Trust & Transparency
How We Screen
Three-tier verification. Industry-standard. Transparent.
BuildersPass uses a tiered credentialing system modeled after the screening standards used by federal bonding companies, prime contractors, and government agencies. Each tier adds a layer of verification. Here is exactly what we check — and what we don't.
Business Registration Verified
What we check
- Business entity is registered and active with the state of incorporation
- Federal EIN confirmed
- Primary trade and states of operation confirmed
- Contact information verified by email
What is NOT checked at this tier
- Contractor license not yet verified
- Insurance not yet confirmed
- No background check
Standard Pass members are listed in the directory but do not carry a verification badge. Suitable for subcontractors building their profile before full credentialing review.
License, Insurance & Federal Compliance Verified
What we check
- Active contractor license — confirmed directly against the issuing state licensing board database
- License expiration date confirmed and on file
- Certificate of Insurance (COI) reviewed — General Liability carrier, policy number, coverage amount, and expiration date confirmed
- Workers Compensation confirmed active or valid exemption on file
- SAM.gov registration — confirmed active in the federal System for Award Management database. Any contractor on the SAM.gov Excluded Parties List (debarment list) is ineligible for Verified Pass or Elite status
- Business is NOT on the federal debarment / exclusions list (checked at sam.gov)
- Certifications reviewed — supporting documents checked for any claimed MBE, WBE, DBE, 8(a), Section 3, Davis-Bacon, or OSHA credentials
What is NOT checked at this tier
- No personal background check on owner/principals
- No credit or financial history check
Verified Pass is the standard for most government and commercial project directories. Credentials are reviewed at time of application and flagged for re-review at expiration.
Full Principal Background Check + Enhanced Compliance Review
What we check
- Everything included in Verified Pass tier
- Personal background check on the majority owner / principal of the business — conducted through Checkr, an FCRA-compliant background screening provider. Includes:
- Criminal history (7-year lookback, all counties)
- Federal criminal records search
- Sex offender registry check
- Global watchlist and sanctions screening
- Federal contractor debarment (SAM.gov Excluded Parties)
- State contractor license complaint and disciplinary history reviewed
- Bonding confirmed — surety bond active and on file
- Minimum insurance thresholds confirmed:
- General Liability: $1M per occurrence minimum
- Workers Compensation: active, not exempt
- Minimum 3 verifiable project references reviewed
- BuildersPass internal review and executive approval
What is NOT checked at this tier
- Personal credit score
- Employees (only the majority owner/principal is screened)
- Ongoing monitoring after initial check (annual re-screening required at renewal)
Elite is the BuildersPass gold standard. It matches the screening threshold required by federal bonding companies and major prime contractors for subcontractor prequalification.
Important Disclosures
FCRA Notice: Background checks conducted for Elite membership are governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Applicants will receive required disclosures and provide written consent before any background check is initiated. Adverse action procedures are followed if an applicant is declined based on background check results.
Verification Date: All credentials are verified at time of application. Licenses and insurance expire. BuildersPass re-screens members annually at renewal and flags profiles when documents are approaching expiration. Users must independently confirm credentials remain current before hiring.
Debarment Policy: Any individual or business entity appearing on the SAM.gov Excluded Parties List is permanently ineligible for BuildersPass membership. Existing members found on the debarment list are immediately suspended without refund.
What We Are Not: BuildersPass is not a background screening agency, employment agency, or compliance officer. Verification badges confirm documents were reviewed at time of application. Users retain full responsibility for their hiring decisions.
Ready to be verified?
Verification typically takes 48–72 business hours from receipt of all required documents.
Apply to join