8(a) Business Development Program

To foster business ownership by individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged; and to promote the competitive viability of such firms by providing business development and mentoring assistance including, but not limited to, managem

To foster business ownership by individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged; and to promote the competitive viability of such firms by providing business development and mentoring assistance including, but not limited to, management and technical assistance, access to capital and other forms of financial assistance, business training and counseling, and access to sole source and limited competition Federal contract opportunities, to help the firms to achieve competitive viability.

Firms applying for 8(a) program participation must meet certain requirements which include, but are not limited to: (a) Status as a small business; (b) at least 51 percent unconditional ownership, control and management of the business by an American citizen(s) determined by SBA to be socially and economically disadvantaged, or by an economically disadvantaged Indian Tribe, Alaska Native Corporation, Native Hawaiian Organization or Community Development Corporations; and (c) demonstrated potential for success; and (d) possess good character.

Socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and small businesses owned and operated by such individuals; Indian Tribe, Alaska Native Corporation, Native Hawaiian Organization and Community Development Corporations.

This program utilizes authority provided to SBA under Section 7(j) and 8(a) of the Small Business Act to enter into procurement contracts with other Federal agencies and to subcontract the performance of these contracts to eligible program participants, to provide access to capital and other forms of financial assistance, and to provide business training and counseling.

Maximum of 9 years.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Information is available at SBA District offices and on SBA's home page at http://www.sba.gov.

Electronic applications are made to SBA offices through SBA's webpage at www.sba.gov. Detailed instructions, and if necessary, assistance in completing application is available at SBA District offices and on SBA's home page at http://www.sba.gov

Applicant is notified of program participation approval or decline by a letter from the SBA headquarters office. Broad range of business development assistance, including procurement, and access to capital and other forms of financial assistance and business training and counseling is provided to approved program participants.

Approximately 90 days from the date the application is deemed complete.

Additional information available on SBA's website at sba.gov.

There is no reconsideration process for applications that have been declined. An 8(a) applicant may reapply no earlier than 90 days from the date of an agency decision finding the concern ineligible. Alternatively, within 45 days of a decline decision, an 8(a) applicant may appeal a denial of program admission to SBA's Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) if the decline decision is based solely on a negative finding of social disadvantage, economic disadvantage, ownership, control, or any combination of these four criteria. If an applicant does not appeal SBA's decline decision to OHA, SBA's ruling is the final agency decision on the matter. If an applicant does appeal SBA's decline decision to OHA, OHA's decision is the final agency decision. Where a concern has been declined three times within 18 months of the date of the first final agency decision finding the concern ineligible, the concern cannot submit a new application for admission to the program until 12 months from the date of the third final Agency decline decision.