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Diverse Small Business (XBE) Program

San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) monitors small and diverse business participation on district bond program construction projects. XBE is the term used by San Diego Unified School District to encompass all of the small and diverse business categories for which the district sets goals and monitors.

These categories include:
Small Business Enterprises (SBE)
Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (MBE)
Woman-Owned Business Enterprises (WBE)
Disabled Veteran Businesses (DVB)

Disabled Veteran Businesses include:
Certified Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE)
Verified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) 

San Diego Unified has robust small and diverse participation goals on our construction projects. If your business is a certified small and diverse business enterprise make sure you are on the San Diego Unified School District's Business Database today! Click here for instructions about how to get on the district’s database.

If your business is not yet certified in one of the above XBE categories but you believe you may be eligible, request a meeting with a small business counselor at your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and/or Apex Accelerator (formerly known as the Procurement Technical Assistance Center) at no cost. The SBDC and Apex Accelerator are invaluable resources for emerging businesses looking to work on government contracts.
San Diego Unified School District is not a certifying agency. The district’s program recognizes certifications from other bona fide certifying institutions.

Disabled Veteran Business (DVB) Program

All SDUSD construction projects must meet or exceed 3% DVB participation. San Diego Unified School District is committed to achieving the district’s own participation requirement for DVBs approved on May 10, 2011, by the Board of Education. Through the Disabled Veteran Business (DVB) Participation Program, the district encourages contractors to ensure maximum opportunities for DVBs on its contracts. DVB participation can be achieved through participation by Prime contractors, tier-subcontractors, suppliers, manufacturers, and/or equipment providers. Read the DVB Tip Sheet for more DVB Program information.

Architecture and engineering contracts have DVB goals too, so DVB professional services consultants are encouraged to bid on a Prime consultant or as a subconsultant.

If you are a DVB, contact the Business Outreach Team to introduce yourself and get on our database (see above). 

XBE Goals

The 2023 XBE goals effective on all construction projects and most professional services contracts are as follows:

Business Ownership Classification

Project XBE Goals

Disabled Veteran Business (DVB)*

3% requirement

5% goal

Minority Business Enterprises (MBE)

8%

Women-Owned Business Enterprises (WBE)

7%

Small Business Enterprises (SBE)

40%

Overall XBE Goal (XBE)**

50%

*DVB includes DVBE and SDVOSB certifications
**The overall XBE goal is not a sum of the classifications

Need More Information?

Click here to go to the Business Outreach’s Collateral webpage to see the latest newsletter and ‘Doing Business with the San Diego Unified School District’ brochure.

Reach out to the Business Outreach Team with any questions, click here to find the contact information.

Click here for free local business counseling:
Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)