Small Business Administrations 8a Program PDF Download

The Small Business Admin. (SBA) helps socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses gain access to federal contracting opportunities through its 8(a) program. To participate, firms must be at least 51% owned and controlled by an individual who meets SBA's criteria of socially and economically disadvantaged. The firm must also qualify as a small business. Once certified, 8(a) firms are eligible to receive sole-source and set-aside contracts for up to 9 years. This report: (1) determined whether ineligible firms are participating in the 8(a) program; (2) proactively tested SBA's controls over the 8(a) application process; and (3) determined what vulnerabilities, if any, exist in SBA's fraud prevention system. Charts and tables.