Reporting on supplier diversity.

8a certification in Vermont: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Vermont-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Alaska: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Alaska-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Arizona: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Arizona-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Arkansas: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Arkansas-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Virginia: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Virginia-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

Guide · 14 min

SBA 8(a) Certification: The Complete 2026 Guide

The SBA 8(a) Business Development Program gives disadvantaged-owned small businesses nine years of access to sole-source federal contracts up to $5.5 million. …

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in South Dakota: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what South Dakota-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Tennessee: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Tennessee-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Texas: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Texas-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Utah: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Utah-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Alabama: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Alabama-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

Hispanic-owned business certification and contracts: a complete guide

A practical walkthrough of the certifications that matter for Hispanic-owned firms, what each one costs and requires, and how to line up …

· Maya Okonkwo

How to start a minority-owned business in 2026

A founder's walkthrough of starting a minority-owned business in 2026: forming the entity, the certifications that actually open contract doors, what each …

· Maya Okonkwo

SBA loans for minority-owned businesses: 7(a), 504, and microloans

There is no 'minority SBA loan,' but minority-owned firms use the same 7(a), 504, and microloan programs, often through mission-driven lenders. Here …

· Maya Okonkwo

How to sell to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a diverse business

The EPA awards over $2 billion in contracts each year, with a documented preference for HUBZone firms in certain regions and consistent …

· Mario Bailey

Sole-Source Government Contracts: What They Are and How to Get One

A sole-source contract is a federal award made directly to one vendor, skipping competition entirely. The four justifications in FAR Part 6.302, …

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Florida: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Florida-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Hawaii: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Hawaii-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Idaho: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Idaho-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Illinois: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Illinois-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Indiana: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Indiana-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Iowa: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Iowa-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Kansas: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Kansas-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Kentucky: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Kentucky-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Louisiana: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Louisiana-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Maine: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Maine-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Maryland: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Maryland-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Massachusetts: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Massachusetts-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Michigan: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Michigan-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Minnesota: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Minnesota-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Mississippi: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Mississippi-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Missouri: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Missouri-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Montana: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Montana-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Nebraska: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Nebraska-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Nevada: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Nevada-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in New Hampshire: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what New Hampshire-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in New Jersey: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what New Jersey-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in New Mexico: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what New Mexico-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in New York: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what New York-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Washington: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Washington-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in West Virginia: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what West Virginia-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Wisconsin: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Wisconsin-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Wyoming: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Wyoming-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

How to add NAICS codes to your 8(a) profile

Your 8(a) profile has a primary NAICS code and up to several secondary codes. The codes in your profile determine which sole-source …

· Mario Bailey

8(a) annual review: what the SBA actually looks at

Every 8(a) participant must submit an annual certification to SBA by the anniversary of their admission date. Miss it and you risk …

· Mario Bailey

When the 8(a) mentor-protege joint venture actually makes sense

The 8(a) mentor-protege program lets a small 8(a) firm joint venture with a large business mentor and bid on contracts the small …

· Mario Bailey

What happens to your 8(a) contracts if your ownership changes

SBA requires prior approval before any transfer of ownership in an 8(a) firm. Do it without approval and your contracts are at …

· Mario Bailey

8(a) graduation: what happens when your 9-year term ends

Your 8(a) term runs exactly 9 years. On graduation day, sole-source eligibility ends, your set-aside contracts go to transition or re-compete, and …

· Mario Bailey

What is the SBA mentor-protege program?

The SBA All Small Mentor-Protege Program pairs small businesses with larger, more experienced businesses for technical, financial, and management assistance. The key …

· Mario Bailey

How to stack certifications: 8(a) + HUBZone + SDVOSB on the same contract

Nothing prohibits you from holding 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, and WOSB simultaneously. The question is which certification controls on any given contract, and …

· Mario Bailey

How to sell to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a diverse business

USDA obligates roughly $6 billion per year in contracts across food purchasing, IT, construction, and rural development. Diverse businesses that register correctly …

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in California: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what California-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Colorado: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Colorado-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Connecticut: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Connecticut-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Delaware: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Delaware-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Georgia: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Georgia-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in North Carolina: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what North Carolina-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in North Dakota: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what North Dakota-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Ohio: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Ohio-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Oklahoma: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Oklahoma-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Oregon: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Oregon-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Pennsylvania: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Pennsylvania-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in Rhode Island: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what Rhode Island-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

8a certification in South Carolina: eligibility, how to apply, and what it gets you

Here is what South Carolina-based businesses need to know about getting 8a certification: eligibility, application process, what federal contracts it opens.

· Mario Bailey

Software company 8(a) certification guide

Software development is one of the highest-demand service categories in federal contracting. 8(a) certification gives eligible firms access to sole-source and set-aside …

Jul 6, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Construction company 8(a) certification: the specific requirements

The 8(a) Business Development Program gives construction firms a direct path to sole-source federal contracts. Here is what the SBA actually requires …

Jul 6, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Article

Article · 6 min

100 Days Past the 8(a) Audit Deadline: A May 2026 Compliance Status Check

January 19 was the largest enforcement deadline in the 8(a) program's 55-year history. We covered the rule structure when it landed. 102 …

May 1, 2026 · Mario Bailey

Guide · 10 min

Federal set-asides explained: 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, SDVOSB, and sole-source

Set-asides are how the government reserves contracts for small and diverse businesses. Here's how the small business and socioeconomic set-asides work, and …

Jan 26, 2026 · Mario Bailey