What's the difference between 8(a) competitive (8A) and 8(a) sole-source (8AN)?

8A means the agency ran a competition restricted to 8(a) firms: you bid against other 8(a)s. 8AN means the agency hand-selected your firm directly without competition, possible under the SBA's 8(a) sole-source authority up to specific dollar caps. Sole-source awards are how 8(a) firms typically capture their largest contracts.

How long does the 8(a) program last?

Nine years total: split into a 4-year developmental stage and a 5-year transitional stage. After graduation, you lose 8(a) eligibility forever (can't reapply). Plan your 8(a) capture pipeline accordingly: aim for sole-source awards and large IDVs early in the program.

Can I subcontract under an 8(a) vehicle if I'm not 8(a)-certified?

Yes. Most 8(a) primes need teaming partners with specific capabilities they don't have in-house. Subcontracting under an 8(a) vehicle is a common way for non-8(a) firms to build past performance with federal agencies they couldn't otherwise reach.

8(a) Set-Aside Contract Vehicles

Every active 8(a) federal contract vehicle, searchable, free to browse.

The SBA's 8(a) Business Development program reserves a portion of federal contracting for socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses. 8(a)-set-aside vehicles let participants compete against a smaller pool, and in some cases receive sole-source awards under the program's expedited authority.

Active vehicles: 2,795
Total in dataset: 24,550
Top ceiling: $165.0M
Set-aside codes: 8A, 8AN

Browse all 2,795 active vehicles See expiring soon

What is 8(a) Set-Aside?

An 8(a) set-aside vehicle restricts competition to firms certified under the SBA 8(a) Business Development program. The pool is dramatically smaller than full-and-open competitions, with award ratios that favor 8(a) participants throughout their 9-year program window.

Sole-source 8(a) awards (USAspending code 8AN) are even more selective: they bypass competition entirely up to specific dollar thresholds ($4.5M for services, $7M for manufacturing as of 2026), letting an agency hand-pick an 8(a) firm without running an RFP. These are the most coveted awards in the small-business market.

Who qualifies

U.S. citizens who are socially and economically disadvantaged (presumed for certain ethnic/racial minorities; documented for individual applicants).
Personal net worth under $850,000 (excluding primary residence and retirement accounts): 2025 SBA threshold.
Adjusted gross income under $400,000 over 3 years.
Total assets under $6.5 million.
Certified by the SBA: application via certify.sba.gov, typical 3-6 month processing.

Top 25 active 8(a) Set-Aside vehicles

Sorted by total ceiling value. Click any row for holder, task orders, and recompete forecast.

See all 2,795 →

Holder	Type	Agency	NAICS	Set-Aside	Amount	Expires
ACCELGOV LLC	IDC (Definite Quantity)	Department of Justice	541614	8(a) Set-Aside	$165.0M	2029-03-31
SRS INC	IDIQ	Department of Homeland Security	561210	8(a) Set-Aside	$100.0M	-
SENECA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC	IDIQ

Common questions about 8(a) Set-Aside

What's the difference between 8(a) competitive (8A) and 8(a) sole-source (8AN)?: 8A means the agency ran a competition restricted to 8(a) firms: you bid against other 8(a)s. 8AN means the agency hand-selected your firm directly without competition, possible under the SBA's 8(a) sole-source authority up to specific dollar caps. Sole-source awards are how 8(a) firms typically capture their largest contracts.
How long does the 8(a) program last?: Nine years total: split into a 4-year developmental stage and a 5-year transitional stage. After graduation, you lose 8(a) eligibility forever (can't reapply). Plan your 8(a) capture pipeline accordingly: aim for sole-source awards and large IDVs early in the program.
Can I subcontract under an 8(a) vehicle if I'm not 8(a)-certified?: Yes. Most 8(a) primes need teaming partners with specific capabilities they don't have in-house. Subcontracting under an 8(a) vehicle is a common way for non-8(a) firms to build past performance with federal agencies they couldn't otherwise reach.