End of the 8a Program as we Know it

August 25, 2023

(Emergency Webinar Addressing How to Write Your Social Disadvantage Narrative)

This week, the SBA celebrated its 70th birthday. However, one of its storied 50 year old programs, the 8a
Certification Program, may be on the verge of dying or being changed forever. The 8a Program as we
know it, will never be the same again.

On July 19, 2023, the US District Court in Tennessee issued a ruling (Ultima Servs. Corp. v. USDA/SBA)
affecting the presumption of social disadvantage for the SBA’s 8(a) Program. An injunction was put in
place and all 8a applications were put on paused. This week, the SBA sent out a notification requiring
that ALL pending applicants and existing 8a participants must submit a Social Disadvantage Narrative.

If you have submitted proposals and are pending awards, you must prepare this narrative prior to award
and contract start date. Don’t lose out on your contract by ignoring this new requirement.

If you are an active 8a participant, business owner with your 8a application on hold, or if you’re
considering future entrance into the 8a Small Business Development Program, we are hosting an
emergency webinar to share the latest information and, most importantly, the guidance on HOW TO
WRITE YOUR SOCIAL DISADVANTAGE NARRATIVE.

Our presenter will guide you through the process of writing your social disadvantage narrative and
update you on the latest status of the 8a program.

IMPORTANT: All attendees will be provided with a Social Disadvantage Narrative Template so you can
use it to write your own narrative.

How to write your social disadvantage narrative
Review of the SBA guidance
The latest news on the 8a BD Program
Who needs to write a social disadvantage narrative
Who is except from writing a social disadvantage narrative
Where and how to submit your 8a social disadvantage narrative
Potential changes to the 8a program
Can you receive an 8a award without a social disadvantage narrative
If you have an active contract, will it be impacted
If you received an 8a award, how long will it take for an agency/SBA to approve your narrative
How will the changes affect your JV or Mentor Protégé partnerships
When can you restart your 8a application
Can individuals who previously have not be presumed socially disadvantaged apply for the 8a program
All this and more on the latest of the 8a program