Please sign the petition below

Dear Mrs. Carranza,

Good day and thank you for all you are doing to assist small businesses in our nation. We, the undersigned, are writing to you as a concerned group of small businesses, all with 8(a) status. The 8(a) program has and continues to be a wonderful asset and tool for our nation’s small businesses to get their feet planted on the ground and thrive. However, many of the 8(a)s in our nation are now facing a dilemma due to impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID19). As you are well aware, the 8(a) Program is not like other small business classifications, it has a ticking clock from the moment that a small business enters the program and is designated as an 8(a) firm. Unlike 8(a), other designations such as Service-Disabled Veteran Owned, Woman Owned, Tribal, Hawaiian, etc. have no such ticking clock and are designated those classifications indefinitely. This is the cause of our collective dilemma.

The past months have been unprecedented as the country has come to grips with the COVID-19 global pandemic. Practically all economic activity, which was not lost, was transitioned to remote delivery. We recognize that this was and is necessary for all to be safe and to combat and eradicate this pandemic. However, this transition to remote has had consequences which are not often thought of for small business owners such as ourselves. The 8(a) Program is a wonderful program filled with opportunities, many of them sole sourced opportunities, for small businesses. But, many if not most, of those sole source/direct award opportunities result from dedicated business development, client relationship building and capture management by the 8(a) firms and their representatives. These efforts and activities are almost exclusively face to face meetings with contracting representatives, Office of Small Business Directors and Assistant Directors and others within the contracting realm who can assist 8(a) firms with sole source awards. Covid-19 has completely stopped this activity, with the complete transition to remote working. We know that requirements still need to be met and we know that opportunities remain available for small businesses, however that personal meeting and relationship has evaporated since February 2020 and the ability of 8(a) firms to be aware of and bid on contracts, and contribute to the mission of agencies, has been greatly diminished. In essence, 8(a)s have lost 6 months of their program to date and will further continue to lose time, until all returns to normalcy. We have voiced our concerns to our local District SBA Representatives and have sent inquiries to several Headquarters Offices and have been told that our points and concerns are valid and deserve an answer. Each 8(a) participant is operating in a different stage of the program and each has to make unique business decisions as it determines the extent of the impact of COVID-19 on its operations, yet each 8(a) that we have spoken to and who have signed this letter agreed that the 8(a) program has lost the past 6 months and counting, with no reward or recompense.

Please understand that collectively as small businesses we appreciate and value all that you have done to assist small firms with programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loans and other tools you have put in place in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Small business contractors continue to play an important role in helping Federal agencies and our entire national economy and small businesses will lead the way to recovery from this COVID-19 pandemic. Our request for assistance is simple. However, we believe that the months since the beginning of the pandemic is time lost to our 8A program. Prior to Covid, contracting representatives and small business contracting officials had their doors open for 8(a) firms. Since February, either due to the stresses of remote delivery of services and/or a limited amount of time that can be spent on the phones, 8(a) firms, as with other small businesses, have found it difficult if not impossible to continue the relationships that we had with these officials. Often, solicitations that were anticipated and then delayed due to Covid, are then issued quickly with little no advance notice or opportunity to discuss with contracting officers. Many existing contracts are being extended with simply Covid as the justification. This situation greatly hampers the 8(a) ability to succeed and grow, as is the mission of the program and many of our firms have watched the clock tick away to graduation date.

In light of this, our request is simple. We do not seek monetary assistance, rather we seek time. We are simply asking that the Small Business Administration freeze the clock, on 8A graduation dates, until this pandemic is over and add 12 months to every 8As graduation date. This will enable 8(a)s to continue operating, manage their businesses and focus on client delivery, without worrying about the clock and once the pandemic has subsided and economic activity can begin to settle back towards normal or whatever our new normal will be, the 8(a)s can resume business development, client relationship building and capture management with the contracting officials of the federal agencies. It is because of your stated support to our 8(a) participants and the priority you place on our firms, especially amidst uncertainty in the federal marketplace, that we reach out to you now.

We greatly appreciate your time reading this letter and considering this request. We look forward to any actions and assistance that you may bring to the 8As of our nation. Thank you for your service to our country.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned 8A Firms