8(a) certification

What Is the 8(a) BD Program?

The Small Business Administration's 8(a) Business Development Program is a program designed to help small disadvantaged businesses compete in the federal marketplace.  In addition, there are special eligibility requirements and additional benefits within the 8(a) BD Program for companies owned by Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs).  Through the 8(a) BD Program, Congress has granted participant companies, including NHO-owned companies, unique rights in the federal procurement process and has therefore provided government agencies with strong incentives to contract with 8(a) participants.  

What Are Some Of The Benefits of Being in the 8(a) BD Program?
  • Participant firms are eligible to receive sole-source contracts, up to a ceiling of $4 million for goods and services and $6.5 million for manufacturing.
  • Participant firms are able to form joint ventures and teams to pursue larger contracts.
  • Participant firms are eligible to participate in the SBA's 8(a) Mentor-Protege program.

Who is Eligible For the 8(a) BD Program?

In general, to be eligible for the program, the following requirements must be met:
  • The business must be majority-owned (51% or more) by an individual;
  • The individual must be an American citizen, by birth or naturalization;
  • The business must be majority-owned (51% or more) and controlled/managed by socially and economically disadvantaged individual(s);
  • The individual(s) controlling and managing the firm on a full-time basis must meet the SBA requirement for disadvantage, by proving both social disadvantage and economic disadvantage;
  • The business must be a small business;
  • The business must demonstrate potential for success; and 
  • The principals must show good character

*Please note that separate eligibility requirements exist for a business that is owned by a Tribe, Alaskan Native Corporation (ANC), or a Native Hawaiian Organization (NHO).

What Services Does Holomua Consulting Group Offer?

We offer a full suite of services to companies interested in the 8(a) BD Program and to existing 8(a) participants, including NHO-owned companies.  For companies that meet the eligibility requirements and would like to apply to the 8(a) BD Program, we can help you through the application and certification process, which can be daunting to those that have never been through it.  For companies that have already been accepted to the program as Participants, we can assist you with your annual reporting requirements and ongoing compliance.   For companies that are nearing the end of their 8(a) program term or who are looking to the future, we can assist with strategic and structural planning.  

  • 8(a) Eligibility Determination and Consultation
  • 8(a) Application and Certification Process
  • 8(a) Business Plan
  • 8(a) Annual Review and Ongoing Compliance 
  • Strategic Planning
  • Succession Planning

I'd like to Pursue 8(a) Certification, What Are The Next Steps?
  • Schedule a complimentary initial 8(a) telephone consultation/interview with us through our online scheduler which can be accessed below
  • During the scheduling process, you will be required to provide some basic preliminary information in order to ensure that our call with you is as productive as possible
  • During our initial 8(a) telephone consultation/interview, we will conduct a detailed interview to determine the company's eligibility for the SBA 8(a) BD program
  • Following the initial 8(a) telephone consultation, we will provide you with a detailed Proposal outlining the scope of our services and our fees.

benefits of the 8(a) program