Women & Minority Owned Business Resources: Lesson 2

8a Certifications

Jutta Bang, the East Tennessee PTAC Counselor at University of Tennessee with the Center for Industrial Services, will be discussing 8A certifications. 

Topics:

Test Your Knowledge

To receive credit for taking this course through TSBDC, watch the video and take the quiz that will appear below to demonstrate your knowledge.

Video Lesson Topics

- Contracting Goals

The government has small business contracting goals for all agencies. 

  • 23% for small business
  • 5% woman owned businesses
  • 5% small disadvantaged businesses 
  • 3% for service disabled veteran owned businesses
  • 3% HUBzone businesses

- Eligibility for 8A Certifications

  •  Must be a small business and not have been part of an 8A certification before
  • Business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens who are socially and economically disadvantaged
  • Personal net worth needs to be $750,00 or less
  • Business needs to show potential for success

- How to Get Certified

  1.  Online application process through the U.S. Small Business Administration 
  2. Upload supporting documentation 
  3. Annual recertification to make sure all requirements are still being met
 
The 8A Certification has a 9 year lifespan which can be broken down into a 4 year development stage and a 5 year transition stage. 

- Set Asides

To assist agencies in meeting their small business contracting goals; contracts can be set aside for categories. Contracts that are less than $150,00 are automatically set aside for small businesses. Only 8A firms will be able to bid on these set asides, and there are also sold source 8A contracts for speciality product/service or few offerers. 

Topics & Lessons

Each Below Topic Contains a Video Lesson and Helpful Downloadable Information

1:54

GoDBE Certifications

2:43

8a Certifications

2:35

Sales Advantages

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