The SBA 8(a) program is going through the most significant period of scrutiny in its history. Hundreds of firms have been terminated. More remain under review. By some estimates, the program could shrink by as much as 20% before it’s over.
That’s not just a policy story. It’s a signal to every Contracting Officer who relies on 8(a) as an acquisition tool: the pool is smaller, and who you choose matters more than ever.
For The Avery Group, this moment isn’t new territory. We’ve always operated as if someone was watching, because someone always is. Compliance isn’t a box we check before an audit. It’s how we manage contracts, build teams, and deliver outcomes.
When we completed our most recent audit and maintained full 8(a) certification, it wasn’t a relief. It was confirmation.
Confirmation that the 200+ CDC laboratories we support are in good hands, that the veterans we serve at the VA are receiving better integrated care through modernized EHR systems, that the students we reach through DEVCOM STEM programming are building pathways into defense careers, and that the workforce participants we’ve helped train and place are holding jobs they earned. All of it is being done the right way.
“I enlisted in the Army at 17, where performance was the baseline. That principle continues to guide how we build teams, manage contracts, and deliver outcomes. External validation does not change our approach. It reinforces that our standard is consistent with what the mission requires.” Akinwande Oshodi, Founder and CEO, The Avery Group
The 8(a) program was designed to open doors for businesses that might otherwise be overlooked. We take that responsibility seriously. Not just to maintain certification, but to prove, contract by contract, that the firms still standing deserve to be here.
The landscape is shifting. Our commitment to delivery is not.
About The Avery Group
The Avery Group is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business and certified 8(a) firm specializing in IT services, program management, financial management, and workforce development for federal agencies. We support critical missions across health and national security sectors, with active engagements at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and U.S. Army DEVCOM.
