subject: Non Designated Minority Group Businesses And The 8a Program: Misconceptions And Myths [print this page] Over the years, 8A certification has gained huge popularity among the potential entrepreneurs, especially the small-scale business organizations. Official recognition of the services is the sole reason for the growing popularity of 8A programs. However, lately, it has been observed that businesses that do not belong to the 5 designated minority groups, as suggested by the SBA 8A application, face frequent problems related to certification. Abundant misinformation about Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business and Woman Owned Business has engulfed the business world, which is the key driver toward confusion related to 8A certification.
Following are the briefly discussed points which throw light on the major misconceptions related to 8A program, prevailing in the market.
Membership of the minority groups is required to be eligible for the 8A program
Compared to others, one of the major misapprehensions, enduring with leaps and bounds is that businesses which do not belong to the designated groups cannot be 8A certified. According to business research data, by offering social and economical disadvantage narrative, more than 1000 commercial organizations which do not belong to minority designated groups have successfully certified themselves.
The SBA delays the certification process of a non-member of the designated minority group
It is often said that a non-member of the designated minority groups takes more time than expected to complete the certification process and includes a number of apparent problems. However, not more than 24 hours are required to certify a business which is not a member of the designated minority groups.
Minority businesses are required to testify and provide solid evidence in respect to discrimination incidents
This is not absolutely true since the evidence for discrimination now is set as-preponderance of evidence. According to such evidence standard, if the incident is told with enough conviction and detail, it will promote credibility in the narrative. This would prevent the 8A certification applicant to publicly testify the discrimination events and will be kept confidential. Such an act of the SBA enables the minority applicant to share the discrimination incident without fear.
The complications involved in the 8A certification application is not worth
According to major business experts and professional entities, 8A program are considered to be the most vital one, compared with the other elements. 8A certification enables federal agencies to contract with minority applicants on a sole-source basis and can avoid the entire bidding process. Moreover, there are a number of 8A set-aside contracts for the applicants. Being an 8A certified states that the applicant can enjoy the benefits of small disadvantaged business that offers a cost difference as a subcontractor. To add to the credentials of 8A certification, such programs will enable an applicant to get DBE, MBE, WBE and various other state certifications at a much faster rate. Though the application process can be difficult and bit intriguing, the advantages offered by it can outdo the existing issues.
If a minority applicant who is not a member of the designated group is willing to acquire 8A certification, it can be done without facing many complications. The SBA does not state clearly that a non-member of the designated groups cannot avail the benefits of 8A certification conveniently.
