The United States Small Business Association (SBA) 8a Business Development Program is a business program for small, disadvantaged businesses. The program duration is nine years.  Once admitted to the program, firms are eligible to receive business training, counseling, marketing and technical assistance. The first four years of the program are the developmental stage and the last five years are the transition stage. The goal of the program is to have 8(a) firms graduate and thrive in a competitive business environment.

Participants in this program can receive sole-source contracts, up to a ceiling of $4 million for goods and services and $6.5 million for manufacturing. 8(a) firms are also able to form joint ventures to bid on contracts. This enhances the ability of 8(a) firms to perform larger prime contracts and overcome the effects of contract bundling, the combining of two or more contracts together into one large contract.