What is 8a Certification?
If you wish to take your small business to different level you must opt for an 8a certification. The 8(a) program was implemented as a nine-year program by Congress to allow small business to gain leverage in the market to gain revenues and to develop a more successful business venture. The 8(a) Business Development Program is a business assistance program for small disadvantaged businesses. The 8(a) Program offers a broad scope of assistance to firms that are owned and controlled at least 51% by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. SBA is the legal authority to look after the program and also provide it with statutory tools and power to help each company to succeed in the program. SBA holds the supreme authority to handle all matters associated with a company’s 8(A) status. This includes the power to accept and terminate companies from the 8(a) Program. The program helps thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs to gain a foothold in government contracting.
BENEFITS AND ADVANTAGES OF 8(A)
Small businesses that meet the SBA Requirements find that there are numerous 8(a) certification benefits and advantages.
1) Having exclusive access to sole source/non-competitive and competitive set-aside federal contracts that allows small businesses to compete for set-aside contracts reserved exclusively for 8(a) participants.
2) Sole source/non-competitive contracts will be available to your business concern for federal contracts with a total value up to $3.5 million for services and up to $5.5 million for manufacturing. Federal contracts for 8a Certified firms that have a total contract value of more than $3.5 million for services and more than $5.5 million for manufacturing must be competed but only against other 8a Certified firms.
3) Limiting your potential competition. That means big companies will not have access to these federal contracts.
4) Making you attractive to a larger federal government prime contractor. Since a business concern that is not considered small by SBA does not have access set-aside 8a contracts, you will be more attractive for teaming, joint ventures or mentor/protege relationships. Small businesses admitted to the Program can form a joint ventures and teaming agreements to reach larger contracts.
5) Making it easier for your Federal client to purchase your products or services.
6) 8a set-aside contracts require much less paperwork, time and bureaucracy.
7) 8a contracts cannot be protested, only the size of the 8a participant can be questioned.
8) Getting you the contract/work faster. 8a contracts take much less time to be awarded than most other procurement methods.
If you have no idea about how to proceed for an 8(a) certification, you are missing out a huge possibility to prosper and grow your business. Planning is a tool for steering and managing your business and to become a successful entrepreneur. Despite the many benefits and advantages of getting your 8(a) status, 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 must get them work. You need to work hard, invent new business ideas and plans, prepare your own business strategies and implement those strategies and plans to prosper your business further. SBA will assist you throughout the program but it’s up to you how you are developing your business and making the full use of the benefits of 8(a) Program.
Choosing a right 8(a) consultant is the first step towards the success. Ez8a is a Government Certification Specialist that provided small business with SBA 8(a) advice, tips and guidance over the years and helped thousands of companies to gain this much coveted 8(a) Certification.
