8(a) Business Development Program

Is your small business a participant in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Program or thinking about applying for certification?  For disadvantaged small businesses, the SBA’s 8(a) Program is an important source of federal government contracting opportunities, but comes with a unique series of complex and confusing compliance requirements.

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If you need 8(a) Program lawyers, Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC can help you understand and meet the 8(a) Program’s rules, as well as help you create powerful 8(a) mentor-protégé and 8(a) joint venture agreements to maximize your company’s 8(a) Program potential.

 

8(a) Program Applications

In most cases, to be certified for participation in the 8(a) Program, you must demonstrate (among other things) that your company is unconditionally and directly owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.  But what does “unconditional” mean?  Who qualifies as “disadvantaged?”

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Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC can help you understand the 8(a) Program’s eligibility requirements and assist you in preparing your 8(a) Program application.  We will review your bylaws, operating agreement, or other corporate documents to help ensure that your company meets the “unconditional” requirements, and help you complete the SBA Form 413 and other documentation you need to demonstrate your eligibility.

 

8(a) Program Requests for Reconsideration

If the SBA denies your application to the 8(a) Program, you have the opportunity to request reconsideration.

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The word “reconsideration” can be misleading however, as you are not limited to asking the SBA to take a second look at the documents you originally submitted.  Instead, a strong 8(a) Program request for reconsideration corrects the problems the SBA identified in your original 8(a) Program application, as well as challenging any factual or legal errors the SBA made in processing your application.

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Drawing on our experience helping small businesses gain admission to the 8(a) Program, Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC will work with you to correct the issues the SBA identified and prepare a thorough legal response to any errors the SBA made in evaluating your application.

 

8(a) Program Suspensions and Terminations

If the SBA believes your company no longer qualifies for the 8(a) Program, it will send

you a letter proposing “early graduation” from the 8(a) Program or–worse–suspension

or termination from the 8(a) Program.  If the SBA suspends you from the 8(a) Program

or proposes to terminate your 8(a) Program participation, treat the notice very seriously

because without a strong and effective response, your small business will lose its 8(a)

certification.

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Just because the SBA has suspended your company from the 8(a) Program or proposed

your company for termination does not necessarily mean that it is the end of the line for

your 8(a) Program status.  Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC can help you prepare a response to the

suspension or proposed termination, explaining why your company is still eligible for

participation.  And, if necessary, Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC can help you appeal your 8(a) Program suspension or termination to the SBA’s Office of Hearings and Appeals, where the case will be reviewed by an independent administrative judge.

 

8(a) Program Mentor-Protégé Agreements

One of the most powerful benefits available to 8(a) Program participants is the 8(a) mentor-protégé program.  Done right, participating in the 8(a) mentor-protégé program may enable your company to receive financial, technical, and other types of assistance from a mentor company (including a large business) and even joint venture with that company without risk of affiliation.  However, the 8(a) mentor-protégé program includes its own special rules, which you must carefully follow in order to obtain the benefits.

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Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC can help you prepare a compliant and effective 8(a) mentor-protégé agreement and put in place procedures to ensure that your 8(a) mentor-protégé relationship continues to comply with the SBA’s rules after it is approved.

 

8(a) Program Joint Venture Agreements

Joint venturing is a popular option for 8(a) Program participants, particularly because an 8(a) company and its mentor may be able to joint venture together on 8(a) or small business set-aside contracts for which the 8(a) company qualifies, even if the mentor is a large business.  But, like everything else in the 8(a) Program, joint venturing must be done right.

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Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC can help you prepare and submit a compliant 8(a) Program joint venture agreement, including the supporting information the SBA District Office will require to approve your application.

 

8(a) Program Articles on SmallGovCon

At Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC, we closely follow the latest developments affecting 8(a) Program applicants and participants, such as regulatory changes and judicial decisions interpreting the 8(a) Program rules. We regularly blog on 8(a) Program developments on our blog, SmallGovCon.  Click here to read our articles on the 8(a) Program.

 

Contact Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC's 8(a) Program Attorneys

If you need 8(a) Program attorney services, do not delay. Contact Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC at (785) 200-8919 or info@koprince.com.