Get into the 8a Program by Obtaining 8a Certification

The 8a program is a business development program of the government of the United States. This program has been developed to provide support to the companies or contractors that are willing to do business in the federal market. The 8a business developmental program is a robust program that lasts for nine years.

The 8a program is specifically meant for companies that are owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Businesses that participate in the 8a program receive training and technical assistance. The training and assistance of the 8a program help businesses to strengthen their abilities to compete and obtain contracts in the federal market.

In order to get into the developmental program, you will need to obtain the 8a certification. Only companies with 8a certification are allowed to become a participant in the program. To opt for obtaining the 8a certification you will need to make your business eligible by fulfilling all the 8a certification requirements. There are multiple 8a certification requirements so make sure to meet all the requirements.

In this blog, we are going to let you know all the 8a certification requirements and the process that you will need to go through. Along with these, we will also give some important points which will help you to go through the procedure smoothly without having confusions. So without wasting any more time let’s get straight to the point to understand the subject matter precisely.

How to qualify for the 8a program

In  In order to qualify for the 8a program, you will need to make your business meet certain eligibility criteria. The 8a certification requirements are mentioned below:

• Your business needs to be small. 
• You need to be the applicant who is going to participate in the 8a program for the first time. 
• Your business needs to be at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens. 
• You have to be the business owner who is socially and economically disadvantaged. 
• Your personal net worth should be $750 thousand or less. 
• Your adjusted growth income has to be $350 thousand or less. 
• You must have assets worth $6 million or less. 
• As a business owner, you should be able to demonstrate good character. 
• You need to demonstrate the potential for success such as having been in business for two or more years.

So these are the 8a certification requirements that you need to fulfill in order to get into the developmental program.

Brief about 8a certification

We have already said that the 8a certification is required to become a participant in the 8a developmental program. In order to obtain the certification, you will need to fulfill all the necessary 8a certification requirements.

The 8a certification lasts for nine years. The first four years are considered a developmental stage. The last five years are considered a transitional stage that you need to complete. So it is important to go through all the stages carefully.

Apply to get certified as an 8a small business

In order to apply for 8a certification applicants need to go through a lengthy and complex procedure. We have broken down the process into three simple steps so that the readers can understand.

• Identify your primary NAICS code. 
• Register your business with the System for Award Management (SAM) of the United States.  
• Apply for 8a certification.

Learn precisely about each of these steps to go through the process smoothly. You need to know to identify your primary NAICS code and learn more about registering with the System for Award Management. Make sure to learn more about the application procedure for the 8a certification as well.

Important points you must know for getting into the 8a program

There are a few important points that you should know before getting into the 8a program. We are giving the important points so that you can take decisions without making any mistakes. 

So read all the important points mentioned below:

• Don’t make any mistakes while going through the process of obtaining the 8a certification. 
• Be aware of all the legal factors and follow all the rules that are set by the government of the United States. 
• Take out all the valid reports and analyze them precisely to understand the data. 
• Conduct thorough federal market research before you apply for the 8a certification. 
• Strategize your government marketing plan. 
• Work in a systematic manner to avoid any sort of confusion or uncertainty.

Conclusion

So now you know about the eligibility criteria (8a certification requirements) and the application process. It is your time to get go through a systematic way and get into the 8a business developmental program of the United States.