SDV INTERNATIONAL enters the SBA 8(a) Program

WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved SDV INTERNATIONAL for the 8(a) Program on September 27, 2022.

This is a major milestone for SDV INTERNATIONAL. CEO, Kim Waiyaboon, stated, “The 8(a) certification is rare for a company with more than 14 years of performance on prime federal contracts. Typically, the 8(a) certification is awarded to much less mature companies. In contrast, as a well-established company, the SBA 8(a) certification puts SDV INTERNATIONAL in a very strong position to leverage our mature delivery capabilities.”

SDV INTERNATIONAL offers customers and partners advantageous capabilities, including but not limited to:

  • Some of the most talented, dedicated and enthusiastic experts in the marketplace

  • CMMI Level 3 appraised Software Development system

  • ISO-certified Quality Management System

  • DCAA-compliant accounting system

  • Inc. 5000 recognition as a top software company in the USA

  • External CPA-reviewed financials that demonstrate a strong position to fund growth

  • Mostly full and open contracts

  • A robust GSA Multiple Award Schedule and other contracting vehicles

  • Satisfied customers from 14 years of operations

This program will be a boon for SDV INTERNATIONAL's sales and marketing efforts. The 8(a) program offers unique and valuable business assistance. The 8(a) certification does not guarantee contract awards, but it is a dynamic tool to pursue and capture new opportunities with the U.S. government.

In the 8(a) program, SDV INTERNATIONAL can:

  • Efficiently compete and receive set-aside and sole-source contracts from the U.S. Government

  • Receive one-on-one business development assistance in a nine-year term from dedicated Business Opportunity Specialists focused on helping firms grow and accomplish our business objectives

  • Pursue opportunity for mentorship from experienced and technically capable firms through the SBA Mentor-Protégé program (Click the link to learn about a MPP JV we already launched!)

  • Connect with procurement and compliance experts who understand regulations in the context of business growth, finance, and government contracting

  • Pursue joint ventures with established businesses to increase capacity

  • Qualify to receive federal surplus property on a priority basis

  • Receive free training from SBA’s 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance program

The 8(a) certification qualifies the company as eligible to compete for the program’s sole-source and competitive set-aside contracts. The government authorizes sole-source contracts to 8(a) participants for up to $7.5 million for acquisitions assigned manufacturing NAICS codes and $4.5 million for all other acquisitions. 

The federal government currently aims to award 5% of all federal contracting dollars each year to small businesses in the 8(a) Business Development program. This amount will be increasing in the coming years, as the White House has announced a greater commitment to federal spending with small, underserved businesses.

This certification is a very big opportunity for our large business partners!

Partnering with 8(a) businesses.As a big or midsize company, I’m interested in the amount of work that’s being set aside for 8(a)s, because they may need a partner, and my company wants to be that partner,” said Paul Murphy, senior data analyst at Bloomberg Government. For any contract that’s designated 8(a), as long as the 8(a) company itself is doing more than 50% of the work, it can team up with additional companies to share the contract work.

Researching potential acquisitions. Though not all 8(a) companies are necessarily targets for acquisition, some certainly are. Tracking 8(a) companies and contracts, and even partnering with the companies, offers larger businesses the opportunity to build relationships and identify potential targets for acquisition. You can see this in action via the Bloomberg Government Contracts Intelligence tool. If you apply an 8(a) filter to “vendor socioeconomic indicators,” and then select “other than small business” in the “Contracting Officer’s Determination of Business Size” field, you’ll see familiar large contractors listed as “Parent Vendors,” likely because they acquired the 8(a) business that was the performing vendor.

Learn why large and midsize contractors are partnering with 8(a) companies, and how they benefit by working with SDV INTERNATIONAL.

Federal customers may validate SDV INTERNATIONAL's 8(a) certification at certify.sba.gov and web.sba.gov.

SDV INTERNATIONAL CEO, Kim Waiyaboon credits an incredibly dedicated and intelligent team that continues to grow and continues to maintain the core values of developing solutions, remaining dedicated to customer and peer success, and to delivering great results and great value.

Waiyaboon also credits the National Contract Management Association, which has helped her throughout her career. “I will pass on the NCMA culture of generosity and servant leadership to others for many years ahead,” said Waiyaboon.



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