The SBA 8(a) Procurement Program--A Promise Unfulfilled

Highlights

The 8(a) Procurement Program of the Small Business Administration (SBA) is designed to channel noncompetitive federal contracts to disadvantaged small businesses to help them to become self-sufficient. The program also provides management, technical, marketing, and financial aid. A review was made of the program's implementation.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter	Status	Comments
Congress should further build on the recently enacted legislation by considering the following alternatives, some of which restructure the 8(a) program: (1) continue the present 8(a) program; (2) reduce the size of the present 8(a) program; (3) establish a two-tier program; and (4) replace the 8(a) program.	Closed	Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Small Business Administration	The Administrator, SBA, should take action to fill business development specialists (BDS) vacancies so that the 8(a) program operates at full staffing strength as soon as the presidentially imposed hiring freeze is lifted.	Closed Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Small Business Administration	The Administrator, SBA, should provide BDS with adequate training, especially in understanding financial statements, so that the status of 8(a) firms can be assessed.	Closed Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Small Business Administration	The Administrator, SBA, should direct participating 8(a) firms to submit accurate and timely business plan projections and financial statements as required by SBA standard operating procedures.	Closed Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Small Business Administration	The Administrator, SBA, should assure that participating 8(a) firms submit financial statements that break out 8(a) and non-8(a) sales so that progress can be measured.	Closed Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Small Business Administration	The Administrator, SBA, should remove inappropriate 8(a) firms by assuring that the graduation criteria being developed is aggressively implemented and termination requirements set forth in SBA procedures are followed.	Closed Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Small Business Administration	The Administrator, SBA, should provide standardized criteria for determining adverse impact so that SBA regions and districts make proper determinations.	Closed Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Small Business Administration	The Administrator, SBA, should revise the standard operating procedures to require that sufficient documentation supporting the impact determinations be included in the file.	Closed Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Small Business Administration	The Administrator, SBA, should require SBA program personnel to fully implement the adverse impact policy aimed at protecting the rights of small businesses.	Closed Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.
Small Business Administration	The Administrator, SBA, should direct SBA personnel, in cooperation with federal procuring agencies, to identify items that 8(a) firms can provide that have been traditionally furnished by big business.	Closed Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.

See All 9 Recommendations

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Topics

Business Regulation and Consumer Protection

Eligibility criteriaPersonnel managementProgram evaluationProgram managementSmall business assistanceSmall business contractsSmall business set-asidesSmall business development programsSmall businessProcurement