If you’re a business owner eligible for 8(a) certification, any challenge to participating in the program, such as its lengthy application process, will be overshadowed by the opportunities it can offer.
Getting your 8a certificate can reduce competition for government contracts, give you access to sole-source contracts, and offer entry into the All Small Mentor-Protégé program.
However, a reality that many business owners seeking the certification fail to consider is that there is also competition among 8a firms and it’s vicious. How do you surpass that?
There are so many contracting officers in the federal industry looking for small businesses to spend their money on. There are different types of customers within each agency and different marketing strategies needed to win but don’t worry, we are here to help you.
Allow us to narrow down your target market. With that in mind, here are the Top 10 Agencies for 8a that you should keep your eye on this 2021.
1. Department of the Army (DA)
The United States Department of the Army is the Military Department within the United States Department of Defense. They are the agency that is capable of defeating enemy ground forces and indefinitely seizing and controlling those things.
The Army awards billions of contracting dollars annually. They have five buying commands and each has specific major buying command purchases, from combat systems to medical research and health services to construction projects. The Army has a very large secondary market: subcontracting, which is why they also encourage small businesses to pursue subcontracting opportunities.
2. Department of the Air Force (USAF)
The Department of the Air Force defends the country through the control and exploitation of air and space.
The Air Force has small business specialists around the country who can help your company identify and respond to every type of procurement opportunity they offer. Business opportunities, relating to expiring contracts, facility engineering, and space force procurement, is found on their website.
3. Department of the Navy (USN)
The U.S. Department of the Navy aims to protect the country from wars at sea. The contracting functions of this agency are decentralized which means your market research should extend beyond the geographical bounds of your city, state, and region.
The first presentation of your company’s capabilities should be directly given to the Small Business Professionals at the Navy and Marine Corps activities that buy your products or services so that you get additional points of contact for marketing the customer.
The Department of the Navy wants quality solutions for its requirements in a timely and cost-effective manner thus outstanding “past performance” is considered one of the most valuable assets.
4. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provide high-quality care at lower costs to more than 100 million people through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace.
To support its own programs, CMS needs to procure a wide range of supplies and services including (but not limited to) the following: Research Studies and Demonstrations, Consultant Services, Utilization of Health Services, Provider Fraud and Abuse, Health Quality and Standards, Professional Advisory Services, Computer Programming, Data Processing, Office Supplies, Computer Hardware, and Software
5. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is America’s civil space program and the global leader in space exploration. They develop and fund space technologies that will enable future exploration and benefit life on Earth.
If you are interested in working with NASA, as a small business owner, you can go to their website and identify which NASA Center is your target market. Each center has listed out the NAICS codes of the product or service that they intend to acquire.
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is one of the major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services. They protect America from health, safety, and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S.
This agency conducts critical science and provides health information that protects our nation against expensive and dangerous health threats, and responds when these arise. For small businesses engaged in scientific research and development (R&D), research funding is available.
7. Public Buildings Service (PBS)
Public Buildings Service acquires space on behalf of the federal government through new construction and leasing and acts as a caretaker for federal properties across the country. They are primarily funded through the Federal Buildings Fund, which is supported by the rent from federal customer agencies.
To get information on planned federal contracting opportunities, they have provided the GSA Forecast of Contracting Opportunities Tool, which assists vendors to learn about potential prime contracting opportunities early on in the process
8. United States Coast Guard (USCG)
The U.S. Coast Guard is the principal Federal agency responsible for maritime safety, security, and environmental stewardship in U.S. ports and inland waterways, throughout the 4.5 million square miles of U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and on the high seas.
The Coast Guard Acquisition Directorate manages a multibillion-dollar recapitalization investment portfolio of acquisition programs across three major product lines: surface; aviation; and command, control, communications, computers, cyber, and intelligence (C5I) systems.
9. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
The FAA issues and enforces regulations involving manufacturing, operating, and maintaining aircraft. They rely on equipment, systems, supplies, services, and construction provided by commercial, educational, and non-profit businesses to function as an agency.
The FAA’s contracting activities are managed by a headquarters office, two centers, and three service areas with eight regional offices. Among the many contracting methods, the FAA, like other agencies, has certain planned contracts reserved for small businesses that are 8a certified.
10. Department of State (DOS)
The Department of State works to fight terrorism, protect U.S. interests abroad, and implement foreign policy initiatives while building a more free, prosperous, and secure world
Available projections for contracting opportunities that small and small disadvantaged firms may participate in can be found on the agency’s website under its procurement forecast.
RESOURCES
The list found in this article and their respective ranking was taken from usaspending.gov, wherein federal agencies were ranked from highest to lowest, according to their cumulative government spending in 2021 for 8a certified businesses.
Check out our RESOURCES page for a sample letter that we use in response to government market research.
