8(a) Business Development Program

A US Small Business Administration program for small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged people. 8(a) firms can win set-aside and sole-source federal contracts.

Also called: 8(a)

Related terms

Set-aside

A US federal tender that only small businesses, or a category of them such as 8(a) or service-disabled veteran-owned firms, may bid on. Set-asides are a major route in for small IT firms.

HUBZone

A US program that gives contracting preference to small businesses based in, and employing people from, historically underutilized business zones.