Contract Vehicles

SBA 8(a) Certified

VMI is a certified participant in the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) Business Development program. This certification is valid until 11/2028 and provides VMI with the ability to obtain sole-source set-aside contracts up to $4M as well as competitive set-aside contracts. This procurement method is streamlined to help agencies meet their socioeconomic procurement credit requirements while obtaining high quality, innovative services from small and emerging businesses.

8(a) Sole-Source Procurement

(For contract awards up to $4.5M)

Features and Benefits

  • Shortened and Simplified Acquisition: Provides agencies with a shortened and simplified acquisition procedure in order to increase accessibility to services
  • Streamlined Acquisition Process: Negotiations occur only between the purchasing agency, the SBA, and the certified 8(a) vendor
  • Reduced Decision Cycle: Time required to process and award the contract is typically 1-2 weeks
  • Lowered Administrative Costs: Due to the ease of procurement, related administrative costs are significantly lower
  • Prices Provide Best Value: Purchasing agency negotiates with the firm directly to obtain best value
  • Small Business Credits: Agencies can receive small business credits for every sole-source 8(a) contract that they award

8(a) Competitive Procurement

Features and Benefits

  • Simplified Acquisition: Agencies can compete the work via this method as long as at least two qualified small businesses are likely to submit offers
  • Competitive Pricing: Agencies will receive offers from multiple qualified small businesses and will benefit from awarding the contract at a fair market price
  • Small Business Credits: Agencies can receive small business credits for every competitive 8(a) contract that they award

Sole Source VMI in 6 steps

  1. Identify Requirements The Government program manager or interested party develops a statement of work, prepares a government estimate, and obtains the necessary funding.
  2. Decision to Sole Source The Government program manager or interested party chooses VMI to perform the work and submits a procurement request to the agency contracting officer.
  3. SBA Worksheet The agency contracting officer prepares an “Offer Letter” to VMI and submits to: Shuraie Mackin, Deputy District Director/8(a) Business Development, Washington Metropolitan Area District Office, 409 3rd Street, SW, Second Floor, Washington, DC 20416, 202-205-6392, dcofferletters@sba.gov
  4. SBA Review & Acceptance SBA processes the Offer Letter and returns it to the agency contracting officer who submits the Statement of Work and Request for Proposal or Quotation to VMI.
  5. Negotiations & Scope Definition VMI submits the proposal which is evaluated and negotiated (if necessary) by the agency.
  6. Contract Award The contract is awarded to VMI.