On February 11, 2011, the U.S. Small Business Administration ("SBA") released its Final Rule containing changes to the regulations governing the 8(a) Small Business Development Program ("8(a) program"). The 8(a) program provides assistance to socially and economically disadvantaged business owners in the form of business development services, including the opportunity to receive federal contracts on a sole-source or limited competition basis. The revised rules, which went into effect on March 14, 2011, contain many significant changes that apply both to businesses already in the 8(a) program and to those with pending applications to enter the 8(a) program. In addition to many substantive and technical changes, the SBA has provided better clarification on the criteria necessary to qualify for the 8(a) program.

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