LGBTBE Certification for Professional Services Companies

For businesses that are at least 51% owned by LGBT individuals.

Professional services is the fastest path to contracting for many diverse businesses. Here's why certification matters:

Low Barriers to Entry: Unlike manufacturing or construction, professional services require expertise rather than equipment or facilities.

High Demand: Every organization needs professional services - consulting, staffing, legal, accounting, marketing.

GSA Schedule Access: Professional services are well-suited for GSA Schedule contracts, opening federal opportunities.

Corporate Spending: Fortune 500 companies spend billions annually on professional services with supplier diversity goals.

Subcontracting Opportunities: Large consulting firms (Big 4, Accenture, etc.) actively seek diverse subcontractors.

Professional services certifications can unlock opportunities in virtually every industry vertical.

Must be at least 51% owned by LGBT individuals who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.

LGBTBE eligibility requires LGBT-identifying ownership plus genuine operational control. NGLCC's review process is modeled on the NMSDC and WBENC frameworks; ownership on paper without real management authority will not pass.

LGBT ownership

• At least 51% owned by one or more individuals who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender
• Ownership must be unconditional and not subject to override provisions that effectively give control to a non-LGBT owner
• Ownership interest must be real and continuous, not a nominal or temporary transfer created to qualify
• Owners must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents

Control: management and operations

• LGBT owner(s) must hold the highest officer position (President, CEO, or Managing Member)
• LGBT owner(s) must control day-to-day business operations
• LGBT owner(s) must make long-term strategic decisions including hiring, major expenditures, and client contracts
• Management authority cannot be effectively delegated to non-LGBT individuals through employment agreements or informal arrangements

Business requirements

• For-profit enterprise operating in the U.S.
• Independently operated, not a subsidiary or affiliate where a non-LGBT parent entity exercises control
• Demonstrated business activity: real clients, contracts, or revenue
• No specific years-in-business minimum, though very new businesses may be asked for additional evidence of operations

Step 1: Decide on the fee or the chamber waiver before you start NGLCC's portal FAQ lists a $899 certification fee and a $499 recertification fee, non-refundable, and waives both for applicants who submit proof of current membership in their local affiliate chamber of commerce. Compare that fee with your local chamber's dues before you apply; you do not have to be based in the chamber's city to join it.

Step 2: Gather documents before opening the application Collect everything before you start: articles of incorporation or organization, operating agreement or bylaws showing the LGBT owner's percentage and management authority, stock certificates or membership ledger, government-issued photo ID for the LGBT owner(s), three years of business tax returns (or all available years for newer businesses), a current profit & loss statement and balance sheet, business license, and a representative sample of signed contracts or purchase orders. Having documents ready prevents mid-session interruptions.

Step 3: Create your NGLCC account and complete the application at nglcc.org Start at nglcc.org/certification, which sends you to the NGLCC portal at nglcc.gob2g.com to create your business profile, and work through the full application. The application covers ownership structure, management authority, financial overview, and business capabilities. Answer precisely and consistently; reviewers compare your answers directly against your supporting documents.

Step 4: Upload your document package Upload all documents gathered in Step 2. Label files clearly (e.g., "OperatingAgreement_2024.pdf" rather than "document1.pdf"). Mislabeled or incomplete uploads are the most common reason NGLCC staff issue follow-up requests that delay processing.

Step 5: LGBT identity declaration You self-certify your LGBT identity. NGLCC does not require third-party documentation of sexual orientation or gender identity. Your declaration is treated as confidential.

Step 6: NGLCC review and virtual site visit NGLCC staff check that the file is complete, then an NGLCC-trained site visitor holds a virtual site visit with the majority owner at a scheduled time to corroborate the application. NGLCC's FAQ calls the site inspection a mandatory part of initial certification. Respond promptly to scheduling requests.

Step 7: Certification decision The National Certification Committee meets monthly and makes the final decision. NGLCC's FAQ puts processing at 60 to 90 days once it has a complete application; an incomplete file delays it. Once certified, you're listed in the NGLCC supplier database and can begin using the LGBTBE mark.

Federal Opportunities

Professional services are needed across all federal agencies:

• GSA Professional Services Schedule: Gateway to government-wide opportunities
• Agency-Specific BPAs: Blanket Purchase Agreements for ongoing needs
• Staff Augmentation: IT staffing, administrative support, technical assistance
• Consulting: Management consulting, strategy, program evaluation

Key Contract Vehicles

• GSA MAS (Multiple Award Schedule)
• OASIS (complex professional services)
• Alliant 2 (IT services)
• Agency-specific IDIQs

8(a) Advantage: Professional services are ideal for 8(a) sole-source contracts up to $4.5M (or $7M for manufacturing).