Ombra Obtains HUBZone Certification for Federal Work
What happened
Ombra, a technology firm specializing in biometrics, space, and AI, announced it has received HUBZone certification from the Small Business Administration. This designation provides the company with preferential access to certain federal contracting opportunities, aiming to boost its government business.
Why it matters
- The federal government's goal is to award at least 3% of all federal prime contracting dollars to HUBZone-certified firms each year. In fiscal year 2022, contract spending with HUBZone companies reached $13.4 billion, an 11% increase over the previous year, though the program has historically struggled to meet the 3% target. - To achieve certification, Ombra had to demonstrate that its principal office is located in a Historically Underutilized Business Zone and that at least 35% of its employees reside in a HUBZone. - This certification gives Ombra access to HUBZone-specific set-aside contracts and sole-source awards. The company also gains a 10% price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions, giving its bids an advantage. - Founded by Michael Fieldson, who serves as President, Ombra is also a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), another coveted socioeconomic designation in federal contracting. - The company is already engaged in significant defense work, having secured a position on the Missile Defense Agency's $151 billion SHIELD indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. - Ombra has been awarded multiple Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contracts. These include a Phase II SBIR from the U.S. Air Force for robotic swarming technologies for runway repair and four STTR contracts from SpaceWERX to develop CubeSat swarm technologies. - In January 2026, the U.S. Army awarded Ombra a Phase II contract to develop a touchless biometric authentication system for soldiers in the field, combining facial recognition, periocular scans, and touchless fingerprint biometrics into a mobile app.
Key numbers
- - The federal government's goal is to award at least 3% of all federal prime contracting dollars to HUBZone-certified firms each year.
- In fiscal year 2022, contract spending with HUBZone companies reached $13.4 billion, an 11% increase over the previous year, though the program has historically struggled to meet the 3% target.
- To achieve certification, Ombra had to demonstrate that its principal office is located in a Historically Underutilized Business Zone and that at least 35% of its employees reside in a HUBZone.
- The company also gains a 10% price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions, giving its bids an advantage.
What happens next
- In fiscal year 2022, contract spending with HUBZone companies reached $13.4 billion, an 11% increase over the previous year, though the program has historically struggled to meet the 3% target.
Quick answers
What happened in Ombra Obtains HUBZone Certification for Federal Work?
Ombra, a technology firm specializing in biometrics, space, and AI, announced it has received HUBZone certification from the Small Business Administration. This designation provides the company with preferential access to certain federal contracting opportunities, aiming to boost its government business.
Why does Ombra Obtains HUBZone Certification for Federal Work matter?
The federal government's goal is to award at least 3% of all federal prime contracting dollars to HUBZone-certified firms each year. In fiscal year 2022, contract spending with HUBZone companies reached $13.4 billion, an 11% increase over the previous year, though the program has historically struggled to meet the 3% target. To achieve certification, Ombra had to demonstrate that its principal office is located in a Historically Underutilized Business Zone and that at least 35% of its employees reside in a HUBZone. This certification gives Ombra access to HUBZone-specific set-aside contracts and sole-source awards. The company also gains a 10% price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions, giving its bids an advantage. Founded by Michael Fieldson, who serves as President, Ombra is also a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), another coveted socioeconomic designation in federal contracting. The company is already engaged in significant defense work, having secured a position on the Missile Defense Agency's $151 billion SHIELD indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. Ombra has been awarded multiple Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contracts. These include a Phase II SBIR from the U.S. Air Force for robotic swarming technologies for runway repair and four STTR contracts from SpaceWERX to develop CubeSat swarm technologies. In January 2026, the U.S. Army awarded Ombra a Phase II contract to develop a touchless biometric authentication system for soldiers in the field, combining facial recognition, periocular scans, and touchless fingerprint biometrics into a mobile app.
