Contracting Vehicle

Minority-Owned Businesses

SBA’s 8(a) Business Development program can help qualifying minority-owned firms develop and grow their businesses through one-to-one counseling, training workshops, and management and technical guidance. The program also provides access to government contracting opportunities, allowing these businesses to become solid competitors in the federal marketplace.

GSA Advantage!®  is the online shopping and ordering system that provides access to thousands of contractors and millions of supplies (products) and services. Anyone may browse on GSA Advantage!® to view and compare the variety of products and services offered.

Federal government employees can make purchases on GSA Advantage!® using:

A government wide commercial purchase card (GSA SmartPay®);

A GSA Activity Address Code (AAC); or

A Department of Defense Activity Address Code (DoDAAC) (limited to purchases of GSA Global Supply items).

Small Disadvantaged Businesses

Since October 2008, small businesses can self-represent their status as a small disadvantaged business (SDB).

You do not have to submit an application to SBA for SDB status.

To self-represent as an SDB, register your business in the System for Award Management. However, you and your firm must still understand the SBA eligibility criteria for SDBs.  Generally, this means that:

The firm must be 51% or more owned and control by one or more disadvantaged persons.

The disadvantaged person or persons must be socially disadvantaged and economically disadvantaged.

The firm must be small, according to SBA’s size standards