Understand Government Institutes & Apply For 8(a) Certification

In order to enter the federal market as a federal contractor or a business, it is necessary to understand all the rules and regulations as well as the legal processes. Government institutes are the main buyers in the federal market. So being a contractor you need to focus on the aspects that fulfill the need of the major buyers in the market. 

The government institutes purchase at a large scale each year which are mainly focused on the development of their own country. If a company has 8(a) certification, it basically means that the business applied for the SBA 8a Business Development Program. So the company got recognition for being eligible for 8(a) certification by the government. This allows the business to participate in the 8(a) program.

The information with help you with government marketing and understanding the 8(a) certification.

In this blog, we will be discussing about the government institutes of the United States and the 8(a) certification that is set by the government.

Characteristics of government institutes

The government institutes operate in a specific way to get accurate desirable outcomes from every aspect. The government institutes follow a specific procurement process to make a purchase from the federal contractors. The institutes choose the lowest bid from several options in the bidding process.

The government institutes need to show their purchase decisions to the public and that is why they strictly monitor the federal contracts. Often the sales cycles are long so contractors might find it time-consuming. For example, the government of the United States relies on buying from domestic companies and local businesses rather than buying from foreign companies. The government institutes also prefer buying from small businesses to support them to grow. All these wise decisions are taken mainly for supporting or improving the country’s economy and for the welfare of society.

By understanding the government institutes you will be able initiate in government marketing much more efficiently as well.

Understand 8(a) program & certification

The 8(a) certification is sponsored by the small business association in the United States. If you wish to obtain the certification then the first step is applying to the SBA 8(a) application. The 8(a) business development program is nine years old. The development program provides business training sessions, counseling, marketing, and technical assistance to businesses and federal contractors. The SBA 8a certification is designed for organizations that are owned at least 51% by economically and socially disadvantaged individuals.

The 8(a) certification will be obtained after the successful completion of the 8a business development program. Once the participants of the 8(a) program get certified, they are considered to be eligible to receive federal contracting preferences. They also receive technical and training assistance that is designed to strengthen their ability to compete effectively in the federal market. Certifications help participants to obtain contracting opportunities and to gain different kinds of aid to the firms from the government.

Benefits of 8(a) certification

There are some considerable beneficial factors for obtaining 8(a) certification. After reading the benefits maybe you will feel like opting for the program all the more. So without wasting any more time let’s find out the benefits of the 8(a) certification.

Sole sourcing – It is a type of contract that can be issued without a competitive bidding process. This includes the contracts that are up to $4 million for goods and services and $6.5 for manufacturing. A sole-source contract is only applicable for the firms that have 8(a) status. This allows the 8(a) firms to compete in the government market.

Limited competition – It indicates the process which limits the field of competition for bidding on federal contracts with the requirement of qualifying for 8(a) certifications.

Large contracts – The federal contracts are pretty large in this sector. These contracts get accomplished by teaming with other partners.

Rapid growth – The possibility of growth is more in 8(a) certified businesses.

GSA schedule effectiveness – The 8(a) certification enhances the effectiveness of the GSA schedule.

FEMA contracts – When a disaster takes place in the nation, the 8(a) certified businesses seem to be better equipped than the other businesses. That is why they are awarded contracts.

Things you need to keep in mind

There are certain things that you need to keep in mind to get into the program. You need to be aware of all the legal factors and adhere to all the rules set by the government. Make sure you don’t make any mistakes in the required procedures. Conduct thorough research before you start applying. With the help of research you will be able to take out valid report to strategize your government marketing process. Work in a systematic manner to avoid any sort of confusion.

There are companies that help aspiring federal contractors with government marketing. Although it is true government marketing in the private sector and public sector is entirely different but principles of marketing remains the same. 

Conclusion  

Hopefully, the readers got an idea about the government institutes and 8(a) certification. Once you manage to get recognized by the government that you are eligible, you will be getting contracting opportunities. Don’t neglect the importance of government marketing, as it will boost your business. The 8(a) certifications have been helping a lot of businesses in the United States. So you can be one of them. Good luck to all the readers who are about to get into government contracting.