The Journal

Reporting on supplier diversity.

Working coverage of certifications, corporate procurement, federal contracting, financing, and the operators making each work for diverse-owned businesses. Every piece checked against primary sources.

Find my certifications →

8a-Certification

View all articles →

Guide

Guide · 8 min

Supplier diversity in professional services: consulting, legal, accounting, and HR

Corporate buyers spend more on diverse professional services firms than any other category. Management consulting alone under SBA 8(a) can yield federal …

· Mario Bailey

Guide

Guide · 8 min

NAICS 561499 Federal Contracting Guide: How Diverse Businesses Win All Other Business Support Services Contracts

The federal government spends over $1 billion annually under NAICS 561499, and 8(a) and WOSB set-asides account for a meaningful slice of …

· Mario Bailey

Guide

Guide · 8 min

NAICS 611430 Federal Contracting Guide: How Diverse Businesses Win Professional and Management Development Training Contracts

Federal agencies spend over $2 billion annually on professional and management development training under NAICS 611430, with SBA, DoD, and DHS among …

· Mario Bailey

Guide

Guide · 8 min

How to sell to the Department of Treasury as a diverse business

The Department of Treasury obligates roughly $6 billion per year across its bureaus, with the IRS accounting for more than half. Here …

· Mario Bailey

Guide

Guide · 7 min

How to sell to the Small Business Administration (SBA) as a diverse business

The SBA certifies 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, and SDVOSB firms — and then buys IT, consulting, and professional services using those same certifications. …

· Mario Bailey

Guide

Guide · 7 min

Surety Bonds for 8(a) Contractors: The 90% SBA Guarantee Explained

SBA guarantees a bigger share of your bond if you're 8(a) certified. Here's the 90% vs 80% split, the fees, and how …

· Mario Bailey

Guide

Guide · 8 min

How to sell to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a diverse business

DHS is one of the federal government's largest buyers, with over $15 billion in annual contract obligations and an active Mentor-Protege Program …

· Mario Bailey

Guide

Guide · 9 min

Native American-owned business certification and contracts

A founder's guide to certifying a Native American-owned business: SBA 8(a) eligibility, NMSDC's tribal-enrollment documentation, the costs and timelines, and the financing …

· Mario Bailey

Guide

Guide · 8 min

SBA 8(a) application guide: what to prepare and what reviewers look for

The 8(a) program gives certified firms access to sole-source federal contracts up to $5.5M and competitive set-asides for nine years — but …

· Mario Bailey

Guide

Guide · 8 min

Supplier diversity in technology and IT services: where diverse firms win

Federal IT set-aside vehicles and corporate tech programs at IBM, Accenture, and JPMorgan represent billions in annual spend specifically accessible to certified …

· Mario Bailey

Guide

Guide · 10 min

How to build bonding capacity as an 8(a) firm

Bonding requirements block many 8(a) firms from bidding on contracts they are qualified to win. The SBA Surety Bond Guarantee Program gives …

· Mario Bailey

Guide

Guide · 8 min

How to sell to the Department of Interior (DOI) as a diverse business

The Department of Interior obligates over $3 billion per year and runs some of the federal government's most active tribal set-aside programs. …

· Mario Bailey

Guide

Guide · 8 min

How to sell to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as a diverse business

HHS obligates more than $50 billion in contracts each year, making it one of the largest federal buyers outside the DoD. NIH …

· Mario Bailey

Guide

Guide · 9 min

How to sell to NASA as a diverse business

NASA obligated roughly $8.3 billion in FY2023, with small businesses capturing about 20% of that spend. The agency runs active set-aside programs …

· Mario Bailey

Guide

Guide · 8 min

How to sell to the Social Security Administration (SSA) as a diverse business

The Social Security Administration runs one of the federal government's most active small business programs, with consistent IT and administrative services contracts …

Jul 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Guide

Guide · 7 min

How Much Does 8(a) Certification Cost in 2026? ($0 to the SBA, and the Real Bill)

The SBA charges nothing to apply for 8(a) certification. The honest cost is roughly 200 hours of your time, optional consultant fees …

Jul 26, 2026 · Maya Okonkwo

Guide

Guide · 8 min

How Much Does Supplier Diversity Certification Cost? A Complete Breakdown

The #1 question we hear: how much does certification cost? Here's what every major program charges — from free federal certifications to …

Feb 23, 2026 · Priya Patel

Reader tools

Apply what's in the reporting to your own business.

Most of what gets covered here turns into a question of which certification you should pursue first. The eligibility quiz checks your business against every certification we track and returns a ranked list with the buyers each opens.

Run the certification quiz → Browse certification guides