Federal 8(a) Business Development Contracts (GA)
What is the 8(a) Business Development set-aside?
The 8(a) Business Development Program is SBA's flagship small-disadvantaged-business program — a nine-year structured graduation track for firms owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (presumed eligible: Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian Pacific, Subcontinent Asian Americans; others must demonstrate disadvantage). Eligibility requires 51%+ ownership and control by disadvantaged individuals, personal net worth under $850K (excluding primary residence and business equity), and adjusted gross income under $400K averaged over three years. The program is split between developmental (years 1-4, business plan + mentorship focus) and transitional (years 5-9, prepares firm for graduation). 8(a) firms can receive sole-source contracts up to $7.5M ($25M+ for tribal / ANC firms) and 8(a)-set-aside competed contracts of any size.
Certification path: SBA certify.SBA.gov — multi-month application requiring full personal financial disclosures, business plan, ownership/control proof, and disadvantage narrative (for non-presumed-eligible groups). One-time 9-year participation.
Top Awardees in this Set-Aside
| Vendor | Awards | Total Value |
|---|---|---|
| GEMINI TECH SERVICES LLC CAGE 4KDP9 | 3 | $61.8M |
| AFS-IEI JV, LLC CAGE 15U38 | 3 | $12.8M |
| ARDMORE CONSULTING GROUP, INC CAGE 67GJ5 | 2 | $13.6M |
| ALEUT CONSTRUCTION LLC CAGE 7Q071 | 2 | $41.6M |
| STREET LEGAL INDUSTRIES LLC CAGE 1QEL4 | 2 | $17.5M |
| ZIMMETRY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, CORP CAGE 3GXC4 | 2 | $8.0M |
| OBERMAN, INC. CAGE 87K66 | 2 | $914K |
| T47 INTERNATIONAL, INC. CAGE 6YXV2 | 2 | $24.6M |
| T&M Service Group, LLC CAGE 9WJE7 | 2 | $22.6M |
| LGX-RBS, LLC CAGE 9VEN0 | 2 | $16.7M |
| STG PACIFIC, LLC CAGE 7JMN7 | 2 | $552.8M |
| JASINT CONSULTING AND TECHNOLOGIES, LLC CAGE 394K8 | 1 | $11.0M |
| Strategic Facility Alliance, L.L.C. CAGE 13KM3 | 1 | $28.5M |
| ACCESS COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, LLC CAGE 1VCH6 | 1 | $24K |
| Razor TC LLC CAGE 134D2 | 1 | $8.0M |
| ISN ALLIANCE LLC CAGE 0QFF5 | 1 | $5.5M |
| AEROSPACE CONTROL PRODUCTS, INC. CAGE 58918 | 1 | $1.9M |
| GRENLAR-VNW JV1, LLC CAGE 152M4 | 1 | $10.0M |
| OPTIMA 360 JV LLC CAGE 10LY1 | 1 | $325K |
| South Eastern General Contracting, Inc. CAGE 57X55 | 1 | $6.1M |
Award Trends (2024-2026)
| Year | Awards | Total Obligated |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 76 | $4.1B |
| 2025 | 50 | $22.3B |
Top Buying Agencies
| Agency | Solicitations |
|---|---|
| DEPT OF DEFENSE | 1,317 |
| HOMELAND SECURITY, DEPARTMENT OF | 111 |
| GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION | 40 |
| HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF | 31 |
| STATE, DEPARTMENT OF | 29 |
| TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF | 24 |
| NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION | 20 |
| TREASURY, DEPARTMENT OF THE | 16 |
| HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF | 16 |
| INTERIOR, DEPARTMENT OF THE | 14 |
Top NAICS Codes in this Set-Aside
| NAICS Code | Name | Opportunities |
|---|---|---|
| 236220 | Commercial and Institutional Building Construction | 279 |
| 561210 | Facilities Support Services | 219 |
| 561720 | Janitorial Services | 94 |
| 562910 | Remediation Services | 80 |
| 541611 | Administrative Management & General Management Consulting Services | 66 |
| 541330 | Engineering Services | 57 |
| 541990 | All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 49 |
| 561730 | Landscaping Services | 46 |
| 237990 | Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 32 |
| 488190 | - | 31 |
Top States for 8(a) Business Development Contracts
| State | Opportunities |
|---|---|
| Maryland MD | 17 |
| North Carolina NC | 16 |
| Texas TX | 14 |
| Florida FL | 13 |
| Georgia GA | 11 |
Active Opportunities
How to Win 8(a) Business Development Contracts
8(a) sole-source authority is the most powerful single preference in federal contracting — agencies can award up to $7.5M (or $4.5M for services / construction) directly to a specific 8(a) firm without competing the work. Building agency-specific past performance during years 1-4 unlocks directed sole-source flow in years 5-9. Tribal / Alaska Native Corporation 8(a) firms have NO ceiling on sole-source awards and dominate the multi-billion-dollar 8(a) STARS III GWAC and Alliant 2 Small Business pools. Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) joint ventures with large primes are how most 8(a) firms break into $50M+ work without losing their small-business status.
Entry barriers: Personal net worth ceiling ($850K) and adjusted gross income ceiling ($400K) lock out many otherwise-qualified founders. 9-year program is one-and-done — no second 8(a) entry under current law. Annual reviews and graduation reviews are heavy compliance burdens.
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