As of November 16, 2020, the 8(a) Mentor-Protégé program and the All Small Mentor-Protégé program have merged into one SBA Mentor-Protégé program (MPP). Please review the instructions below in full before establishing your account and attempting to submit your PDF documents. Regulations governing the 8(a) program are outlined in 13 CFR 124 and FAR 19.8.
In addition, the MySBA Certifications Knowledge Base is a valuable resource for firms to get started learning about this new platform with how-to videos, user guides, and more. Firms can also use SBA’s local assistance tool to contact their local SBA regional or district office or Women’s Business Center. Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Verification and Evaluations (CVE), provided they meet all eligibility requirements. Economic disadvantage standards have been aligned between the 8(a) Business Development program and the WOSB Federal Contract program. Firms can use SBA’s local assistance tool to contact their local SBA regional or district office or Women’s Business Center with questions.
If you have already started an application and are working on it, you will need to include a social disadvantage narrative for each disadvantaged individual. Once SBA approves my social disadvantage narrative, am I required to get another approval before each new contract award? How are 8(a) participants and their current contracts impacted?
- Can I provide evidence of a social disadvantage that is different than the basis used in my original approval?
- Consistent with existing regulations, 8(a) applicants will only need to establish social disadvantage once for their program term, unless there are ownership/control or other changes which affect eligibility.
- For 8(a) participants who have multiple disadvantaged individuals, each disadvantaged individual is required to submit an individual social disadvantage narrative.
- Annual attestation must be submitted within 30 days of the anniversary date of certification.
- The federal government’s goal is to award five percent of all prime and subcontracting dollars to small disadvantaged businesses each year.
That site is receiving daily updates and is the best source for up-to-date information for the federal acquisition workforce. As of September 29, 2023, SBA has reopened the 8(a) application for new applicants. The Court’s decision does not impact entity-owned firms, such as firms owned by Indian tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, Native Hawaiian Organizations or Community Development Corporations. What will happen if SBA is not able to affirmatively determine my individual social disadvantage at this time? I am in the process of completing my Annual Review. Is a letter required, or can I follow the guide and submit bullet points?
Issuing decisions on certification
SBA partners with federal agencies to promote maximum utilization of 8(a) program participants to ensure access to contracting opportunities in the federal marketplace. This will help federal procurement officials to identify your business during market research. Each year, roughly $50 billion in federal contracts is awarded to SDBs. After existing contracts expire, you will need to certify through MySBA Certifications to remain eligible for WOSB set-aside contracts.
8(a) program participants are eligible to compete for contract awards under other socio-economic programs or small business set-asides they qualify for. The government authorizes sole-source contracts to 8(a) participants for up to $7 million for acquisitions assigned manufacturing North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes and $4.5 million for all other acquisitions. Once certified, 8(a) program participants are eligible to receive federal contracting and receive training and technical assistance designed to strengthen their ability to compete effectively in the American economy.
Local Assistance
Once SBA has determined the application is complete, SBA has 90 days to process the application and render a decision. If you need assistance with your social disadvantage narrative, access the Guide for Writing a Social Disadvantage Narrative on the Certify Knowledge Base. Visit the Knowledge Base to find helpful resources, including the application guide, to assist with gathering necessary documentation as well as completing and submitting the application. Businesses interested in applying for 8(a) certification can get a preliminary assessment of whether it is right for them by going to MySBA Certifications and filling out the eligibility questionnaire.
This site is also protected by an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate that’s been signed by the U.S. government. Receive information about upcoming SBA events, news alerts, and program updates. Refer to the Annual Review Checklist to learn more about responsibilities for maintaining 8(a) certification. As part of an annual review, each participant must annually submit specific information to their servicing SBA District Office. Once certified, your profile in SAM and the Small Business Search (SBS, formerly the Dynamic Small Business Search) will show your approval date and exit date for the 8(a) program.
Additional programs
If you gained third-party certification prior to October 2020, you will remain certified for the duration of existing contracts. To maintain your WOSB or EDWOSB certification, SBA requires participants to annually attest to meeting program requirements set forth in 13 CFR 127. In addition, the MySBA Certifications Knowledge Base is a valuable resource for firms who want to learn more about the certification process or have questions about applying for and participating in the WOSB Program. Review SBA’s latest FAQs, certification options table, infographics, and the following fact sheet for more information about the certification changes and the updated application process. These changes have made it easier for qualified small businesses to participate in the WOSB Federal Contract program by improving the customer experience. This affected the process by which WOSBs and EDWOSBs gained program certification.
If my firm was certified in the 8(a) program before the court’s ruling on July 19, 2023, do I still have to submit a social disadvantage narrative? I have a pending contract award and am required to submit a social disadvantage narrative. These firms will not need to submit social disadvantage narratives.
As part of your market research, you can find 8(a) program-certified businesses using the SBA’s Small Business Search (SBS, formerly the Dynamic Small Business Search). Both the SBA’s regulations and the FAR require you to consider socio-economic programs first for set-aside contracts worth above $250,000. If possible, you can choose to set it aside specifically for businesses in socio-economic programs like the 8(a) program. To help meet that goal, you can make set-asides awards for businesses that participate in the 8(a) Business Development program. These firms will not need to submit narratives to apply for the 8(a) program. Consistent with existing regulations, 8(a) applicants will only need to establish social disadvantage once for their program term, unless there are ownership/control or other changes which affect eligibility.
This practice has been known as using a “rebuttable presumption of social disadvantage” or “presumption of social disadvantage.” If you require any assistance with your SAM.gov profile, click here to submit a request to the Federal Service Desk. Complete your 8(a) Annual Review in Certify every year to ensure eligibility to continue participating in the 8(a) Business Development Program. Select your business type below for a document checklist
Apply to get certified as an 8(a) small business
The first four years are considered a development stage and the last five years are considered a transitional stage. Businesses that participate in the program receive training and technical assistance designed to strengthen their ability to compete effectively in the American economy.
SBA will not solicit information by email addresses other than a “@sba.gov” address. SBA does not charge any costs for applying to our programs or for Small Business Search (SBS) content or profile management. Capability statements are not required to apply for our programs. SBA will not solicit information by email addresses other than a “@sba.gov” address.
For 8(a) participants who have multiple disadvantaged individuals, each disadvantaged individual is required to submit an individual social disadvantage narrative. 8(a) participants must submit an individual social disadvantage narrative through Certify. All current 8(a) participants that fall under this category received a direct communication from SBA on or about Monday, August 21, 2023 detailing the process for establishing social disadvantage through a social disadvantage narrative. SBA is encouraging its continued use as federal agencies identify small businesses to help meet critical mission needs during the end of the fiscal year, typically a time of increased usage of the program.
Other Area with Same PIN Code
Updated WOSB Federal Contract Program regulations detailing changes to the certification process were published in the Federal Register in May 2020. These contracts are for goods and services in specific industries (identified via NAICS code) where WOSBs are underrepresented. However, a protégé can have no more than two mentors over the life of the business. Our application processing timeframe is 15 days screening plus 90 days processing (if your application is not withdrawn), totaling 105 days.
- If you gained third-party certification prior to October 2020, you will remain certified for the duration of existing contracts.
- To overcome this suspension, firms must submit an individual social disadvantage narrative through Certify to re-establish eligibility.
- 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.
- Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Verification and Evaluations (CVE), provided they meet all eligibility requirements.
Program eligibility
An applicant protégé must apply with an identified prospective mentor. You can view the full eligibility criteria in Title 13 Part 125.9 of the CFR and review the Mentor-Protégé Agreement template on SBA’s website. SBA considers factors such as ownership, management, previous relationships with or ties to another concern, and contractual relationships in determining whether affiliation exists. Visit the Joint Venture program page more information.
You have been directed to certify.SBA.gov from BDMIS in order to submit the supporting documentation required for your 8(a) application submission. When the government awards a contract, someone may challenge the size status of the winning small business. You must contact your local district office to verify a business’ 8(a) eligibility. Consider using language in your sources sought announcement that specifically encourages targeted 8(a) small businesses to respond, along with the other federal small business categories if applicable.
In 2020, SBA implemented Congress’s changes to the WOSB Federal Contract program, as put forth in the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). A protégé may request SBA to intervene on its behalf with the mentor if it believes it is not receiving the assistance promised by the mentor. Failure to complete the annual evaluation or provide the required information may result in a termination of the mentor-protégé relationship.
If your application is determined incomplete, SBA will notify you in writing through MySBA Certifications. Before you can participate in the 8(a) program, you must be certified by SBA. Alaska Native corporations, Tribal-owned Native Hawaiian organizations, and Community Development Corporations may have multiple 8(a) firms. Continuation in the program is dependent on staying in compliance with program requirements.
What is the contact address for HARDOI Post Office, UTTAR PRADESH?
Annual evaluations are required so SBA can assess how the relationship is working, and document benefits received by the protégé. You must maintain the mentor-protégé relationship for at least one year after SBA approves your agreement. A protégé may have two mentors at the same time—as long at those relationships do not conflict or compete with each other.
