USA.c Certification FAQ's The USA.c certification for US businesses will be the most widely recognized and respected certifications in the nation. Accepted by thousands of corporations within the country and a number of federal and government agencies, your USA.c certification will be an important marketing tool for expanding your company's visibility among decision makers in corporate supply chain and procurement. What does a USA.c certificate mean? USA.c (Made in USA Certified) is product that has at least 51% of USA content and is USA.c's certification program is for manufacturers, distributors and retailers to establish "Made in USA", in accordance with the United States country of origin labeling requirements for manufactured goods, produce and services in the United States. Controlled by U.S. citizens or Legal Resident Aliens; whose business formation and principal place of business are in the US or its territories; and whose management and daily operation is controlled by the US Entity. What exactly does it mean to be "USA.c certified "? Being USA.c Certified means that a business, supply and chain has gone through a rigorous and stringent certification process to confirm the origin of the raw materials, assembly and business processes are of the USA origin. . How does USA.c certification differ from others? The Made in USA Certification (USA.c) is the nation's leading third-party certifier USA Made products and services for the private sector. The are currently no other certification like USA.c that we know in the United States. USA.c provides access to a national standard of certification and provides information on certified businesses to purchasing managers through its , USA.c database. USA.c certification is recognized and accepted by the majority of the major corporations across the U.S. Are there size or length of time in business requirements for certifiable companies? There are no size or time requirements for USA.c certification. What is the fee for certification? Fees are determined by specific markets served. Please contact USA.c to determine applicable fees. This is a non-refundable processing fee, even if the applicant does not complete their paperwork or fails to be certified. Is the fee reimbursed if I am not certified? No, it is a non-refundable processing fee. What is the processing time for certification? The processing time is generally 60-90 days once all documentation has been received by USA.c. What is involved in the certification process? The certification process is as follows: A business entity submits an application, along with the necessary supporting documentation and non-refundable processing fee. USA.c has a trained Certification Committee that meets on a monthly basis. Once the applicant's file is complete (meaning all documentation pertinent to the business and legal structure has been received), it will go to the Committee for review. An on-site visit is conducted, generally during the 30-day window between Committee meetings. At the meeting following the site visit, a final recommendation is made regarding the applicant's eligibility. If certification is granted, the company's assigned contract will receive an auto-email telling them that they have been certified and may now access their certificate online. A formal letter will also be mailed. Why do I have to supply my company's financial information? Financial documents, such as the Profit & Loss Statement, provide evidence that the applicant is conducting the business as describing in the application. Documents such as the Balance Sheet and tax returns are used collectively to verify the ownership, management, and supply chain. Please note that the certification process does not evaluate the company's profitability or financial viability. What if I don't have a document that is required? USA.c realizes that you may not have all the documentation we request. Should that be the case, please submit a letter with your documentation stating which documents do not exist and why. What if my bank won't give me a copy of my signature card? In place of the bank signature card, a letter may be sent from your bank officer on the bank's letterhead informing us of the authorized signatures on the bank account(s) and any stipulations placed on the account(s), e.g., two signatures required on all checks. What is an acceptable form of or citizenship? A birth certificate or passport will suffice. I am the only owner - why do I need to have an annual meeting? According to most by-laws, the shareholders of record are supposed to meet annually in order to be in compliance with their own by-laws. If you do not hold an actual meeting, it is to your benefit to have something on file that states you waived the annual meeting. Who will see the paperwork and documents I submit? All USA.c Certification Committees who have been trained in USA.c's Standards & Procedures. Upon signing a Confidentiality Agreement, Committee members review the information and make recommendations regarding the certifiability of each applicant. Who sits on these Certification Committees? The trained Certification Committees members consist of Corporate and USA.c volunteers. These volunteers have been trained in USA.c's Standards & Procedures. Committee member names are not disclosed to the public and they are required to excuse themselves if they have knowledge of a given applicant, whether as a supplier, customer, or competitor. How long does my certification last? The certification lasts for one year. How do I download my certificate? Once you are logged into your profile, you will select the USA.c link from the menu box at the left. In the submenus is a link to a high resolution "HR" and low resolution "LR" certificate. How do I get recertified? Recertification is not automatic. You will receive a recertification application approximately 90 days before your certification expires; however, it is the Licensee responsibility to maintain current certification. I applied for recertification early - will my expiration date change? The certification is good for a period of one year. It is not a rolling 12 months. Will I have to re-submit all of the same documentation when I am recertified? No - the recertification process is much simpler. We request updated financial information, board meeting minutes, if applicable, and any changes that may have occurred in either ownership, supply or management of the business. Is there an on-site visit? Do I have to pay for that? An on-site visit is mandatory with each initial application and must be performed every three years thereafter as part of the recertification process (or more frequently at the partner organization's discretion). The applicant does not pay for any of the site visits. There are no surprise site visits. Is my certification transferable if I sell my business ? Yes, certification is granted based on supply chain, not ownership. Who do I call to check the status of my certification? When you submit your online application, you will receive email notification from both USA.c and your certifier that will process your application. The email will contain all the contact information for contact in the USA.c organization that covers your territory. Contact the program manager with any questions concerning your application or the certification process in general. How am I assured of the confidentiality of my documents once I send them? Please be assured that all documents submitted are treated with the utmost confidentiality. All files are kept under lock and key and only organization staff members have access to these files. During the Certification Committee review, the file is reviewed by the Committee. Any Committee members in a competitive industry do not have access to the file, nor are they present during any discussion of your application. Additionally, staff and committee members sign Confidentiality Disclosure statements whereby they agree that information is confidential, proprietary, and valuable to the applicant and that any disclosure could cause harm to the applicant. The USA.c Organization take your privacy and the confidentiality of your information very seriously.
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