The 8(a) Program—named for Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act – is a business development program created to help small disadvantaged businesses compete in the market place. It is also designed to assist such companies in gaining access to federal and private procurement markets.
The focus of the program is to provide business development support, such as mentoring, procurement assistance, business counseling, training, financial assistance, surety bonding and other management and technical assistance. The goal, however, is to prepare small disadvantaged firms for procurement and other business opportunities.