8A Status Fraud & SBA 8a Certification Litigation & Criminal Investigations

We Only Represent Small Businesses With 8a Litigation, 8a False CLaims Act Fraud and Criminal Investigations, and 8a Status Appeals Matters. We do NOT Handle the 8a Certification Application Stage:

Learn how to minimize the Small Business Administration SBA objections to your 8a application and avoid wasting valuable time and resources learning the requirements through trial and error. By understanding the government’s concerns when trying to meet the SBA 8a Certification Requirements and 8a Status Rules, you will be better able to provide the important documents and requirements in your 8a application to get approved the first time around and avoid 8a status fraud cases or criminal investigations.

The benefit of going through the sometimes confusing SBA certification process can be worth it. Once you become an 8a certified company, you have access to millions of dollars in federal 8a government contracts that you would never have had before. Furthermore, companies that are not small business 8a certified cannot touch the contracts that are set aside for the 8a Business Development Program.

• If you don’t get it right at the initial stages, you will lose credibility more with the SBA when you submit your reconsideration request
• Is there a significantly more in-depth analysis and critique by the SBA after you submit your 8a application?
• Getting access to millions of dollars for a federal government contract means knowing how the game is played.
• When it comes to knowing how to start an 8a company, getting professional help is not a must but it saves you a large headache.
• Be advised that if you submit false information to the government or intentionally do not follow the rules after becoming 8(a) certified, you and your company could face criminal charges and fines (see below).

What is 8a Certification?

8(a) certification means that your company participates in the SBA’s 8a Certified Business Program. The Government 8a Program is a nine-year program that allows certain qualified companies to have access to what is considered the fast-track to small business federal contract dollars.

• SBA certification carries tremendous statutory power. The ability to obtain sole-source contracts is paramount.
• The SBA oversees your progress in the program.
• Avoid the common mistake of assuming that it is the SBA’s obligation to find your company 8a government contracts. This is not true.
• Once you become 8(a) certified, you must develop your own business development program and market your company to the federal government.
• How long can you be an 8a company?  What is the 8(a) Program Length?  The general answer is 9 years.

Government SBA Certification Application Qualifications – What are the SBA 8a Program Requirements?

To become 8a certified, eligibility is based on what information you put in the application, the company in its SBA 8a certification application must meet the business development certification requirements below.

• In your SBA 8a application development, you must be a small business concern based on applicable size standards for small businesses in your industry.
• All individuals upon whom small business 8a program eligibility requirements are based must be U.S. citizens.
• You must be the unconditional majority business owner.
• Outside business interests are strictly limited.
• You must work full-time in your business.
• You must be in immediate control and in charge of your business.
• You must possess good character and demonstrate the potential for success in the 8a Program
• Board control in the case of a small business corporation can be exercised only by disadvantaged persons.

Be mindful that the SBA scrutinizes your application for inconsistencies, violations of tricky rules and submission of false information.

To get your government 8a status and take advantage of federal contract opportunities, the SBA 8a program requires that you must be a socially disadvantaged individual. Socially disadvantaged individuals are those who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias within American society because of their identities as members of groups and without regard to their individual qualities. 

• Note that the new SBA 8a Contractor Program rules only require narratives in certain situations
• As an 8(a) applicant, you must still meet the legal standards in case someone challenges your status

SBA 8a Requirements and SBA 8a Status Program Qualifications That Give Applicants the Most Difficult Time

SBA 8(a)certification qualification requirements mandate that a federal 8a company must be owned, controlled, and operated by people who are socially or economically disadvantaged. This could be one or more persons who are owners and meet the SBA evaluation standards. 

The cases and OHA 8a appeal cases tend to show that applicants have the most difficult time with the following requirements:

• Ultimate control of the company ( ability to control  another person or entity) – Most Popular
• Showing that the applicant is an economically disadvantaged person. 
• You must be of a good moral character to be approved for government 8a status.
• You fail to show the ability to succeed in the SBA 8a Program

COMMON REASONS WHY A FEDERAL 8A APPLICATION CAN BE DENIED 

•  Information that the offered to support the claim of social disadvantage in the 8a certification application was vague, conclusory, and lacking in detail, not related to the applicant’s personal experiences, or was insufficient to show that (a) alleged incidents of discriminatory conduct adversely affected individual’s entry into, or advancement in, the business world or (b) alleged social disadvantage was both “chronic and substantial” as required by the applicable regulations. See Matter of 7Skyline, LLC, SBA No. BDPE-574 (2019)
• Failure to establish that his disabled veteran status and PTSD, or other condition, resulted in (i) bias against him in employment and business history and (ii) social disadvantage. See Matter of Hruckus, LLC, SBA No. BDPE-572 (2018).
• You did not meet the requirement of showing the potential to successfully meet the business development objectives of the program. This cannot be appealed. See Matter of A.J. Nesti Materials, BDPE-551 (2015) 
• Not dedicating enough time to the business

UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUBMITTING FALSE INFORMATION (INTENTIONAL OR NOT)AND GETTING INVESTIGATED FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH SBA CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

INVEST IN AN PROFESSIONAL THAT UNDERSTANDS THE PROGRAM AND THE RULES – REDUCE THE CHANCE OF DENIAL THE FIRST TIME AROUND

It is sometimes better to see where you rank for all of the 8a application requirements ahead of time.  If you don’t meet the requirements right away, a good small business 8a certification consultant would develop a plan of action of what you need to and when you can expect to be ready to apply.

BE PREPARED TO SUBMIT BUSINESS INTRUSIVE AND PERSONAL INFORMATION

The SBA 8(a) Business Development Program requirements and eligibility criteria force applicants to divulge a vast amount of personal and business information.  However, part of understanding how to become 8a certified means knowing why the 8a program requires a substantial amount of personal and business information.

The reason is that the SBA wants to know whether there are unqualified companies or individuals who are simply taking advantage of the program or a company that gets government 8a status. Knowing how to apply for your 8a business designation and obtain your SBA 8a certification status, you must meet very specific SBA requirements.  

Failure to meet any of the business development certification requirements or SBA 8a program qualifications will cause suspicion and rejection from getting your company  SBA 8a certified. Besides the general information listed in the SBA regulations, the SBA goes even deeper into your 8a Certification application to look for inconsistencies and evidence of affiliation (a dangerous area where 60% of 8a applicants fail).

To apply for SBA certification and increase your chances of getting approved for 8a status, you must convince the area office that you meet the basic SBA 8a certification requirements in addition to meeting the legal standards and level of proof that many applicants do not understand. Failure to do so will cause your 8a application to be denied.  Find about SBA 8a fraud and avoiding criminal liability.

Corporate Issues for Becoming SBA 8a Certified

When considering SBA 8 a program eligibility requirements and SBA evaluation criteria, you must assess whether you are selling services or products that the government buys.  

• Corporate documents must conclusively show that the eligible applicant(s) make the final business decisions.
• Make sure that another member of your management staff does not show negative control over your company. This will get your application denied. The reviewer takes a hard look at these SBA 8a eligibility requirements.
• Contracts with third parties that appear to give them control over the company can disqualify you.

Basic Understanding of the SBA 8 a Business Development Program

The SBA  8a Certified Business Program was initiated to help small businesses like yours succeed in the commercial and business environment. Companies that are considering joining what some consider the elite of the government contracting small businesses must meet specific requirements to be admitted into the program.

Below is a list of requirements to become 8(a) certified. The most gruesome evaluation by the SBA is to make sure that you, the applicant (s) are actually a small disadvantaged business.

The second, and most deadly, is whether your company is owned and controlled at least 51% by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. If you do not pass these first two requirements, then you can certainly expect your 8(a) application to be denied. See information and Government Small Business Subcontracting Plan.

SBA Certification Benefits – Why Get 8a Certified?

Getting your government 8a certification application approved by the SBA means that you essentially are treated as one of the elite categories of federal small business contractors. The heart of the 8(a) Program allows your company to take advantage of small business set-asides and take advantage of many statutory benefits; be awarded sole-source contracts (without actually bidding) and to have a ‘fast-track’ to federal contracting dollars.

The reasoning for socially disadvantaged 8a status: The social disadvantage must stem from circumstances beyond their control. Under the  Small Business Act, certain presumed groups include African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, and Subcontinent Asian Americans.

TIP:  Never make the mistake of thinking that your 8a application will be approved if your company shows an unsuccessful performance history. In fact, your 8a application will be denied because you show no likelihood of success. This cannot be appealed. 

To get SBA 8a certified, you must show that your business can demonstrate a minimum of $250,000 in gross sales for the previous year. Previous contracting experience with state or federal agencies is preferred. However, having an experienced small business 8a certification application consultant can be helpful in explaining any lack of experience.

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Avoid Penalties for Violation of SBA Small Business 8(a) Certification Rules

Get Immediate Help With 8a Status Litigation and 8(a) BD Fraud Cases

We help small businesses nationwide.

If you are an economically disadvantaged individual, having problems with an 8a Status Bid Protest, Need Legal Defense in an 8(a) fraud case, CIvil investigative demands or criminal subpoenas in a 8(a) BD False Claims Act case, we can guide you through the technical assistance process. For help with SBA certification and business development, requirements for 8(a) certification, and how to become an SBA 8a certified business, and to make sure to get your SBA 8a application requirements completed, call our 8a appeals and 8a Program Fraud Lawyers consultants at 1-866-601-5518.