Guide
How to Find 8(a) Set-AsideFederal Contracts
If you're in the SBA 8(a) Business Development program, the federal government sets aside contracts specifically for your business. The challenge is finding them. Here's how to search awarded 8(a) contracts, identify which agencies buy your services, and research your competitors.
Know your NAICS code
Every federal contract is tagged with a NAICS code that identifies the industry. If you do IT consulting, your code might be 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services). If you do janitorial services, it's 561720. You need to know your code to find relevant contracts. The Federal Contract Tracker has NAICS autocomplete — start typing your industry and it suggests matching codes.
Search for awarded 8(a) contracts
Go to the Federal Contract Tracker, enter your NAICS code, and select "8(a) Business Development" from the set-aside filter. This shows you every 8(a) contract that has already been awarded in your industry. You'll see who won, which agency awarded it, and the dollar amount.
Identify which agencies buy your services
Look at the awarding agencies in your search results. If the Department of Veterans Affairs awarded 15 contracts in your NAICS code last year, that's a warm lead. Switch to the Spending by Agency tab to see which agencies spend the most on 8(a) contracts in your industry.
Research your competitors
The search results show which companies are winning 8(a) contracts. Click any contract to see the full award detail — financial summary, business categories, competition status, and place of performance. This is your competitive intelligence. Know who's winning, how much they're winning, and where.
Track spending trends
Visit the Trends page and filter by your NAICS code with the 8(a) set-aside. You'll see quarterly spending patterns — is spending going up or down? Which contractors are getting the most awards? This helps you time your proposals and focus on growing markets.
Search 8(a) contracts now
Enter your NAICS code, select the 8(a) set-aside filter, and see every awarded contract in your industry. Free — 10 searches per day, no registration.
Search 8(a) contracts freeOther set-aside types
The Federal Contract Tracker supports all major set-aside types. Use the same search process for any of these:
Businesses in Historically Underutilized Business Zones
Women-Owned Small Businesses
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses
General small business set-asides
Frequently asked questions
What is an 8(a) set-aside contract?
An 8(a) set-aside is a federal contract reserved exclusively for small businesses participating in the SBA's 8(a) Business Development program. The program helps socially and economically disadvantaged businesses compete for federal contracts. Only certified 8(a) firms can bid on these contracts, reducing competition and giving participants a real advantage.
How do I get 8(a) certification?
Apply through the SBA's certify.sba.gov portal. You must be a small business that is at least 51% owned by a U.S. citizen who is socially and economically disadvantaged. The business must have been in operation for at least two years. The 8(a) program lasts nine years — four in the developmental stage and five in the transitional stage.
How much are 8(a) contracts worth?
8(a) contracts range from a few thousand dollars to tens of millions. Sole-source 8(a) contracts (awarded without competition) can be up to $4.5 million for goods and services or $8 million for manufacturing. Competitive 8(a) contracts have no dollar limit. Use the Federal Contract Tracker to see actual awarded amounts in your NAICS code.
What's the difference between 8(a) and other set-asides?
8(a) is for socially and economically disadvantaged businesses. HUBZone is for businesses in Historically Underutilized Business Zones. WOSB is for Women-Owned Small Businesses. SDVOSB is for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. Each program has different eligibility requirements and the contracts are reserved for different groups.
Can I see 8(a) contracts from specific agencies?
Yes. In the Federal Contract Tracker, select "8(a) Business Development" as the set-aside type, then use the Awarding Agency dropdown to filter by a specific agency. You can also use the Spending by Agency tab to see which agencies award the most 8(a) contracts in your NAICS code.
Where does this data come from?
All contract data comes from USASpending.gov, the U.S. government's official source for federal spending data. It is updated daily and covers all awarded federal contracts including set-aside designations.