We’re Proud to be an 8(a) Certified Small Business
Sections 7(j)(10) and 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 636(j)(10) and 637(a)) authorizes the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a business development program, which is known as the 8(a) Business Development program. The 8(a) program is a robust nine-year program created to help firms owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
Businesses that participate in the program receive training and technical assistance designed to strengthen their ability to compete effectively in the American economy. Also eligible to participate in the 8(a) program are small businesses owned by Alaska Native corporations, Community Development Corporations, Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations. Small business development is accomplished by providing various forms of management, technical, financial, and procurement assistance.
SBA partners with federal agencies to promote maximum utilization of 8(a) program participants to ensure equitable access to contracting opportunities in the federal marketplace. Once certified, 8(a) program participants are eligible to receive federal contracting preferences and receive training and technical assistance designed to strengthen their ability to compete effectively in the American economy.
8(a) Business Development Program
The 8(a) Business Development (BD) Program is a nine-year program created to assist firms owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
The purpose of the program is to help eligible small-disadvantaged businesses compete in the American economy through business development. Program participants have access to training, technical assistance, and contracting opportunities in the form of set-aside and sole-source awards, up to a ceiling of $4.5 million for goods and services and $7.0 million for manufacturing contracts. Business development and assistance is delivered to program participants by Business Opportunity Specialists (BOS) from the 68 district offices nationwide. Assistance includes access to capital and surety bond guarantees, marketing, business counseling, mentoring (online and face-to-face), and opportunities for acquiring federal government surplus property.
The SBA BOS monitors and measures each firm’s progress through business planning collaboration, helping the firms to identify potential contract opportunities, and marketing each firm’s technical capabilities to federal agency procurement officials.