Working With Texas Agencies as an SDVOSB and VetHUB Subcontractor
Zack Butler
HUB coordinators and prime contractors share the same problem on mechanical scopes: finding a certified subcontractor who can actually carry the work, and documenting good-faith effort along the way. Here is how we think about it from the subcontractor's side, as a service-disabled veteran-owned HVAC and mechanical contractor.
Start with the registrations that matter
- Texas certification. Confirm the firm's current Texas HUB/VetHUB certification and its expiration date.
- CMBL. Active registration on the Centralized Master Bidders List means the firm can receive state solicitations.
- SAM.gov and SBA. For federal facilities, an active SAM.gov registration and SBA SDVOSB certification.
- Trade licensing. For HVAC work in Texas, a TDLR Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor license, checked against the license number on the capability statement.
Match the scope to the firm
A capability statement should tell you, in one page, which NAICS codes are primary, which work the firm self-performs, and which it delivers through partner trades under its management. Ask that question directly — it is the difference between a subcontractor that counts toward your goals and one that can deliver the scope.
Plan for HUB Subcontracting Plans early
When a solicitation requires a HUB Subcontracting Plan, the strongest plans identify subcontracting opportunities and reach out to certified firms well before the bid date, with enough scope detail for a real price. Subcontractors who respond with a scoped, documented quote make your good-faith-effort record easier to defend.
Look for documentation you can audit
Agency work lives and dies on paperwork. Ask how the subcontractor documents its work: photos, field readings, and reports you can hand to a project manager or an auditor without reformatting.
How Zebrix fits
Zebrix Group is a certified SDVOSB and Texas VetHUB HVAC and mechanical contractor in the Greater Houston area. We self-perform HVAC and mechanical work, deliver complete MEP scopes with electrical and plumbing through licensed partner trades under our management, and document every job with tools we build ourselves. Download our capability statement.
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