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SBA 8a Program Certification & Applications

Contact Our 8a Certification Experts and Increase Your 8a Approval Chances

 

Call Our 8a Certification & Application Experts at 1-866-601-5518

Primary Government Contract SBA 8a POC: Peter Ford

Alternate Government Contract SBA 8a POC: Theodore Watson

The government contract attorneys and consultants at Watson & Associates, LLC bring a unique approach to helping small disadvantaged business succeed in the SBA 8a certification program. Instead of simply filling out forms, we specifically analyze your specific facts, seek out case law that has granted approval for 8a applications and then construct your application in a similar fashion. This increases your chances of approval.  We work with 8a program applications all over the country. Since we are also government contract attorneys, we are in a better position than our competitors to provide a more detailed and comprehensive service.

Comprehensive Services

When it comes to SBA 8a applications, we have a strong track record. Our attorneys and consultants know the 8a program inside and out and can better provide the following services.

  • Complete 8a Application Services
  • Social and Economic Narratives
  • Certification Denial and Appeals
  • Critique of  Applications
  • Asset Adjustment Matters
  • Request for Reconsideration
  • Business Formation & Structure
  • Responding to Early Graduation or Terminations
  • Resolution for 8a Program Legal Matters

Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)) established a program that authorizes the Small Business Administration (SBA) to enter into all types of contracts with other agencies on behalf of 8a Program participants.  The government contract experts at the law firm of Theodore Watson & Associates, LLC have successfully constructed winning SBA 8a certification packages. We have also successfully handled reconsideration and appeal disputes. 

 

Important Statistics

Small Disadvantaged business firms must demonstrate to the SBA that it is both socially and economically disadvantaged. For those small businesses that have received the 8a certification, it is a challenging application process.

  • Applicants run a 32.3% of denial
  • In 2008 Small disadvantaged businesses received about $29.3 billion in government contracts
  • In 2008 only 6.76% ( of the total 23% goal) went to small disadvantaged businesses

 

Although every SBA 8a Program participant is a small disadvantaged business, every small disadvantaged business is not 8a certified. Consequently,less than 6.76% of government contracts mentioned above actually were awarded to SBA 8a companies. In essence, the 8a application process is very competitive and not everyone gets approved.

 

Is Your Social Or Economic Narrative Good Enough to Convince the SBA?

Another common challenge for 8a Program is to write a compelling narrative for both social disadvantaged and economic disadvantaged status. This is where most applicants fail. 95% of applicants require a social disadvantaged narrative. This means that 5% do not. Our 8a consultants and attorneys have written successful narratives for clients that were admitted to the program. You can increase your chances of approval by up to 35% by hiring our professionals to help you. Call us for immediate help at 1866-601-5518. 

 

Get Help With Adjustment of Assets to Meet the Personal Net Worth Rule 

A common hurdle in the application process is getting past the $250,000 net worth rule.  At Theodore Watson & Associates,LLC our consultants and attorneys frequently assist 8a applicants to look at available options to legally get past the net worth hurdle.  This is factor that can make or break your chances of approval. Contact us to find out more. 

 

Get Complete Legal Consulting

  • Get expert help with your application
  • Avoid common mistakes during the certification process
  • Get the help of experienced lawyers on your side
  • Hire more than just average 8a consultants – we understand the law
  • Acquire sound advice for 8a reconsideration
  • Acquire solid and experience with denial and termination appeals
  • Avoid the temptation of finding the cheapest person in town – get qualified attorneys on your side 
  • Submit solid and convincing narratives

 

We have successfully helped small businesses through the application process and the ability to enjoy benefits such as:

  • Exclusive Set-Aside Contracts
  • Sole Source awards
  • Teaming & Joint Venture preferences
  • Acquiring additional business revenues

 

Avoid Common Pitfalls

 The SBA denies up to 43% of all 8a applications. Many applicants fall prey to denial due to:

  • Not understanding the extent that the narrative section must convince the SBA that you need federal help
  • Mistakenly believing that social prejudices are the only parts of the narrative section of the application
  • Believing that the government 8a certification process is quite easy and approval is almost guaranteed

 

Our services extend past the application process. Our consultants provide a wide array of government contracting services even after you become certified. We have successfully helped 8a contractors with the following:

  • Effectively market the business using the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) mandates after application
  • Develop effective marketing materials (there is certain information)
  • Develop winning bid proposals
  • Legal compliance and representation

 

Watson compared to other consultants: Unlike most services advertising their 8a certification and application services, the professional background of our firm speaks for itself. Some of the highlights include:

  • Our Founder and Manager, Theodore Watson, has spent over 20 years with the federal government, part of which he served as a federal contracting executive and managed a DOD small business program.
  • We frequently represent contractors against unlawful 8a terminations. Our attorneys simply know the program.
  • We have successfully drafted program documents such as teaming, mentor protégé and joint venture agreements.

 

Our 8a application consulting services extend to contractors regardless of state.We can help businesses with SBA certifications in Denver, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Kansas and Nebraska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Maryland, California, Mississippi, Tennessee, Washington, DC, Las Vegas, Missouri, Indiana, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Illinois, Michigan, Virginia, Colorado Springs, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Arkansas, Denver, Colorado Springs, Utah, California, Hawaii, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Florida, Texas, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Las Vegas, Nevada and Maryland.

 

Additional federal contracting services. In addition to transactional services for the 8a certification process, our lawyers and consultants provide procurement assistance to contractors nationwide that include:

 

Consulting

 

Legal

 

Quickly resolve problems and disputes in the 8a Certification Process. As mentioned before, the 8a certification process is not an easy process.  The SBA has denied many applications in the past. Therefore, our service is focused on preventing denial or prevailing on appeal. The following cases support our position:

 

 

Get immediate help with the 30-day termination response rule. The SBA will provide you with an initial termination letter. You have 30 days to respond (this response has strict statutory compliance requirements.) Your response to this termination letter must be detailed and should have supporting documentation. We frequently help federal 8a businesses through this critical phase of termination proceedings. Our attorneys also prosecute appeals before the Office of Hearings and Appeals (“OHA”), including NAICS and size appeals. 

Immediate denial & appeals assistance. The 8a termination appeals process requires detailed case analysis. The SBA typically prevails if your arguments are not precise and can show that you should have been admitted into the program. The following cases demonstrate what can happen on appeal:

 

Contact Immediately to Protect Your Rights in the 8a Program

If you need help with your SBA certification or 8a application, Watson & Associates 8a services are immediately available. Contact our experienced government contract consultants and attorneys for guidance and training by calling 720.941.7200 or toll free at 1(866-601-5518).

 

We serve National 8a Clients including Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Kansas and Omaha Nebraska, Arkansas, Hawaii, Maryland, California, Mississippi, Tennessee, Washington, DC, Las Vegas, Missouri, Indiana, Idaho, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Illinois, Michigan, Virginia, Colorado Springs, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Arkansas, Denver, Colorado Springs, Utah, California, Hawaii, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Florida, Texas, Georgia, Pennsylvania,  New Jersey, West Virginia, Miami, Nevada, Montana SBA 8a consultants and attorneys.