DVBE Purchasing Guide
How California's Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise program works, why the 3% participation goal matters to your agency or bid, and how buying through a certified DVBE supplier counts — written for purchasing officers, AP teams, and prime contractors.
What is a DVBE?
A Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise is a California-certified business that is at least 51% owned by one or more disabled veterans, with daily operations managed by disabled veterans. Certification is issued and audited by the Department of General Services, Office of Small Business and DVBE Services (OSDS).
What is California's 3% DVBE participation goal?
California law sets a goal that at least 3% of state contracting dollars go to certified DVBEs each year. The goal applies to every state agency and to many contracts awarded by primes. Spend with a certified DVBE supplier counts toward the goal automatically — the certification does the work.
Does buying supplies from Tower DVBE count toward the goal?
Yes. Tower Sales and Consulting (Tower DVBE) is DVBE-certified (Cert #2034325) and Small Business (Micro) certified. Purchases by state agencies and local agencies with DVBE programs count as DVBE participation — record our certification number. Prime contractors list Tower on the bid’s DVBE forms; we send the signed STD 843 with the quote, and the supply counts in full because we perform a commercially useful function (we order, take title, pay the manufacturer and deliver).
Is Tower DVBE also a federally certified SDVOSB?
Yes. Tower Sales and Consulting is certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration (VetCert) as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), valid through 03/30/2028 — UEI RMUWXJ92J7C4, CAGE 9GW37. Federal agencies can use SDVOSB set-asides and sole-source awards, and federal prime contractors can count purchases toward the SDVOSB goals in their small business subcontracting plans. SDVOSB is federal and DVBE is California; neither counts toward a DOT DBE goal.
How do I verify a DVBE certification?
Look the supplier up on Cal eProcure (caleprocure.ca.gov) under 'Get Certified / Search'. Tower DVBE's profile shows current DVBE and SB(Micro) status, certification dates, and codes. We also provide certification letters and a W-9 on request, same day.
How do prime contractors document DVBE participation on a bid?
Bidders on state solicitations with DVBE requirements list their DVBE subcontractors and suppliers on the Bidder Declaration (GSPD-05-105) and DVBE Declarations (STD 843). A supplier like Tower DVBE counts as participation for the goods it supplies. Many solicitations also offer a DVBE incentive for participation above the requirement — under the standard DGS table, 1% to 5% of the lowest responsive bid, capped by the solicitation. Prime contractors can see the dollars a specific bid takes on our DVBE credit planner (towerdvbe.com/dvbe-credit).
Can agencies buy from a DVBE without a formal solicitation?
California’s SB/DVBE Option lets state agencies award contracts (goods, services, IT) valued between $5,000 and $500,000 by soliciting quotes from as few as two certified SB or DVBE firms — no formal bid required. CalCard purchases under agency thresholds work the same day-to-day way.
What does Tower DVBE supply?
Roughly 84,000 in-stock products: safety and PPE, janitorial, office, MRO and industrial, tools, and facility supplies — plus off-catalog sourcing for anything we do not stock. Purchase orders and net terms accepted; UNSPSC codes shown on every product for FI$Cal requisitions.
Ready to count your spend toward the goal?
Browse ~84,000 products or send us your requirements — POs and net terms welcome, certification documents provided same day.
Bidding Caltrans work? Guides and a DVBE goal calculator for prime contractors →