Glossary term
Representations and Certifications
The annual and solicitation-specific statements a contractor makes about its business status and compliance.
Representations and certifications cover business size, socioeconomic status, ownership, tax status, and compliance with various statutes. Most are made annually in SAM.gov and incorporated into solicitations by reference. They are legally binding statements — a size representation that is inaccurate exposes a firm to False Claims Act liability, not merely to losing the award.
Categories
- registration
- compliance
Related terms
- SAM.govThe System for Award Management — the official U.S. government website where businesses register to do business with federal agencies.
- SBA Size StandardThe revenue or employee ceiling, set per NAICS code, below which a business qualifies as small.
- AffiliationAn SBA concept where the size of related businesses is combined, potentially disqualifying a firm from small-business status.