

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Contact Information

EAST COAST
John Azzo
Small Business Liaison Officer
Crowley Maritime Corporation
9487 Regency Square Blvd N
Jacksonville, FL 32225
Email: john.azzo@crowley.com
Telephone: (904) 727-2366
Fax: (904) 727-4101

WEST COAST
Alun Jones
Small Business Liaison Officer
Crowley Maritime Corporation
1102 SW Massachusetts Street
Seattle, WA 98134
Email: alun.jones@crowley.com
Telephone: (206) 332-8251
Fax: (206) 332-8551

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Links of Interest

SBA Pro-net Database
Procurement Technical Assistance Centers
DOT/PF Civil Rights Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE)
Excluded Parties List System (EPLS)
Central Contractor Registration (CCR)

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Small Business Resources

U.S. Small Business Administration
Standard Industry Classification Code (SIC) Search
North American Classification System (NAICS) Search

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It is the policy of Crowley Maritime Corporation to assure methods that allow fair and equitable opportunity to SB, SDB, VOSB, SD-VOSB, HUBZone, and WOSB business firms for 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 to prevent and resolve any claims of discrimination and is committed to expanding the SBP participation in its direct contracts and subcontracts when possible.

Thomas B. Crowley, Jr.
Chairman, President & C.E.O.