Life Beyond the SBA 8(a) Business Development Program

Cherry Bekaert: Government Contractors Guidance

The 8(a) Business Development Program is a nine-year program created by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to help small, disadvantaged businesses compete and conduct business with the Federal government. The 8(a) Program offers small, disadvantaged businesses tremendous opportunities but contains stringent compliance requirements.

What must companies be aware of to avoid early graduation from the program? At what point should companies prepare for life beyond the program? What should companies consider to thrive in a more competitive business environment?

Listen to Susan Moser, Partner and Leader of Cherry Bekaert’s Government Contracting Industry practice, and Sarah Tucker, a Senior Manager in the Firm’s GovCon practice, discuss what an 8(a) company needs to know and focus on as it prepares for life beyond the 8(a) Program, including:

• Why some companies graduate early from the 8(a) Program
• What to consider when contemplating an early graduation
• What to monitor to stay in compliance of the 8(a) Program
• What pre-planning steps to take to transition from the 8(a) Program
• Which areas to focus on to successfully graduate from the 8(a) Program and thrive

If you have any questions specific to your situation, Cherry Bekaert’s GovCon Consultants are available to discuss your situation with you. Contact us

If you haven’t already, catch up on other episodes in our podcast series discussing various aspects of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 8(a) Business Development Program:

• The SBA 8(a) Business Development Program – What Is It and What Are the Requirements?
• The SBA 8(a) Business Development Program Application Process and Requirements
• What Are the Compliance Requirements for 8(a) Certified Companies?
• Winning an SBA 8(a) Sole Source Award Contract – What’s Involved and What to Know
• Winning an 8(a) Competitive Contract
• Small Business Administration (SBA) Mentor-Protégé Program
• SBA Mentor-Protégé & Joint Venture Arrangements – Important Elements of the Agreement
• The lifecycle of an 8(a) Company
• OIG Report: SBA’s Business Development Assistance to 8(a) Program Participants
• Contract Performance After the SBA 8(a) Business Development Program

View all Government Contracting Podcasts