About HUB

The HUB Office was originally established by law during the 2001 Legislative Session to educate and encourage minority-owned businesses how to compete for contracts with state and local government agencies.

The HUB Office was established to:

  • Educate HUB firms on how to do business with the state of North Carolina; and
  • Help eliminate barriers that reduce participation of HUB firms in the marketplace so that companies may compete for state government contracts;
  • Increase the amount of goods and services acquired by state agencies from HUB firms;
  • Encourage purchasing officers and capital project coordinators within the state agencies, departments, universities and community colleges to identify and utilize HUB vendors, contractors and service providers; and
  • Provide resources for HUB firms.

FAQs

Tab/Accordion Items

As a result of Executive Order 150 and General Statutes 143-48 & 143-128.2(g)(1)(2)(3), the Historically Underutilized Business Program was established to encourage increased participation in the State’s procurement process. Effective April 20, 1999, the program was moved from the Division of Purchase and Contract to the Office of the Secretary of N.C. Department of Administration to increase the awareness and visibility of the program.

The primary objectives of the HUB Office are to:

  • Increase the amount of goods and services acquired by the state from businesses owned and controlled by HUB firms.
  • Encourage the purchasing officers within the state agencies, departments and universities to identify and utilize prospective HUB designated vendors and service providers.
  • Educate vendors on how to do business with the state.
  • Encourage participation of qualified HUB designated vendors by directing them to agencies that can benefit from their product or service.
  • Maintain a database of designated HUB vendors for use by state purchasers, general contractors and other purchasing entities seeking qualified vendors.
  • Sponsor seminars and conduct training workshops that assist HUB vendors become an active participant in state contracting opportunities.

Fifty-one percent of the business is owned by, and the day-to-day management and daily business operations are controlled by, one of the following:

  • Black, Hispanic, Asian-American or American Indian
  • Female
  • Socially and economically disadvantaged person
  • Disabled

Certification as a HUB vendor provides greater exposure for business opportunities in state procurement and contracting. The names of HUB firms are listed in the Vendor Link System which is widely used by state agencies, universities, community colleges, local schools, local governments and institutions and the public to locate historically underutilized businesses for goods, services and construction.

  • Assistance with online vendor registration and HUB Certification
  • Assistance with updating vendor profile
  • Bid searching techniques
  • Marketing strategies
  • One-on-one consultation
  • Business development needs assessment
  • Business resource and financial assistance referrals

The HUB Office does not provide grants or financial services. The Office has collaborative partnerships with several business resource organizations that have financial programs and we can refer you to one of them for assistance. The Small Business Administration also is a good resource for financial assistance and/or grants.

No. HUB certification does not guarantee that you will receive a contract with the state of North Carolina nor any public entity. Rather, HUB certification helps to provide exposure for your firm to the business community. It is important to develop a marketing plan and market your business to the agencies who buy what you sell.

Legislation

Legislation - North Carolina General Statutes
N.C.G.S. § 143-48 - Purchase and Contract: cooperation in promoting the use of small contractors, minority contractors, physically handicapped contractors, and women contractors.
N.C.G.S. § 143-48.4 - Statewide uniform certification of Historically Underutilized Businesses
N.C.G.S § 143-64.31 - Procurement of Architectural, Engineering, and Surveying Services
Senate Bill 914, Session Law 2001-496 December, 2001 - To enhance and improve good faith efforts to recruit and select minority businesses for participation in public construction contracts.
N.C.G.S. § 143-128 - Requirements for certain building contracts. (Makes reference to §143-128.2 – Minority Business Participation Goals
N.C.G.S. §143-128.1 - Construction management at risk contracts. (Makes reference to §143-128.2 – Minority Business Participation Goals)
N.C.G.S. §143-128.2 - Minority Business Participation Goals (Defines Good Faith Efforts and the full scope of the law)
N.C.G.S. §143-128.3 - Minority Business Participation Administration
N.C.G.S. §143-128.4 - Historically Underutilized Businesses; Statewide Uniform Certification (2007 Amendment Definition)
N.C.G.S. §143-128.2(g)(1)(2)(3) - Historically underutilized business defined (before 2007 session)  
(See above 143-128.4)
N.C.G.S. §143-131 - Informal Bidding: Scope of applicable law for construction projects less than $500,000 (increased from $300,000 in 2007 legislation
House Bill 73, Section 6, Session Law 2007 – 446 - Threshold Changes Effective Date: August 23, 2007 Increase from $300,000 to $500,000 for Informal Contracts; Threshold Changes Effective Date: August 23, 2007
House Bill 1035, Session Law 2010 -148 - Increases the Performance and Payment Bonding Requirements for Construction Project Contracts Awarded by State Departments, State Agencies, and the University of North Carolina that exceed $500,000
Executive Orders

Executive Order 267 - Termination of the COVID-19 State of Emergency

Executive Order 267 - Termination of the COVID-19 State of Emergency (Spanish)

Executive Order 268 - Reestablishing the Andrea Harris Equity Task Force

Executive Order 143 - Addressing the Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 on Communities of Color.

Executive Order 25 - Governor's Advisory Council on Historically Underutilized Businesses
Executive Order 24 - Governor's Advisory Council on Small and Historically Underutilized Businesses
Executive Order 13 - Support for Historically Underutilized Businesses by Gov. Beverly Eaves Perdue
Executive Order 106 - Historically Underutilized Business Goals reiterated and modified by former Gov. Michael F. Easley
Executive Order 150 - Support for Historically Underutilized Businesses goals by former Gov. James Hunt
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