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FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 19: Small Business Programs › Subpart 19.8

FAR 19.802 Determining eligibility for the 8(a) program.

The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.

In plain English

This section states that the SBA, not the contracting agency, decides whether a small business is eligible for the 8(a) program. Eligibility rules are in SBA regulations at 13 CFR 124.101 through 124.112, and SBA lists approved participants in the Dynamic Small Business Search and the System for Award Management. For contractors, this means 8(a) status is determined and shown by SBA, not by the procuring agency.

Applies to: Small businesses seeking 8(a) program participation

Key terms: 8(a) program · SBA · eligibility · Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) · System for Award Management (SAM)

Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.

The text

Determining the eligibility of a small business to be a participant in the 8(a) program is the responsibility of the SBA. SBA's regulations on eligibility requirements for participation in the 8(a) program are found at 13 CFR 124.101 through 124.112. SBA designates the concern as an 8(a) participant in the Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) at https://web.sba.gov/pro-net/search/dsp_dsbs.cfm. SBA's designation also appears in the System for Award Management (SAM).

← 19.801 [Reserved] · 19.803 Selecting acquisitions for the 8(a) program. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 19

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.

FAR 19.802 Determining eligibility for the 8(a) program · SpendQuery