Targeted Small Business Program

The certified Targeted Small Business (TSB) program is designed to help women, individuals with minority status, service-connected disabled veterans and individuals with disabilities overcome some of the hurdles to start or grow a small business in Iowa. Support for TSBs can occur either through an official third-party certification of the business or through the low-interest TSB loan program. Certified TSBs can be found in the online public directory.
Search the public directory of certified Targeted Small Businesses:

To start an application to become a certified TSB, start the application:

To manage your existing certified TSB Business Profile or application for certification, log in:

Benefits of Becoming a Certified TSB

• Listing in the online Certified TSB Directory, which is used by public and private buyers across the state
• Invitation to TSB networking and TSB-exclusive events to meet with other business owners, public purchasing managers and private buyers
• Introduction to partners who aid with state purchasing, growing your business or connections to other business networks through workshops, webinars and other events
• Promotion of business as a Certified TSB via the usage of a TSB badge/window cling on marketing materials and storefronts

All Iowa state government agencies are required to establish annual TSB spending projections and report quarterly TSB procurement goals. By becoming a certified TSB and selling products and services to the state, TSBs help the state’s government entities meet these goals.

State Procurement Benefits

• Access to a bid notification site to view state procurement opportunities 48 hours in advance of posting to the state’s public site - TSBs receive a link and password for the 48-hour website upon certification
• Ability to access non-competitive bid opportunities for purchases under $25,000
• Bond waivers up to $50,000 for state projects if unable to secure a bond because of the lack of experience, net worth or capital

State agencies have different levels of procurement authority with unique needs; TSBs are encouraged to be proactive in marketing to them. To obtain a list of what state agencies purchase and agent contact information or to learn how to become a registered vendor with the state, visit das.iowa.gov/procurement.

Public Purchasing Agents: All TSB 48-hour bid solicitations are directly synchronized from the State of Iowa Bid Opportunities database for 48 hours in advance of being published publicly on that website. If you don't currently post on Bid Opportunities, but wish to, email purchasing.mailbox@iowa.gov to request a login from the Iowa Department of Administrative Services.

Who Qualifies?

To be eligible for TSB certification, businesses must be:

• Located in the state of Iowa
• Operating for a profit
• Make less than $4 million in gross income, computed as an average of the preceding three fiscal years
• Majority owned (51% or more), operated and managed by a female, individual with minority status, service disabled veteran or individual with a disability

How Do I Apply?

To start an application for TSB certification, click here.