Surety bond partners and agents

Operate as a surety partner or agent

• Prior Approval program:
  • Agents must be authorized by a prior-approval surety to issue SBA-backed bonds on its behalf
  • Sureties authorize agents; agents get emailed instructions to access Capital Access Financial System (CAFS) and use the E-app system
  • Agents submit applications electronically via E-app, uploading necessary business and bond documents
  • For contracts up to $500,000, agents can use Quick Bond Guarantee, submitting SBA Form 990 and SBA Form 994, as well as Bond and contract documents (for final bond guarantee applications only)
  • Bond application required forms are SBA Form 994, SBA Form 994B and SBA Form 991 (if work has already started)
  • The surety or agent must also submit SBA Form 990 via E-app
• Preferred program:
  • Sureties can issue and manage bonds without SBA’s prior approval, and must log issued bonds into CAFS within 10 days.
  • Required forms include SBA Form 994 (and Form 991 if work has started)
• SBA charges sureties 20% of the fee charged to the small business
• In case of contractor default, sureties can submit claims for SBA reimbursement of losses using SBA Form 994H, plus bond, contract, indemnity agreement, claims notice, and expense documentation

Become an SBA surety partner

If you’re a surety company or licensed agent underwriting contract surety bonds, SBA offers two paths:

1. Prior approval. Requires:
   • U.S. Treasury approval to issue bonds
   • Standard underwriting practices
   • Compliance with state premium rules
   • Compliance with 13 CFR Part 115, Subparts A & B
2. Preferred. In addition to the above:
   • Underwriting limit of $9M–$14M (federal contracts)
   • Underwriting and claims authority vested in salaried employees
   • Compliance with 13 CFR Part 115, Subparts A, B & C

Guarantee rates

• SBA guarantees up to 90% for bonds on contracts:
  • Up to $100,000, or
  • Issued to economically disadvantaged firms, HUBZone, 8(a), veteran-owned
• SBA guarantees 80% for other contracts:
  • Up to $9M (or $14M with federal officer certification)

Application requirements

Submit via email or mail:

• Company details and organizational chart
• Information on mergers/acquisitions or structural changes
• Three-year forecast (number and value of bonds)
• Three-year performance history (bonds issued, defaults, recoveries)
• Underwriting and claims procedures and manuals

Address:
U.S. Small Business Administration
Office of Surety Guarantees
Attn: OSG Director
409 3rd St. SW, Suite 8600
Washington, DC 20416
Email: suretybonds@sba.gov

List of SBA surety bond partners

SBA works with a variety of surety companies across the U.S. that participate in the SBG Program, including:

Surety partner training

Contact SBA

Access SBA forms and SOPs using the search function at the bottom of this page.

If you need help email SuretyBonds@sba.gov.