Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration ("SBA" or "Agency") amends its regulations to align the Section 8(a) Business Development Program (8(a) BD program) with constitutional requirements and the law. The rule applies only to the 8(a) BD eligibility of small businesses owned and controlled by individuals. It does not in any way amend or affect the eligibility of entity-owned small businesses (i.e., those owned by tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, Native Hawaiian Organizations, or Community Development Corporations). Specifically, the rule amends SBA's regulations to remove the rebuttable presumption that individuals belonging to certain designated groups are socially disadvantaged and sets forth revised standards for individuals establishing social disadvantage.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Small Business Administration 13 CFR Part 124 [SBA-2026-0133] RIN 3245-AI75 AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA” or “Agency”) amends its regulations to align the Section 8(a) Business Development Program (8(a) BD program) with constitutional requirements and the law. The rule applies only to the 8(a) BD eligibility of small businesses owned and controlled by individuals. It does not in any way amend or affect the eligibility of entity-owned small businesses ( i.e., those owned by tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, Native Hawaiian Organizations, or Community Development Corporations). Specifically, the rule amends SBA's regulations to remove the rebuttable presumption that individuals belonging to certain designated groups are socially disadvantaged and sets forth revised standards for individuals establishing social disadvantage. DATES: This rule is effective on September 10, 2026. It applies to all pending applications of individually-owned applicants as of that date. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Lambert, Associate Administrator of Government Contracting and Business Development, GCBDregs@sba.gov . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background Congress enacted the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 631 et seq. (the “Act”) in 1953 to “aid, counsel, assist, and protect” small businesses, to ensure a “fair proportion” of government contra…
Other Federal Register documents from the same docket.
Citation: 91 FR 51568
