Pub K
SBA Centralizes Annual Review Authority for 8(a) Program Participants
Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt – Effective February 20, 2026, the SBA has stripped district offices and Business Opportunity Specialists of authority to approve or deny continued 8(a) program participation through annual reviews. All final determinations now require authorization from the Associate Administrator for Government Contracting and Business Development (AA/GCBD) or designee. Entity-owned 8(a) participants, including 8(a) companies owned by Alaska Native Corporations, Tribes, and Native Hawaiian Organizations, should expect heightened scrutiny of annual review submissions, particularly regarding business activity targets (BAT) and good faith compliance efforts.