Set-Aside Alert news analysis:

8(a) participation falls under Trump; 8(a)s won $27B in FY17

New CRS report shows rise in 8(a) administrative costs

     A new report shows a drop in the number of small disadvantaged businesses in the 8(a) Business Development program over the last two years, as well as a steep rise in 8(a) administrative costs during the same period. The Congressional Research Service report also found that 8(a) companies won $27.2 billion in federal contracts in fiscal 2017, a 1.4% reduction from the $27.6 billion won in fiscal 2016. The CRS report of April 17 provides an overview of the Small Business Administration’s longstanding 8(a) program for small business owners who are certified as socially- or economically-disadvantaged. The owners can bid on 8(a) set-asides and win sole-source contracts, among other benefits...more....