Small Business: Status of SBA's 8(a) Minority Business Development
Program (Testimony, 03/06/95, GAO/T-RCED-95-122).

Although the Small Business Administration (SBA) has improved some
aspects of the 8(a) business development program, which provides federal
contracts to small businesses owned by socially and economically
disadvantaged persons, it has not yet achieved key changes mandated by
Congress.  Although the total dollar value of new contracts awarded
competitively grew during fiscal year 1994, federal procuring agencies
limit firms' opportunities for competition under the 8(a) program.  The
concentration of contract dollars in a few firms continued in 1994,
limiting the developmental opportunities of many firms.  And although
SBA has approved business plans for most firms, it has not given the
same attention to annually reviewing these plans to guarantee that they
accurately reflect the firms' developmental goals and contract needs.
Moreover, many firms nearing the end of their program terms still depend
on 8(a) contracts, raising doubts about the firms' ability to succeed in
the commercial marketplace.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-RCED-95-122
     TITLE:  Small Business: Status of SBA's 8(a) Minority Business 
             Development Program
      DATE:  03/06/95
   SUBJECT:  Small business assistance
             Minority business assistance
             Small business contractors
             Small business contracts
             Minority business contracts
             Federal procurement
             Competitive procurement
             Disadvantaged persons
             Technical assistance
IDENTIFIER:  SBA 8(a) Program
             DOD Small Disadvantaged Business Preference Program
             
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