Office of Hearings and Appeals
The Office of Hearings and Appeals decides SBA program decision appeals, NAICS appeals, and CVE protests and appeals.
Information regarding OHA during the federal government shutdown
For the purpose of calculating deadlines (not including PPP appeals), each day of the federal government shutdown will be counted the same as if it were a federal holiday. Thus, any OHA filing that is due during the period of government shutdown will be due at 5:00 p.m. ET on the first day of normal operations. See 13 C.F.R. § 134.202(d)(1)(ii).
This deadline notice does not apply to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Appeals
The PPP Portal is open and available for PPP appeal submissions. As such, you have 30 calendar days after receipt of the final SBA loan review decision to file a PPP appeal. 13 CFR 134.1202(a).
What we do
The Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) is an independent office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) established in 1983 to provide an independent, quasi-judicial appeal of certain SBA program decisions.
OHA hears the following appeals:
- Size determinations,
- Contracting officer designations of North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes on federal contracts,
- Eligibility determinations for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB),
- Eligibility of Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB),
- Eligibility of Economically Disadvantaged WOSB (EDWOSB), and
- 8(a)BD eligibility determinations, suspensions and terminations.
- PPP final SBA loan review decisions.
More information regarding OHA’s jurisdiction can be found at 13 C.F.R. 134.102.
Publication policy
It is OHA’s policy to publish final decisions, which include the names of the parties appearing before OHA. Read our full appeal publication policy.
File an appeal with OHA
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PPP appeals
Appeal a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) final SBA loan review decision. -
Size appeals
Appeal a formal size determination made by an SBA Government Contracting Area Office, or by an SBA Disaster Area Office. -
8(a) eligibility appeals
Appeal a determination of 8(a) program eligibility. -
NAICS appeals
Appeal a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code designation. -
WOSB and EDWOSB appeals
Appeal a Women-Owned Small Business Concern (WOSB) and Economically Disadvantaged WOSB (EDWOSB) designation. -
VOSB/SDVOSB protest & appeals
Protest or appeal a Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) determination.
Search OHA decisions
Search the OHA decisions database
You may be able to find an OHA decision with similar factual or legal questions to those in your appeal.
Information for SBA employees
SBA's Office of Hearing and Appeals also handles certain SBA employee grievances.
- OHA’s rules of practice for employee disputes are available at 13 C.F.R. 134.801-809.
- See SBA SOP 37 71 04 for SBA’s Grievance Appeals Process
Protective orders
OHA has regulatory authority to issue protective orders under 13 C.F.R. 134.205(e). A protective order allows counsel for an opposing private party (generally a protestor) to have access to the entire appeal file, except for income tax returns and privileged information, while protecting the subject firm’s confidential and proprietary information.
Learn more about protective orders.
Contact us
U.S. Small Business Administration
Office of Hearings and Appeals
409 3rd St. SW, Eighth floor
Washington, DC 20416
Email: ohafilings@sba.gov