Win sole-source 8(a) awards and 8(a) competitive set-asides without spending half your week searching SAM.gov.
Live today · by application.
Eligibility — are you 8(a) firms?
Sourced from the official program page
- Owned at least 51% by US citizens who are socially and economically disadvantaged
- Personal net worth under $850,000 (excluding primary residence and business value)
- Three-year average AGI under $400,000
- Total assets under $6.5 million
- Business must be a small business under its primary NAICS code
- Must demonstrate good character and potential for success
Contracting advantages for 8(a) firms
Why 8(a) firms have a structural edge on federal opportunities.
- Sole-source contracts up to $7M (manufacturing) or $4.5M (services) — no competition required
- Eligible for 8(a) competitive set-asides where only 8(a) firms can bid
- Nine-year program participation — four-year development + five-year transition
- Free SBA business development assistance and mentor-protégé partnerships
- Subcontracting opportunities through large prime mentors
- Eligible for All Small Mentor-Protégé Program (ASMPP) joint ventures
Where 8(a) firms typically compete
Typical contract value: $250K – $7M per award
Top NAICS codes
Top contracting agencies
- Department of Defense (DOD)
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- GSA Federal Acquisition Service
- Department of the Army
- Department of the Air Force
Challenges 8(a) firms face
The friction points we hear most from 8(a) firms doing federal work.
- Finding 8(a) set-asides scattered across SAM.gov, agency forecasts, and OSDBU schedules
- Differentiating against 4,500+ other 8(a) certified firms competing for the same RFPs
- Writing tailored 8(a) capability statements that match agency mission priorities
- Tracking sole-source notice windows that close in 5-10 business days
How WinAContract helps 8(a) firms
What we built specifically for the 8(a) firm workflow.
- Pre-filter every SAM.gov opportunity by 8(a) set-aside in one click — no more "Total Small Business" noise
- AI drafts your 8(a) proposal section by section, pulling from your past wins and capability narratives
- Daily alerts on new 8(a) sole-source notices the moment they post — react in hours, not weeks
- Track every active 8(a) RFP in one pipeline view with submission deadlines and capture status
Need help getting 8(a) certified?
Skip the paperwork — our team prepares and files your 8(a) package, end to end.
Frequently asked
How long does 8(a) certification take?
SBA processing is typically 90-120 days from a complete application. The fastest applicants front-load their personal financial disclosures and business documents before submitting.
Can I bid on non-8(a) contracts while 8(a) certified?
Yes. 8(a) certification adds eligibility for 8(a) set-asides and sole-source awards — it does not remove your eligibility for full-and-open or other small business competitions.
What is the difference between 8(a) sole-source and 8(a) competitive?
Sole-source awards (up to $4.5M services / $7M manufacturing) skip competition entirely — agencies can award directly to a single 8(a) firm. Competitive 8(a) is restricted bidding among multiple 8(a) firms only.
Does WinAContract cover all 8(a) sole-source notices?
Yes. Sole-source notices are posted on SAM.gov as Sources Sought or Pre-Solicitation Notices and we surface 100% of them with daily alerts targeted by NAICS.
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Search every live 8(a) opportunity, apply for access, then let AI draft the proposal. Live today · by application.