update on the 8(a) program

Update on the 8(a) Program

Jackie Robinson-Burnette (AA/BD)Associate Administrator Office of Business Development SBA Headquarters, Washington DCJackie.RobinsonBurnette@sba.gov

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Mission

The Office of Business Development executes activities authorized under Sections 8(a) and 7(j) of the Small Business Act to provide business development assistance to firms that are owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. The office fulfills its mission by certifying the eligibility of prospective 8(a) participants, and managing a national program that provides mentoring, marketing, managerial, technical, and procurement assistance to help 8(a) participants achieve their full competitive potential.

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Office of BD’s NEW Priorities

• Grow the 8(a) Program by 1,000 new 8(a) certified firms• Reduce the Administrative burdens on 8(a) applicants and

participants• Increase 8(a) contracting opportunities

• Rebuild the trust of federal agencies…. • Reverse the steady annual decline in 8(a) contract dollars

• Significantly reduce program termination rate w/Annual Reviews• Re-engineer the 7j Program (FREE Business Development Training)• Enhance and grow the Mentor-Protégé Program• Build the morale, open communication, and develop leaders• Be #1 in customer service (improve our reputation)

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Focus on Elements of Eligibility & Reduce Administrative Burdens on Applicants

• US Citizen• Size (by NAICS)• Social Disadvantage• Economic Disadvantage• Ownership• Control• Potential for Success• Other eligibility criteria (character)

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Back to Basics……for 8(a) applicants

We want your business!

Fast Track Contracting using the 8(a) Sole Source Contracting Authority

• Contract price, including options, is $6.5 million or less for manufacturing NAICS codes.

• Contract price, including options, $4.0 or less million for all other contracts.

• Participants owned by Indian Tribes, ANCs, and NHOs (DoD only) are exempt from the competitive thresholds.

• Agency must complete Justification and Approval (J&A) for sole source contracts over $20M.

Commitment of Funds to Contract in 15 days or less.

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Release of Requirements in the 8(a) BD Program : 13 CFR § 124.504

(d) A follow-on procurement to an 8(a) contract remains in the 8(a) BD program unless the AA/BD agrees with an agency written request to release it from the 8(a) BD program.

(1)In determining whether to release, the Associate Administrator of Business Development (AA/BD) will consider: (i) Whether agency met SDB goal; (ii) Where in agency is in achieving other SB goals; (iii) Whether requirement is critical to 8(a) participant currently performing it.

(3) SBA will only release requirement where procuring activity agrees to procure as SB, HUBZone, SDVOSB or WOSB set-aside.

Streamline Annual Review

• Reduce the o/a 150 firms terminated each year within the first 3 years of certification that have yet to win an 8(a) contract.

• Streamline initiative for Annual Reviews (2016)• Manage risk of fraud, waste, and abuse.• Focus on business development.• If you have ideas, send them to your BOS.

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Re-Shaping the 7(j) Training Program

Free Training!

• Training is available in several areas of federal contracting.

• Program is underutilized

• Current training topics include:• DCAA cost accounting standards• Strategizing for a winning price• How RFP elements influence strategy• Developing the tech proposal• Cybersecurity (coming soon)• Development of HR systems

Strengthening 7(j) with more of ….

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How to Prepare for a DCAA AuditAcquisition Law (Understanding the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR))Project ManagementProposal WritingCost EstimatingContract PlanningContract Execution & ManagementContract Negotiation TechniquesAdvance Contract PricingQuality Assurance Basics

Strengthening 7(j) with more of ….

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Strategies to Secure Sole Source ContractsUnderstanding Contract Types in the Federal Government The Process of Awarding Contracts/after the AwardAssistance for 8(a) firms in the Transitional Stage/ Transitioning out of the 8(a) ProgramSales techniques for Federal clientsQuality Control TrainingProgram Management TrainingRS Means Training for improving cost estimating Effective branding and benchmarkingFacility security clearance training

• 8(a) firms submit the written MP Agreement to the local SBA District Office. The Mentor agrees to provide specific assistance to 8(a) protégé. The package is forwarded to the AA/BD.

• The agreements must enhance the capabilities of the Protégé; it’s not just for winning contracts. Compliance with M/P agreement is evaluated as part of 8(a) annual review.

• Large Business Mentors may form a joint venture with 8(a) Protégé and the JV entity is considered small for any Federal procurement (exclusion from affiliation).

• JV must perform 51% of the work; 8(a) Protégé must perform at least 40% of the 51%.

SBA Mentor-Protégé ProgramMentors can have up to 3

Protégés.

Headquarters review time reduced from 30 days to 5 days!

• Only 398 certified 8(a) firms have mentors through the SBA Mentor Protégé Program.

• Mentors reduce the learning curve

• Mentors significantly enhance business development

• 8(a) Graduates are encouraged to serve as mentors.

• Mentor Protégé Conference with SPEED-DATING this summer (June 2016) in Washington DC.

SBA Mentor-Protégé ProgramMentors can have up to 3

Protégés.

Headquarters review time reduced from 30 days to 5 days!

Preparing to be Ranked #1 in Customer Service

• The Office of Business Development will be known for providing the best customer service in government!

• Phone calls and emails will be answered timely by technically competent professional staff.

• The SBA will increase training and development of the staff to improve morale and increase skills.

• Our Reputation is at Stake: Daily, I wonder if 8(a) applicants and participants had an alternative place to apply for certification and to get business development, would the SBA be the first choice?www.sba.gov 13

Things to Watch For in FY 2016/2017!

• Partnership with MBDA for graduated 8(a) firms• 8(a) CEO Boot Camp with successful graduates as instructors• 2nd Annual Mentor Protégé conference in Washington DC.• More firms this year!• Speed dating to match prospective mentors & protégés• Hear about other federal agency MP Programs

• Benefits Report for Entity Owned firms• New streamlined forms for the 8(a) application with faster

processing timelines.• Partnership with SCORE & PTAC to roll out new application

process.www.sba.gov 14

Jackie Robinson-BurnetteAssociate Administrator

jackie.robinsonburnette@sba.gov202-205-7026

Robert Watkins

Deputy Associate Administrator Robert.Watkins@sba.gov

202-619-1732

Office of Program Review

Sharon Gurley, Director Sharon.Gurley@sba.gov

202-205-7084

Office of Management & Technical Assistance

Stanley Jones, Jr., Director

Stanley.JonesJr@sba.gov 202-205-6805

Office of Certification & Eligibility

Van Tran, Director

Van.Tran@sba.gov202-205-7567

San FranciscoCert. & Elig. Center

Teresa Tyhurst, ChiefTeresa.Tyhurst@sba.gov

415-744-0326

PhiladelphiaCert. & Elig. Center

Joseph Donnini, ChiefJoseph.Donnini@sba.gov

610-382-3196

East Area Continuing Elig.

Center

Richard Blum, ChiefRichard.Blum@sba.gov

202-205-7238

West Area Continuing Elig.

Center

Francine Morris, ChiefFrancine.Morris@sba.gov

202-205-7204

Office of Business Development

Over 160 8(a) Business Opportunity

Specialists (BOS)

57 BD Personnel

within the HQs

Jackie Robinson-Burnette, SESSBA Headquarters, Washington DCJackie.RobinsonBurnette@sba.gov

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