What you need to know about the SBA’s 8a Program
Small business certifications are like professional certifications: they document a special capability or status that help you compete in the marketplace. These certifications can help you pursue business opportunities with the federal government and prime contractors who often have goals to ensure small businesses are integrated into their purchasing and procurement efforts. At our Federal Contracting Certifications workshop, we’ll give an overview and demonstrate how to apply for the following certifications:
8(a) Business Development (BD) Program
The SBA’s 8(a) Business Development program, named for a section of the Small Business Act, is a business development program created to help small disadvantaged businesses compete in the American economy and access the federal procurement market.
Applicant firms must be:
- a small business in operation for at least two years
- unconditionally owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who are of good character and citizens of the United States; and
- demonstrate a potential for success
Participants in the 8(a) BD program can receive sole source contracts up to $4 million for goods and services and $6.5 million for manufacturing. 8(a) firms are also able to form joint ventures and teams to bid on larger prime contracts.
HUBZone & WOSB Procurement Programs
The Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program helps small businesses in urban and rural communities gain preferential access to federal contracting opportunities. The benefits for certified companies include competitive and sole source contracting and a 10% price evaluation preference in full and open competitions and subcontracting opportunities.
The Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) programs allow federal contracting officials to set aside certain contracts for eligible woman-owned and economically disadvantaged woman-owned businesses.
Now, there are TWO ways to participate in this workshop; you can attend the workshop at our Santa Ana District Office on January 22nd or you can log in to our Webinar on January 29th. Please see below for details.
Agenda/Date/Location for January 22nd Workshop
Registration: 8 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. (PST)
8(a) BD Program Certification Workshop: 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (PST)
HUBZone & WOSB Certifications Workshop: 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (PST)
Thursday, January 22, 2015 at the Santa Ana District Office Training Room, located at 200 W. Santa Ana Blvd. Ste. #700, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Agenda/Date/Location for January 29th Webinar
8(a) BD Program Certification Workshop: 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (PST)
HUBZone & WOSB Certifications Workshop: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (PST)
Thursday, January 29, 2015…log in information will be sent after successful registration
