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The process of certifying your business begins with filling out the necessary "Certification Packet" and submitting the proper documentation to the Certification Unit. The entire process takes approximately 90 days once a complete application is received.
Requests for expedited certification will only be considered in the case of commodity categories in which there are no certified MBE, WBE and DSBE; vendors are strongly encouraged to solicit firms currently certified by the Office of Economic Opportunity.
Our steps for certification include:
- Analysis of the application
- On-site interview
If supporting documentation, signatures, or notarizations are missing, or if additional information is needed, the application is considered to be incomplete. Certification is granted only after submission and approval of all of the required forms, affidavits and other supporting documentation to OEO. Upon approval, your firm will receive a certification letter and you will be listed in our "Directory of Certified Firms". Contractors, developers, city agencies and departments, and private industry utilize the OEO Directory and will have the ability to review your qualifications and contact you, if needed, regarding projects.
If your firm is a certified MBE, WBE and DSBE with the City of Philadelphia; you must not allow your certification to expire. You have 90 (ninety) calendar days from the date of expiration to submit an application for recertification to the Office of Economic Opportunity. Failure to do so could result in your firms disqualification for participating on a project for which your firm may be listed.
OEO now offers an expedited certification process for firms which are currently certified by another governmental agency (local, state and federal). All that is required to receive reciprocity is a copy of your current certification and a completed OEO application. No supporting documentation is needed. Your OEO expiration date will coincide with that governmental agency's expiration date. This new option should greatly streamline the certification process for many applicants.
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