Gain greater access to purchasing and contracting opportunities with the State
Louisiana’s Hudson Initiative is a certification program that is designed to help eligible Louisiana small businesses gain greater access to purchasing and contracting opportunities that are available at the State government level.
For small purchases of less than $25,000, State agencies can waive the requirement of getting additional quotes if a certified company submits a quote that is reasonable. 10% of the total evaluation points can be added to your bid on a Request for Proposal (RFP). Prime contractors who use your business as a subcontractor on a bid for an RFP are also eligible to receive additional percentage points on their bid. Your business and contact information will be accessible to State purchasing officials and prime contractors looking for subcontractors. State agencies are encouraged to get quotes from and use qualified, certified companies whenever possible.
Eligibility
The program is open to all Louisiana businesses that meet the following eligibility requirements of a Small Entrepreneurship (SE) under the Hudson Initiative. Once certified, business owners are required to submit annual updates through www.ledsmallbiz.com. Failure to submit the required information before your anniversary date each year will result in termination of your certification.
What are the eligibility requirements?
- Principal Place of Business – The company must have its principal place of business in Louisiana.
- Employees – The company has fewer than 50 full-time employees.
- Average Annual Gross Receipts – Average annual gross receipts do not exceed $5 million for non-construction and $10 million for construction companies.
- Independently Owned and Operated – The business is independently owned and operated.
- Not Dominant – The business is not dominant in its professional field.
- Louisiana Residency – Owned by persons domiciled in Louisiana.
- Citizenship – Owned by and has officers who are U.S. citizens or legal residents.
Program Statutes & Rules:
All incentive program rules are in the Louisiana Administrative Code maintained by the Office of the State Register.
- View the Hudson Initiative Statutes
- View the Titles of the Louisiana Administrative Code
- Rules for the Hudson Initiative can be found in Part VIII
- Executive Order
The Process
To take advantage of Louisiana’s Hudson Initiative and gain greater access to purchasing and contracting opportunities with the State government, complete the online application at www.ledsmallbiz.com.
Eligibility Scenarios
My business is located in Texas, but I would like to do business with the State of Louisiana. Would I qualify?
No. The business and owner must be based in Louisiana.
I have a minority- and/or woman-owned business. Will this certification also serve to recognize me under those distinctions?
No. The Hudson Initiative is a race- and gender-neutral certification. Although Louisiana Economic Development’s programs are race and gender neutral, there are several federal, state, and local organizations that provide these types of certifications. Contact one of our resource partners below for additional information.
Louisiana Minority Supplier Development Council
The Louisiana Minority Supplier Development Council (LAMSDC) offers Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) certification and also helps businesses develop or enhance their minority vendor programs.
Women’s Business Enterprise Council South
Women’s Business Enterprise Council South (WBEC) is a certifying partner organization of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, which provides Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) certification.
Louisiana Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Certification
The U.S. Department of Transportation offers the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification for small socially and economically disadvantaged businesses.
SBA 8(a) Business Development and Certification Program
The SBA 8(a) program helps small and disadvantaged businesses compete in the marketplace and helps them gain greater access to federal and private procurement markets.
My business does not have any full-time employees, except me. Would I qualify?
Yes. There is no minimum requirement for the number of employees.
FAQs
Once I get certified, will I automatically be given contracts?
No. The Hudson Initiative is a goal-oriented certification program, but there are no contracts set aside for certified businesses. You need to register your business with the Office of State Procurement in order to learn about current bid opportunities in your industry.
I am a Hudson-certified company. What do I need to do to start receiving information about purchasing and contracting opportunities?
You need to register your business with the Office of State Procurement in order to learn about current bid opportunities in your industry.
Where can I find more information about doing business with the State?
Visit the Vendor Resources page on the Office of State Procurement’s website for additional information for vendors, including the annually updated guide on “How to Do Business with the State of Louisiana.”
View “Your guide for conducting business with the State of Louisiana” to learn more about the procurement process.
View “How to respond to an Invitation to Bid (ITB)” to learn more about the ITB process with the state of Louisiana.
View “How to respond to a Request for Proposal (RFP)” to learn more about the RFP process with the State of Louisiana.
Where do I find a list of Hudson-certified clients?
Go to www.ledsmallbiz.com and click on the link under the program headers to find the list of Hudson-certified businesses.
I got certified in Hudson years ago, but have not kept up with my certification. What do I need to do to get back in the program?
If you have not been submitting your required annual updates, you will need to recertify by logging into your account at www.ledsmallbiz.com.
How long does it take for my application to be reviewed?
Applications will be reviewed and an email will be sent notifying you of your status within two business days.
How can I learn more about creating bid proposals?
Contact the Louisiana APEX Accelerator for help with the marketing and bidding process, and post-award and contract management.
What does "not dominant in its professional field" mean?
You are not the dominant business in your professional field, meaning that you are not the primary business in your industry. For example, if your business was the largest widget manufacturer in the country, you would be considered dominant in your field, and would not qualify.
Where can I go to find out more about the benefits of the program?
For additional information on the benefits listed, you can reference the following documents: The Small Purchases Executive Order, governing small purchases, and the 10% Allowance on Requests for Proposals.
Small Business Services
Please reach out to LED’s Small Business Services department for more information about the program.