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By John Engstrom, Business Opportunity Specialist, SBA San Diego District and Levi Kinnard, Economic Development Specialist, SBA San Diego District Are you a small business owner? Are you interested in doing business with the federal government? If you can qualify as an economically disadvantaged or socially disadvantaged small business owner, you might have the opportunity to be approved for the SBA’s 8(a) Program! According to www.usaspending.gov the federal government awarded approximately $471.7 Billion in contracts. There is a federal mandate that at least 23% ($108.5 Billion) of all dollars awarded for federal contracts be awarded to small businesses. That is great news for small business owners! The Small Business Administration has Business Opportunity Specialists in each district office to help small business owners get certified to do business with the federal government. Sections 8(a) and 7(j) of the Small Business Act authorize a Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership Development program, which is designated as the 8(a) Business Development Program. This is a nine-year development program, which commences from the date of SBA’s approval letter certifying the firm’s admission into the program. Generally a firm meets the basic requirements for admission into the 8(a) program if it is a small business that is unconditionally owned by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who are of good character and citizens of and residing in the United States, and which demonstrates potential for success. One compliance requirement a small business must meet to qualify for certification are Size Standards. Size determinations are different for many industries classification. Check to determine if your business qualifies for the 8(a) program, please refer to 13 CFR 124.102. Socially disadvantaged individuals are those who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias within American society because of their identities as members of groups and without regard to their individual qualities. The social disadvantage must stem from circumstances beyond their control. For more specific information regarding socially disadvantaged status, please refer to 13 CFR 124.103. Economically disadvantaged individuals are socially disadvantaged individuals whose ability to compete in the free enterprise system has been impaired due to diminished capital and credit opportunities as compared to others in the same or similar line of business who are not socially disadvantaged. For more specific information regarding economically disadvantaged status, please refer to 13 CFR 124.104. We have a brand new program at the SBA San Diego District Office called Winning Work. Registrations and completion of applications can often be confusing and time consuming. Winning Work has developed a series of programs to simplify the process, get the registrations and numbers you need to complete the certification application process. This program is designed to help small businesses qualify for admission into the 8(a) program and identify government contracting opportunities. Winning Work works closely with the local Procurement and Technical Center (PTAC) to help small businesses identify contracts, develop marketing materials for their firms and meet government buyers. All services are confidential and provided at no cost to the client. Additional information is available by contacting John Engstrom, BOS, at john.engstrom@sba.gov or Levi Kinnard, EDS, at timothy.kinnard@sba.gov. Both are located at the San Diego District Office of the Small Business Administration.
By John Engstrom, Business Opportunity Specialist, SBA San Diego District and Levi Kinnard, Economic Development Specialist, SBA San Diego District
Are you a small business owner? Are you interested in doing business with the federal government? If you can qualify as an economically disadvantaged or socially disadvantaged small business owner, you might have the opportunity to be approved for the SBA’s 8(a) Program!
According to www.usaspending.gov the federal government awarded approximately $471.7 Billion in contracts. There is a federal mandate that at least 23% ($108.5 Billion) of all dollars awarded for federal contracts be awarded to small businesses. That is great news for small business owners! The Small Business Administration has Business Opportunity Specialists in each district office to help small business owners get certified to do business with the federal government. Sections 8(a) and 7(j) of the Small Business Act authorize a Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership Development program, which is designated as the 8(a) Business Development Program. This is a nine-year development program, which commences from the date of SBA’s approval letter certifying the firm’s admission into the program.
Generally a firm meets the basic requirements for admission into the 8(a) program if it is a small business that is unconditionally owned by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who are of good character and citizens of and residing in the United States, and which demonstrates potential for success.
One compliance requirement a small business must meet to qualify for certification are Size Standards. Size determinations are different for many industries classification. Check to determine if your business qualifies for the 8(a) program, please refer to 13 CFR 124.102.
Socially disadvantaged individuals are those who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias within American society because of their identities as members of groups and without regard to their individual qualities. The social disadvantage must stem from circumstances beyond their control. For more specific information regarding socially disadvantaged status, please refer to 13 CFR 124.103.
Economically disadvantaged individuals are socially disadvantaged individuals whose ability to compete in the free enterprise system has been impaired due to diminished capital and credit opportunities as compared to others in the same or similar line of business who are not socially disadvantaged. For more specific information regarding economically disadvantaged status, please refer to 13 CFR 124.104.
We have a brand new program at the SBA San Diego District Office called Winning Work. Registrations and completion of applications can often be confusing and time consuming. Winning Work has developed a series of programs to simplify the process, get the registrations and numbers you need to complete the certification application process. This program is designed to help small businesses qualify for admission into the 8(a) program and identify government contracting opportunities. Winning Work works closely with the local Procurement and Technical Center (PTAC) to help small businesses identify contracts, develop marketing materials for their firms and meet government buyers. All services are confidential and provided at no cost to the client.
Additional information is available by contacting John Engstrom, BOS, at john.engstrom@sba.gov or Levi Kinnard, EDS, at timothy.kinnard@sba.gov. Both are located at the San Diego District Office of the Small Business Administration.