For 8(a) businesses
8(a) Government Contracts
The SBA 8(a) Business Development program is one of the most powerful edges in federal contracting: up to nine years of set-aside and sole-source awards for socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses. Here's how to qualify and find the work.
How to win 8(a) government contracts
Check your 8(a) eligibility
Before you invest in the application, confirm you meet the ownership, net-worth, and disadvantage requirements. Four quick questions get you a plain-English read.
Check your 8(a) eligibility →Confirm your NAICS and size standard
8(a) set-asides are awarded by NAICS code. Pin down the codes you work under and the SBA small-business size standard for each.
Find your NAICS code →Find and bid 8(a) opportunities
See live federal and Texas bids — each with a plain-English workup (scope, deadlines, bonding, set-aside) so you can decide whether to bid without reading a 200-page RFP.
Browse live bids →
Common questions
- Who qualifies for 8(a)?
- Your firm must be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged US citizens, be a small business, and generally be about two years in business (waivable). The disadvantaged owner's personal net worth must be under $850,000 (excluding equity in the primary residence, ownership in the firm, and qualified retirement funds), average adjusted gross income under $400,000, and total assets under $6.5M — note the total-assets test counts the primary residence and the business, excluding only qualified retirement funds.
- What do 8(a) firms actually get?
- Two powerful advantages: sole-source contracts awarded without competition up to set thresholds, and 8(a) set-aside contracts competed only among other 8(a) firms — far less competition than full and open bids. You can stay in the program for up to nine years.
- How hard is it to get certified?
- Plan for a thorough SBA application with financial and ownership documentation. The smart move is to confirm you meet the ownership, net-worth, and disadvantage tests before you start — our free 8(a) checker walks you through them in plain English.
- Where do I find 8(a) contracts?
- Federal 8(a) opportunities post on SAM.gov, and sole-source ones are often arranged directly with an agency that wants to work with you. BidGovContracts pulls federal and Texas bids into one feed, flags the set-asides, and summarizes each in plain English.
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