8(a) Business Development Program
8(a) certified? Federal contracts are waiting.
The federal government awards over $26 billion in 8(a) set-aside contracts every year. The hard part isn’t being eligible — it’s finding the right opportunities before the deadline passes. ContractRadar does that searching for you.
Search 8(a) contracts for freeWhat is the SBA 8(a) program?
The SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program is a nine-year program for small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Once accepted into the program, your business gains access to federal contracts specifically set aside for 8(a) participants — contracts that non-8(a) businesses can’t bid on at all.
Two types of 8(a) contracts exist. Sole-source contracts are awarded directly to a single 8(a) firm without a competitive bid — typically for contracts under $4.5 million (or $7.5 million for manufacturing). Competitive 8(a) contracts go out for bid but are restricted to qualified 8(a) participants only, which dramatically reduces competition compared to a full and open solicitation.
The federal government’s goal is to award at least 5 percent of all prime contracting dollars to small disadvantaged businesses — which includes all 8(a) participants. In recent years, 8(a) contract awards have exceeded $26 billion annually, according to SBA procurement scorecards.
The problem with finding 8(a) contracts on SAM.gov
SAM.gov lists thousands of new contract opportunities every week. Some are 8(a) set-asides. Most aren’t. Filtering by set-aside type on SAM.gov is only the start — you still need to check NAICS codes, place of performance, agency, and dollar range to know if an opportunity is worth pursuing. Doing that manually, every day, is a full-time job most small businesses don’t have the bandwidth for.
That’s the problem ContractRadar solves. You tell us once what your business does and where you work. We check every new SAM.gov posting against your profile and send you an email when an 8(a) contract matches. You spend your time on bids, not on searching.
How ContractRadar works for 8(a) firms
ContractRadar helps 8(a) certified businesses discover matching opportunities across federal, state, and local procurement channels. Create a free account and start searching immediately -- 5 semantic searches per day, no credit card required. Upgrade to $30/month for daily email alerts, unlimited search, and AI match scoring. No complex training or dashboard navigation required.
Tell us your 8(a) status
When you set up your profile, select 8(a) as your business certification. Also add your NAICS codes — the industry codes that describe what your business does — and the states where you operate.
We watch the portals every day
ContractRadar downloads new postings from SAM.gov, the SBA subcontracting portal, and state and local procurement portals daily. AI reads each posting's full text and scores it against your profile — not just NAICS codes. Rate your matches over time and the system learns what you're actually looking for.
You get an email when something matches
When an 8(a) contract fits your profile, you get an email with the contract title, agency, deadline, and a link to the full SAM.gov posting. Every match is also saved to your account so nothing slips through.
8(a) subcontracting opportunities
Prime contracts are not the only path. Federal law requires large prime contractors to subcontract a portion of their work to small businesses — and they actively look for 8(a) certified subcontractors to help them meet their 8(a) subcontracting goals. These opportunities are posted on the SBA’s subcontracting portal (SUBNet), and they are often less competitive than bidding on a prime contract directly. Subcontracting is a proven way to build past performance and establish relationships with prime contractors who may bring you on for future work.
ContractRadar monitors the SBA subcontracting portal alongside SAM.gov. When a subcontracting opportunity that matches your 8(a) certification and NAICS codes is posted, you get the same daily email alert you would for a prime set-aside contract. No separate setup required.
See which 8(a) contracts have been awarded recently
For every matched opportunity, ContractRadar automatically pulls in previously awarded similar contracts from USASpending.gov — same agency, same NAICS code, same set-asides. You’ll see who won, how much they were awarded, and the performance period. Know the going rate before you price your proposal, spot incumbents before you decide to compete, and bid with confidence instead of guessing.
Start free. Upgrade when you’re ready.
Create a free account and start searching 8(a) contract opportunities immediately -- 5 semantic searches per day across federal, state, and local sources. Upgrade to $30/month for daily email alerts, unlimited search, AI match scoring, and past award intelligence. No per-user fees, tiered pricing, or long-term commitments. Cancel anytime from your profile in two clicks.
If you just received your 8(a) certification, the next step is finding contracts to bid on. ContractRadar makes that step simple. Your nine-year window is limited — spend it pursuing opportunities, not hunting for them.
ContractRadar for other small business certifications
Learn more about government contracting:
ContractRadar also monitors state and local government procurement portals.
New to government contracting? Read our guide to SAM.gov contract monitoring for small businesses or visit the FAQ.