African American — U.S. citizens having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

Asian Indian American — U.S. citizens having origins from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Asian Pacific American — U.S. citizens having origins from Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Samoa, Guam, and U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific and Northern Marinas.

Certification — Written verification and determination that a firm is small, independently owned and controlled, in both substance and form, by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) — A small business concern owned and controlled 51 percent or more by one or more service-disabled veterans.

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) — A small business concern owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

Economic disadvantage — An ethnic minority or woman whose inability to compete in the free enterprise system is due to diminished capital and credit opportunities, as compared with others in the same or similar line of business.

Hispanic American — U.S. citizens having origins from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central or South America or Spain.

Minority — A person who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and is Black, Hispanic, Asian or Native American as defined by the Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) — A small business concern owned and controlled 51 percent or more by one or more minorities.

Native American — U.S. citizens who are American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut or Native Hawaiian.

Social disadvantage — Individuals who have personally suffered chronic, longstanding, and substantial racial and gender discrimination.

Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) — A small business concern owned and controlled 51 percent or more by one or more women.