8(a) Graduate of the Year Award

SBA will make the 8(a) Graduate of the Year Award to a formerly certified 8(a) Business Development Program participant that has graduated from the 8(a) program for at least one year as of April 1, 2024. The firm does not have to currently be a small business.  

Who is eligible to be nominated?

Nominees for this award must meet the following eligibility requirements. Consult your nearest SBA district office if you have questions.

1. Firm must have a demonstrated history of successful performance on 8(a) contracts while in the 8(a) Business Development Program;
2. Companies and/or their principal owner(s) must not appear on the suspended or debarred list as published at SAM.gov;
3. Firm must still be primarily owned, managed, and controlled by the person(s) whom 8(a) eligibility was based at the time of participation;
4. The firm must show reduced reliance on 8(a) contracts; the most recent fiscal year-end financial statement must reflect non 8(a) sales of 50% or more of total sales;
5. Businesses owned and operated by nominees must comply with federal civil rights laws;
6. If nominee or nominee’s firm has an SBA loan, payment record must be satisfactory and the loan must be current and in good standing;
7. Firm must be in satisfactory financial condition (i.e. financial capability: sufficient capitalization, financial performance, bonding capacity, manageable debts). Applicants are ineligible if it is found that the firm, or any of its principals, has failed to pay Federal financial obligations;
8. For government contracts, the nominee must have performed satisfactorily on all contracts, and have had no terminations for default;
9. Before SBA publicly announces any awards, nominee must be cleared by the SBA’s Office of Inspector General and Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights Compliance (EEO/CRC) offices;
10. The nominee must be a formerly certified 8(a) Business Development Program participant that graduated from the 8(a) Program for at least one year as of April 1, 2024; and
11. The firm does not have to be a small business.

Who is NOT eligible to be nominated?   

Individuals or firms who are currently suspended or debarred by the Federal government.

Who may submit nominations?

1. Individuals or organizations dedicated to the support of the small business community in the United States, including, such as trade and professional associations and business organizations, may submit nominations.
2. Individuals may self-nominate. 

What information must the nomination package contain?

Nominations must contain the information below. Incomplete nomination packages will not be considered.

1. A completed SBA Form 3300, Award Nominee Background form. For “team” nominations, a background form is required for each team member;
2. A completed Authorization, Grant & Release of Materials form. For “team” nominations, a release form is required for each team member.
3. A completed SBA Form 3309, 8(a) Graduate of the Year Award nomination form.
4. An original 8 in. x 10 in. or 5 in. x 7 in. photo of the nominee or a digital photo – at least 300 dpi is required. Photocopies are not acceptable; and
5. Any other supporting documentation deemed significant by the nominator, including news clips, letters of recommendation, nomination letter (if not self-nominated), and other evidence of the appropriateness of the nomination. Supporting documentation may not exceed 10 pages. Videos will not be considered.

Where are the nominations to be sent?

All nominations must be submitted electronically to the upload link for the District Office where the nominee is located. Nominations should be scanned and submitted as one full document. Photo should be submitted as a separate attachment.

When is the deadline for nominations?

Nominations must be submitted by 7:00 a.m. ET, December 8, 2025.

What are the evaluation/selection criteria?

In evaluating the nomination packages, the judges will look at the following criteria:

1. Management
   • Overall Qualifications/Expertise of Management
   • Customer Interface (Customer Engagement)
   • Response to adversities, obstacles, etc. to achieve the present level of success
2. Exceptional Results/Special Achievements
   • Deliverables in line with or exceeding contract requirements
   • Exceptional past performance record; and description of exceptional results and/or delivery performance that makes this company a valued product/service provider
   • Awards and Recognition
3. Cost Performance
   • Financial Stability and Credit Worthiness
   • Value Engineering Change Proposals (Performance Adjustments)
   • Increase in sales, net profit and net worth Growth in full-time employees
4. Innovation
   • Specific description of innovation or unique/superior product or service
   • Explanation of how the product or service fills a niche or technical need not being adequately addressed by the competition
5. Economic engagement of the disadvantaged community
   • Use of minority firms as suppliers, subcontractors, etc.
   • Noted recruitment and employment of socially disadvantaged personnel
   • Participation in community projects and charitable affairs

What are the selection procedures?

SBA will make 8(a) Graduate awards to eligible small businesses at the District, Regional and National level.

1. District offices will select one winner to compete at the regional level.
2. The Regional offices will select one winner to compete at the national level.
3. The National 8(a) Graduate of the Year will be selected by the SBA Associate Administrator for the Office of Government Contracting & Business Development based on, but not restricted to, the recommendations of a panel of judges of federal employees. 

If you have questions, please contact smallbusinessweek@sba.gov.