SBA Certification Benefits & 8a Program Advantages

Small businesses seeking to take the company to another level should consider the various SBA 8a certification benefits and advantages. With the right information about the government contracting process when agencies purchase your specific services or products, your company can often reach a level that the traditional commercial sector may not allow.

What is 8a Certification?

The 8(a) Program was implemented as a nine-year program by Congress to allow small businesses to gain more leverage in the market to gain revenues and to develop a more successful business venture.

Congress also gave the Small Business Administration (SBA), the legal authority to oversee the program and provided it with the statutory tools and power to help each company succeed in the program.

The SBA has exclusive authority to handle all matters associated with a company’s 8(a) status. This includes the ability to accept and terminate companies. After going through the 8(a) program, participants are not allowed to reenter the program.

The SBA has exclusive authority to handle all matters associated with a company’s 8(a) status. This includes the ability to accept and terminate companies. After going through the 8(a) program, participants are not allowed to reenter the program.

 8a Benefits and Advantages

Sole source contracts: Small businesses that meet the SBA 8a certification requirements find that there are numerous 8 a certification advantages. For example, companies with 8 a status can receive sole-source contracts, up to $4 million for goods and services and $6.5 million for manufacturing.

Many companies fail to secure 8a sole source contracts because they either do not develop a viable marketing strategy that involves the relevant FAR regulations, or they mistakenly believe that the SBA should find sole source projects for them.

8a certification benefits and advantages of competing for 8a set-asides: 8a certification also allows small businesses to compete for set-aside contracts reserved exclusively for 8(a) participants. This unique benefit reduces the pool of bidders while excluding traditional, non 8(a) certified small businesses. This process is referred to as 8(a) competitive bidding.

• Only 8a companies can compete
• Minimize bid competition

Joint venture and teaming 8 a certification advantages : Small businesses admitted to the Program also have benefits and advantages of forming joint ventures and teaming agreements to reach larger contracts. There are special rules that govern teaming and joint venture relationships. However, getting past those nuances can make the different between only bidding for small value contracts compared to getting government contracts in the millions of dollars.

Proactive Measures After Getting 8a Certified: Despite the many 8a certification benefits, small businesses must still develop strategies to acquire more projects and increase revenues. All participants in the program must immediately put to rest the thought that the SBA has to get them work. This simply is not the case, statutorily or otherwise. There are proven strategies to become successful when getting 8(a) certified.

For help getting your 8 a status, or learning how to take advantage of 8a benefits and advantages, call our SBA 8a certification consultants at 1-866-601-5518.