Small businesses – especially Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs), including Tribal 8(a)s (Native Hawaiian Organization-owned (NHO) 8(a)s, Alaska Native Corporation (ANC) 8(a)s, and Native American-owned 8(a)s), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs), Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs), and HUBZone firms are the backbone of federal contracting.

They drive innovation, agility, and real value to the government mission. But lately, the playing field has tilted – and not in their favor.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) and other federal agencies have introduced new policies and rule changes that make it harder for small and disadvantaged businesses to compete and sustain growth. It is an erosion of opportunity for the small business industrial base.

At SDB Growth we’re fighting back by building strong, strategic teams of SDBs and small businesses who can compete and win together.

What’s Happening

Recent federal actions are reshaping the small business landscape, and not for the better:

Reduction in Small Business Opportunities

The SBA has reset agency-level prime contracting goals for FY 2025, lowering overall expectations for SDB participation and removing the specific SDB prime goal used to drive agency accountability (Federal News Network, Jan 2025), they are conducting a review of the entire 8(a) program, and updating Federal Acquisition Regulations to remove some small business protections.

Why This Matters

These aren’t technicalities; they’re direct hits to the SDB community. They mean fewer prime opportunities, more consolidation among large firms, and reduced incentives for agencies to meet small business goals.

If we don’t adapt, we risk losing the innovation, and responsiveness that make small businesses indispensable to the federal mission.

How SDB Growth Is Responding

SDB Growth is led by an executive who has spent the last 10 years leading two Native Hawaiian Organization-owned 8(a) companies – one successfully graduated from the 8(a) program and continued to thrive as a competitive small business, and he started a new 8(a) company that grew to $70 million in annual revenue in just four years.

Now, we’re applying that experience to help other SDBs and small firms thrive.

• We Build Teams That Win:
  We connect small businesses with other strong small businesses to pursue subcontractor positions and teaming opportunities on major federal contract vehicles such as OASIS+ (including OASIS+ Unrestricted, SDVOSB, WOSB, 8(a), and HUBZone pools), GSA MAS, and other Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs), as well as definitive contracts across DoD and civilian agencies. Even if your company isn’t a prime on OASIS+, we have deep ties with awardees across all categories. We’ll team you where your capabilities and past performance bring tangible value to current primes.
• We Generate Opportunities:
  We identify upcoming opportunities that align with your core capabilities and proven performance – not wild pursuits, but targeted, winnable work.
• We Shape Opportunities:
  We get involved early. By developing strong Sources Sought Notice and Request for Information (RFI) responses, we help influence acquisitions before they’re released, steering requirements toward your small business set-aside category, contract vehicle, or specific NAICS codes to increase your probability of win.
• We Write Winning Proposals:
  From compliance to narrative development, we handle the heavy lift so you can focus on execution.
• We Help You Grow Past Performance and Relationships:
  Every new subcontract we win for our clients brings revenue today – but just as important, it builds past performance and new customer relationships that open doors tomorrow.

A Call to Action

If you are a Small Business or SDB (8(a), NHO, ANC, Native American-owned 8(a), SDVOSB, WOSB, or HUBZone) and you want to strengthen your competitive position for 2025 and beyond, now is the time to move.

Let’s team up.
Let’s compete smarter.
Let’s win together.

Contact Greg at SDB Growth today at info@sdbgrowth.com or call 757-660-6868 to start building your teaming and growth strategy.

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