GO-BID Resources

No. To qualify as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Business, the owner must have served honorably on active duty in the armed forces of the United States with at least a twenty percent (20%) service-connected disability. This means that the disability was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service.  

In contrast, “Persons with Disabilities” must provide an Affidavit of Disability signed by a licensed physician annually. 

SDVBE Certification is valid for three (3) years, whereas DSBE Certification is only valid for one (1) year.  

No. The application for certification is an online process. Once your application has been submitted, a business liaison will contact you.

Here is a list of documents you will need. 

Note: To complete the certification process, you must submit all requested documentation. The GO-BID office will deem all applications received without the required documentation ineligible for certification. If your certification is denied, you must wait three (3) years before reapplying.

No. The GO-BID office does not provide loans or grants to businesses.

• Certification is FREE
• 100% online process
• One-on-one assistance
• Current procurement opportunities
• Contractor and sub-contractor opportunities
• Bid notifications
• Reciprocity with other state and local government partners
• 40 statewide contracts with businesses that are certified in our office
• Business development programs

All out-of-state businesses must submit evidence of an existing certification from their home state or recognized national certification to be eligible for certification in Tennessee.  

Self-certification with the U. S. Small Business Administration or any other type of self-certification is not acceptable as evidence of certification. 

No. The State of Tennessee only allows for one classification per business. These categories and criteria are established by law. There is no preference given to one classification over another. 

No. Tennessee welcomes all qualified vendors to bid on State procurements. Nevertheless, many businesses seek certification to increase visibility to government agencies and private sector businesses.

You can search open solicitations and active contracts through GO-BID’s  Current Procurement Opportunities.

Once your application is successfully submitted with all required documents, the certification process can take 30 to 45 days to complete. 

Yes. Our procurement outreach specialists are available to provide one-on-one assistance as you complete your certification application. You can also use our step-by-step Certification Job Aid as a guide throughout the process.

Certified businesses must report any changes—such as ownership, contact information, or business location—within 10 days. Owners should also update their GO-BID profile to reflect any new products or services so agencies have the most accurate view of their business.

You can complete the Recertification Application using the login credentials you used when completing your previous certification application.

•  All Businesses – Businesses must provide a copy of the most recent federal tax return, including all schedules, for all recertifications. Failure to provide all the requested documentation may result in the denial of the certification renewal.

•  Small Business Applicants – Must provide copies of their prior tax return and the three (3) most recent Employer Quarterly Statements (Form 941) to verify that the guidelines for annual sales volume or the maximum number of employees are being met.

•  All Out-of-State Businesses – Businesses that provided an existing certification at the time of their initial application must provide an updated copy of that certification at the time of renewal.