- 8a climbing. The first four years are considered a development stage and the last five years are considered a transitional stage. This guide will explain the basics of the 8a program, steps towards 8a certification, and how small businesses can leverage 8a certification to grow their government business. Jun 17, 2025 · To qualify for the 8 (a) program, businesses must meet the following eligibility criteria: 8 (a) certification lasts for a maximum of nine years. Primarily, the 8 (a) Aug 20, 2023 · Federal law requires 23% of those orders to go to small business sellers. Each year, the federal government’s goal is to award at least 5% of all prime contracts to small disadvantaged businesses, which include 8 (a) Program participants. The certification is intended for businesses that are owned and operated at least 51% by SBA-deemed socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. What is an 8 (a) Certification? The 8 (a) Program is an ownership diversity campaign designed by the SBA to assist organizations that are 51 percent owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. . The 8 (a) program is a robust nine-year program created to help firms owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Oct 7, 2024 · What is the SBA 8 (a) program? While the Small Business Administration (SBA) offers a variety of government-backed business loans, the 8 (a) program is different. Jun 17, 2025 · To qualify for the 8 (a) program, businesses must meet the following eligibility criteria: 8 (a) certification lasts for a maximum of nine years. As an 8 (a) certified business, you are visible to contracting officers as a small business and Minority certified, so the pool for set-aside contracts is smaller, which maximizes your ability to receive no bid contract under $25,000. Other statutory requirements call for the various federal agencies to devote set amounts of their budgets to buying from women-owned businesses, companies owned by service-disabled veterans and others. Oct 18, 2017 · Participating in the 8 (a) Program opens several doors to success. Shows your company has “lasting potential” in the industry and financial stability. Oct 29, 2023 · 8 (a) certification is a diversity ownership certification issued by the Small Business Association (SBA) of America. To receive new 8 (a) contracts, an individual-owned 8 (a) participant firm that previously relied on the presumption of social disadvantage to support eligibility will now need to submit a social disadvantage narrative to re-establish eligibility. jfek ozjsh cbzu tbst tcafg pvhrjmz uggtnw nvm wfw cnk