8(a) Program
8(a)Advantages
The Small Business Administration's 8(a) program is designed to benefit the client as well as the contractor by assisting small disadvantaged businesses by providing:
- The ability to pursue direct negotiation awards.
- Limited-competition opportunities in the government arena.
- The client is ensured that bonding, insurance and other legal requirements will be met.
Through
directed award contracts, businesses are given an opportunity to enter the
government-contracting arena and gain the experience necessary to compete
in the full and open market. Competitive bidding on limited opportunities
allows 8(a) contractors to gain valuable experience in various market
arenas. As an Alaska Native Corporation (ANC) 8(a), ASTS is eligible to receive
unlimited dollar value sole-source contracts. Per 13 CFR 124.506(b),
ANCs are exempt from competitive threshold limitations.
The 8(a) program offers many additional advantages to government project managers as well. By allowing for sole-source acquisition, even on major projects, it streamlines the competitive acquisition process. It allows project managers the discretion to define a scope of work and to hand pick the contractor to perform the work.