SBA Business Development Programs
8(a) Business Development Program
SBA's 8(a) Business Development programs help
certified small businesses to grow and become
successful.
SBA offers a wide range of services to 8(a)
certified small businesses, including management
and technical assistance, access to capital,
export assistance, and support for government
contracting.
SBA's 8(a) Business Development program uses
a number of tools, ranging from contract support
to low-interest loans for site acquisition,
construction, and the purchase of new or
upgraded equipment.
For more information, visit
www.sba.gov/8abd.
Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)
Certification Program
The SDB Certification Program provides small
businesses that meet specific social, economic,
ownership, and control eligibility criteria with
procurement preference in awarding government
contracts, as well as preference to prime
contractors who use their services on government
contracts.
Certified SDBs are eligible for price
evaluation adjustments of up to 10 percent when
bidding on federal contracts in certain
industries. Prime contractors that use certified
SDB firms in contract performance industries may
receive extra evaluation credits
For more information, visit
www.sba.gov/sdb.
What Benefits Are Available Thru The 8(a) & SDB Business Development Programs?
- Over $10.5 Billion was awarded
last year (2004) to 8(a) SDB Certified
American companies.
- In South Florida from Tampa to the Keys over
$332.4 million was awarded to Florida 8(a) SDB
Certified firms.
- Participants may receive sole-source
contracts, up to a ceiling of $3 million for
goods and services and $5 million for
manufacturing.
- Small Disadvantaged Businesses are eligible
for a "price evaluation adjustment" of up to ten
percent as a prime contractor.
- Prime contractors are encouraged to use
certified SDB's as subcontractors through the
government’s procurement mandated evaluation
factors.
- According to the Small Business Act, 23% of
Federal contracts must go to small businesses.
- 8(a) firms may form joint ventures and teams
to bid on contracts. Enhancing the ability of
8(a) firms to perform larger prime contracts.
HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program
The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program
stimulates economic development and creates jobs
in urban and rural communities by providing
federal contracting preferences to small
businesses.
These preferences go to small businesses that
obtain HUBZone (Historically Underutilized
Business Zone) certification in part by
employing staff who live in a HUBZone. The
company must also maintain a "principal office"
in one of these specially designated areas.
For more information, visit
https://eweb1.sba.gov/hubzone/internet.
