Texas state agencies and the prime contractors that work for them regularly need certified VetHUB subcontractors for mechanical and HVAC scopes, whether to meet a HUB Subcontracting Plan or simply to bring a qualified veteran-owned firm onto a project. The search itself is free and public. The harder part is confirming that the firm you find can actually perform the work. This guide covers both.
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts maintains the CMBL and VetHUB vendor search. It lists every vendor registered on the Centralized Master Bidders List and shows whether each one holds a current VetHUB certification.
Certification says who owns the business. It says nothing about whether the firm can legally perform HVAC work. In Texas, that requires an Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Check the license number on the firm's capability statement against the TDLR license search, and confirm it is active.
For federal facilities, confirm an active SAM.gov registration (UEI and CAGE code) and, for service-disabled veteran-owned set-asides, SBA SDVOSB certification. A firm that is VetHUB-certified in Texas is not automatically certified federally, and the reverse is also true.
Ask directly which work the firm performs with its own crews and which it delivers through partner trades. A good capability statement answers this on one page: primary NAICS code, self-performed trades, and how electrical or plumbing is handled. For HVAC, look for experience with the equipment on your project, whether chillers, central plants, rooftop units, air handlers or building controls.
When a solicitation requires a HUB Subcontracting Plan, the strongest plans identify subcontracting opportunities well before the bid date and give certified firms enough scope detail to price the work. Keep a record of who you contacted, when, and what they quoted. A subcontractor who responds with a scoped, written quote makes that good-faith-effort record easier to defend.
Yes. The Texas Comptroller certifies eligible veteran-owned businesses free of charge, and certification is good for up to four years as long as the business stays eligible. The vendor search is free to use.
State agencies with biennial budgets over $10 million must designate a HUB coordinator. The Comptroller's VetHUB resources page links to the current agency coordinator contact list.
At minimum: certifications with ID numbers (VetHUB VID, SDVOSB, CMBL status), the TDLR license number, UEI and CAGE code for federal work, NAICS and NIGP codes, core capabilities, and a named point of contact.
Often, as long as it is clear who performs each trade. Some HVAC contractors self-perform mechanical work and deliver electrical and plumbing through licensed partner trades under their management, which gives the agency one point of accountability.
Zebrix Group is an SBA-certified service-disabled veteran-owned and Texas VetHUB-certified (VID 21829539) HVAC and mechanical contractor based in The Woodlands, Texas, active on the CMBL and SAM.gov, and licensed by TDLR (TACLA00169073C). We self-perform HVAC and mechanical work, deliver complete MEP scopes with electrical and plumbing through licensed partner trades under our management, and provide temporary cooling and power rentals. Download our capability statement or contact our bids team.
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