There number of 8(a) firms has reached a low water mark for the past decade. The number of active 8(a) firms is now 6,642. This provides for considerable benefit to firms in the 8(a) program due to reduced competition for the same federal spending dollars ($30.8B in 2014). I have attached the list by state with the number of firms that are active by year in the program and those that have recently graduated. The graduated firms are in columns 10 and 11 as an 8(a) firm has a sunset or graduates after 9 years in the 8(a) program.
| States and Territories that Gained 8(a) Count over past 2 years | 5 |
| States and Territories that Decreased 8(a) Count over past 2 years | 45 |
| States and Territories that Neutral 8(a) Count over past 2 years | 3 |
The reason for the decline in 8a firms is not due to reduced opportunities, but rather due to increased scrutiny in the 8(a) application process. Therefore if a firm can make it through the 8(a) application process there are many great federal contracting opportunities available to them.
