Are You Eligible For The Minority Business 8a Certification Program?

The minority run enterprises in the United States of America have grown in numbers in the last decade yet they could not establish themselves fully due to certain constraints on the socio-economic frontier. The aim of SBA is to draw in response from the minority business owners who are finding no way to boost their small business presence. The SBA therefore came up with the 8a certification program, which is undoubtedly the best thing to happen to the US minority owned businesses. If you belong to one of the minority communities in the USA, you stand a chance to grab this unique opportunity provided by the Small Business Administration (SBA) by earning the 8a certification for your enterprise.

Minority Business 8a Certification Program

To start with you have to apply to the SBA for obtaining the 8a certification. Before you start processing your 8a application you must take a break from all the activities and make sure that your personal and business status both stands eligible for obtaining the coveted 8a business certificate. To make things easy here are the prime eligibility criteria -

1. The applicant business firm must be ‘majority-owned’, that is the owner must have 51% or more of the ownership rights (in case there’s more than one owners)

2. All applicants must be American citizen either by birth or through naturalization.

3. The applicant business firm must be owned directly by individuals who belong to one or more of the minority communities of the United States of America. The term ‘minority’ is variously defined by the SBA, more prominently it indicates people who belong to one or more of the socially and economically segregated groups like the aboriginal American Indians, the Alaskan natives, the Hawaiian islanders as well as includes the black Americans and Hispanics naturalized American’s.

4. The applicant’s business must essentially be a ‘small’ business in every sense of the term.

5. The applicant small biz firm must display its promise and potential for future growth and success.

6. The small business must also have a considerably good track record in the same field in the last 2-3 years prior to applying for 8a certification.

Once your business meets all the of the above eligibility parameters, as decided by the SBA authority, you’re free to apply for the coveted SBA 8a Certification program and take your entrepreneurship initiative to the next levels of prosperity.

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How 8a Certification Benefits Small Business Development?

The small business development programs conducted by the SBA is launched with the intention of helping entrepreneurs from economically weak and socially segregated communities that are native to the American soil, to gain business success with federal government help. The 8a certification program is foremost among the different initiatives launched over the years by the SBA. However, to realize the several 8a certification benefits the eligible businesses have to keep their eyes and ears open. The aim of SBA or Small Business Administration is to help spread word about the several 8a certified advantage and benefits offered by the federal government and inspire U.S owned small business owners to apply for the coveted certification. Let’s take a look at the various 8a certification benefits and how it helps in small business development.

Benefits of 8a Certification Small Business

• All successful candidates can receive sole-sourced contracts. Sole sourced or ‘no-bid’ contracts enable the 8a firms to clinch government projects without having to contest with other established business houses, as is the norm outside the government run marketplace. Thus, one of the prime 8a certification benefits is that it helps the 8a certified companies to get government contracts and help to establish them in the highly competitive marketplace.

• 8a certified firms are free to form joint ventures with other approved firms and bid on huge federal projects as a team. The high point of these joint venture initiatives is that the contesting firms can work on big federal agencies and increase their business revenue as well as earn valuable experience and increase their business network in the process. Moreover, working with a recognized department of the federal government adds to the business portfolio of the 8a approved firms and helps in improving their market presence and reputation.

• Participating firms can cash in with the “Mentor Protege Program” and obtain a detailed know how of the 8a certification benefits. The mentor ship program will help the newly inducted 8a firms to understand the tricks of the trade and help them to get acquainted with the workings of the federal marketplace.

You might be wondering that in spite of these several 8a certification benefits why aren’t most small business firms aware of the 8a certified advantages? Well, you can put the blame on the lack of public promotion and advertisement for that. But the good news is, recently the SBA themselves have started to take huge initiatives in terms of promotion of the 8a certification benefits. With ample support from 8a consultants and agencies, the situation looks promising. For a detailed know how on the 8a certified advantage I invite you to visit 8acertification.net. Get inspired!

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How To Evaluate Your Eligibility For 8 A Certification in 4 Steps?

We have been discussing all about the 8 A Certification and its efficacy in helping small businesses flourish, for as long as we can remember. However, little is being said about how a business owner can self-evaluate his/her company’s market standing in order to decide whether they need to apply for SBA 8a Application or not. This post will shed light on this less-discussed issue.

Simply put, here are 4 steps of eligibility to evaluate whether your business requires 8a certification -

1. If you are at social disadvantage – Are you an American Hispanic, an Asian American? Or do you belong to one of the Native American tribes or even a member of the Black American community? In either case, the SBA will consider you as a member of the socially disadvantageous people residing in the United States of America and give you permission to submit 8a certified application. Moreover if you have ever been at the receiving end of any sort of discrimination against you concerning your ethnicity and financial as well as social backwardness, the SBA will grant your case a special status and allow you to pursue the 8a certification program for your enterprise. Further you might be asked to provide a “proof of discrimination” against you / your business, which you may have faced in the mainstream US society , in fields other than business like career, society and education, just to name a few.

2. If your net worth is below $250K – The SBA has designed this 8 A Certification program for those businesses that are economically weak, which means the owners of such businesses must not hold personal assets worth USD 250K and above. If your personal net-worth is below this fixed sum, then obviously you can prepare to submit your SBA 8a Application.

3. If your business indeed fall under the small business clan- “How do I know whether I’m a small business or not?” Well, let me tell you this. A company is determined as small business depending on the number of employees it has as well as the gross income it generates in a single financial term. The NAICS code helps to determine your company’s true status. So get the NAICS code for your business from the SBA website to find out your business size –small, medium or big.

4. If you have a full 51 percent or more business ownership – the SBA has made it clear in their rule book that before submitting their SBA 8a Application, the 8 A Certification aspirant business must provide documents to the SBA which would clearly act as a proof indicating that the owner has 51% or more single ownership of the firm concerned.

These are just the 4 major steps to finding out whether your business is eligible to apply for the 8 A Certification. If you have any comments on any of the information shared, or if you wish to add a keynote on the same, feel free to comment below. Stay connected to Ez8a 8 A Certification blog for more.

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Features And Efficacy Of GSA Schedule Contract For Small Business Owners

The abbreviation of GSA in association with the schedule contracts stands for General Services Administration. This is a term which is exclusively prevalent in the United States and is a legal organization which gives in for long-term contracts which are essentially government wide by nature. These contracts are addressed to the commercial firms, regarding the wide scaled provision of all kinds of products and services which are relevant and prevalent in the commercial facets of functioning. The outstanding feature of these kinds of contracts is that these are characterized to give out products and services at remarkably reasonable prices that are also attached with discounts as well. Various commercial organizations in the United States have undergone such contracts with the GSA and that they are still up to continuing the same on account of the fact that the services offered by these contracts are really effective in saving funds at large.

GSA Schedule Contract For Small Business Owners

A GSA Schedule Contract is something that is also referred to as the Multiple Award Schedule Contract and that it gives in for one of the most significant vehicles of the government contracts whatsoever and this is on account of the fact that these contracts are high in smoothening the government sales procedures and their execution in the United States.

These contracts, with the help of their pre-determined terms and conditions on pricing, cater the companies sell to the government buyers and in this regard it has to be mentioned that one of the most significant features that can be attached on to the Advance GSA contracts is the GSA which gives in for advanced and organized negotiations that effectively build a bridge between the federal government who is seeking to purchase various goods and services and the manufacturing companies who are up to selling the same to the government. However in this regard it is necessary to point out that GSA services are used at large by the state, federal as well as the local leveled governments, all of which are highly provided with almost every kind of a good or a service required in their functioning.

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5 Pointers Why 8a Certified Advantage Outweigh Cost And Time?

It’s not unknown how tough the US marketplace had evolved into in the post 9/11 world. A dwindling economy continued for over half a decade and now that the US market is getting back on its feet, thanks to the recent economic measures on the home front, companies are expecting to see prosperous days ahead. In this current economic scenario, it goes without saying that this is the perfect time for entrepreneurs to launch their startups and for small businesses to explore the hidden frontiers of prosperity - the federal marketplace - by cashing in with the 8a certified advantage.

8a Certified Advantage

Many small business firms are confused as to how the 8a certification outweighs the cost and time involved in getting this coveted approval from SBA. Here are 5 pointers to help your decide –

1. Sole Sourcing – it is a powerful vehicle that enables the federal agencies to award contracts (including purchase of goods and products and procuring for services) from 8a certified companies without having them to bid for the project. On the other hand sole sourcing enables the 8a certified small business firms to win contracts without entering into project bidding with their closest competitors, directly from the federal marketplace.

2. Limited Competition – Once you get your business 8a certified you actually limit the competition on getting federal contracts! You will be surprised to know that there are approximately 24 million businesses operating in the US soil, not surprisingly only 8500 of these firms gets to enjoy 8a certified advantage. So you have plenty of free space to jump into!

3. Huge Federal Spending - the federal government spends a lot of dollars each year on federal contracts with the 8a certified firms for procuring goods and services at pre-negotiated rates. Last year the amount of federal spending for 8a program was a staggering $30 billion. Now could you believe that? It’s only feasible if you get your small business certified through SBA 8a application.

4. Large Contract Amounts – Now that’s another catch for applicants who wish to benefit from 8a certified advantage. Contracts are quite large for all 8a approved firms. You must know that federal contracts are awarded up to $4 million for products and services and up to 6.5 million for manufacturing deals.

5. Honest and Fair Pricing - yes, only in the federal marketplace you’ll get to benefit from the honest and better pricing structure. The 8a certified firms gets a full and open source price adjustment is offered by federal customers to 8a firms up to 10% of the fixed contract amount.

So you can see from the above that once you can see your SBA 8a application through the certifying authority you’re in a win-win situation. Take benefit of the 8a certified advantage and set your business rolling on the fast lane of success.

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Learn The Several Benefits Of Timing An 8a Certification

Are you a small business owner looking forward to cement your financial stability in the highly competitive market place? Then you must get your business 8(a) certified. However, deciding when to go forward with an 8a application process is something that businesses don’t realize more often. In fact, it’s not an easy decision either. But then, waiting for the right time to apply might hinder your chances of getting your business 8a certified at all. In some cases it might be too late for your company and since you didn’t apply upfront you end up missing out on the lucrative opportunity that SBA 8a has to offer to small businesses. So due to a miss-timing of the 8a application your small business misses out the opportunity of becoming a large federal contractor. But all of these can be avoided if you have known the 8a certification benefits and properly timed your application.

EZ8A - 8a certification benefits

Here’s our video explaining all about properly timing your 8a application and what benefits would you be getting out of it. Watch it here –

Now that you know that timing of your 8a application is crucial don’t waste valuable moments. Get In touch with a certified 8a consultant, learn the 8a certification benefits and set your business on the road to unprecedented prosperity.

For more tips and suggestions on small business success and how 8a certification can help fulfil your business goals, stay connected to ez8a.

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The Government Mission For GSA Schedule Contract

The primary mission of gsa consultant is to provide help to small and medium size businesses to grow revenues from sales to the federal and state government. They offer various kinds of services to federal and state government employees. Those are:

• GSA Schedule Preparation: They save time, money and resources for contract holders. They help to secure GSA Contract Award 6-12 months sooner than if the contract holders opted for in house method. And more importantly, they help contract holders to gain an in depth contract knowledge and proficiency across all GSA schedule.



• GSA contract management offers wide range of services related with contract. Most importantly, gsa consultant provide all the adequate knowledge and support related with contract management. They also provide services related with any modification on the contract. Furthermore, they provide other services vary from GSA contract extension to GSA Audit support.



• They also maintain all the compliances and regular updates related with GSA contract. Such as, GSA basics, marketing through GSA Contract, Selling through GSA Contract and GSA Compliance.

Experts opined that gsa schedule is a vehicle for both customers and vendors that helps fast, easy and effective contracting. It establishes long term contracts between companies and government agencies. It provides access to numerous numbers of products and services with a discounted price.

One can order products, services and supplies through gsa schedule. Customers who can offer from the schedule will get various opportunities, such as:

• Savings.
• Flexibility and choice.
• Shorter lead time.
• Transparency.
• Control procurement.
• Lower administrative cost.
• Reduction of inventories.

It also offers lot of opportunities to the vendors. Through this schedule vendors can connect with various government organisations.

The schedule contracts and sales are all comes under the purview of Trade Agreements Act (TAA). TAA states that goods and services which manufactured or altered in USA or any “designated country” only come under the purview of the schedule. However, there are two major federal regulatory bodies that determine the policy for the schedules program – Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and General Services Administration Acquisition Manual (GSAM).

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Prevalence Of 8 A Certification In Contemporary Business Procedures

Business is literally defined to be an economic activity which gives in for a prominent platform to carry out the basic economic activities like the buying and the selling of products and services in exchange of something that is considered to be of equal worth whatsoever. This activity has been in prevalence since quite a long period of time and the fact remains that the features of the business procedures have undergone considerable modifications over years and at present they simply exhibit the best of what businesses are suppose to be.

8 A Certification Business Procedures

Businesses are active in almost every part of the world and that America is one of the most significant places in this regard as because it gives in for business activities to be carried out in an extra-ordinary extent. It is here that the mention of the feature of 8 a certification is required. This is a program which essentially forms an integral part of the SBA authority, the abbreviation of which stands for the Small Business Administration. This is an authority that has been given in by the Americans so as to cater the scope and chances of the business authorities that are grounded on the land of the United States of America.

8 (a) certification is a program which gives in for a specialized status to those business authorities which are not financially stable or rather are not capable of establishing themselves as mainstream business procedures amongst the others that are existent here in the same land. The main objective that has been attached on to the initiative of this feature is to make way for these business procedures to compete in the field of business functioning amongst those who have reached the position of the marginalizing high profits whatsoever. One of the noteworthy criterion that an 8a small business beholds is that it has to be proved that it is a small-scale business procedure that is socially deprived on grounds of finance and resources; that is to say that the authorities of the 8 a certification are liable to be vigilant on the facts that the business organizations which seek to be registered with the provisions of this program essentially need to be proved lacking on grounds which are associated with no faults of their own. It is only then that the same will be able to get help and support from the authority.

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Role Of The 8A Certification Consultants In Upholding Business Authorities In America

The term 8a certification refers to an effective step that has been undertaken by the authority of the Small Business Administration so as to cater the scope of the business processes that have been stuck behind, to get back on the roll of processing. This is a feature that is in prevalence in the land of the United States of America and it is a fact that the inception of such a concept has created revolutions amongst the existing business authorities in this country. This is on account of the fact that this feature has been initiated by the authority of the Small Business Administration 8a which undertakes the responsibility of upholding the downtrodden business initiators so that they can get capable enough in making their grounds firm enough so as to compete with the other business authorities who have reached high levels of profits out of their processes.

8A Certification Small Business Consultants

It is a noteworthy fact that the program of the 8a certification is supposed to have certain qualifications and criteria to be fulfilled by the initiators of the business authority who seeks to be involved into the processing of this program and it is reality that fulfillment of these criteria is not a very easy process and it is here that the integrity of the role of the 8a certification consultants come into the forefront. These are persons who are supposed to be entitled with the task of making the building a bridge between the business owners and the 8a authorities which would let the former to carry out the criteria required, in a proper manner. These persons are efficient in helping the seekers to shirk out the additional hassles of going through the procedural methods of 8a certification so that the under-privileged lot of the society can avail the advantages of this authority at a rapid pace.

As is mentioned earlier that the 8a certification is an authority that has been grounded on the base of the Small Business Administration and that the latter is characterized by a number of mainstream criteria that are mandatory to be fulfilled so as to get eligible for consideration of the authorities. The sba qualification, in association with the term, refers to the features that are brought under consideration so as to register a particular business authority under the SBA, which include the concerned authority to be a proved small-scale business authority.

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Is It All Right To Hire An 8a Certification Consultant?

Are you a small business owner in the US looking to expand your presence in the business world? Then you have more reasons to smile compared to those in other parts of the world. Why? The Small Business Administration (SBA), a US Government run organization offers 8a certification to businesses that are struggling to get a strong foothold in the ever-competitive marketplace. SBA accepts application from business owners who wants to avail this certification and get their businesses eligible for 8a certification. However, SBA maintains a high standard and ensures a stringent quality when it comes to approving eligibility to applicants of the 8a program. It is a known fact that each year almost seventy percentage of the applicants are refused upfront. Only thirty percentages of the applicants are approved to submit their application form. Again among those a handful of the approved candidates, in effect finally get 8a certified. Hence it goes without saying that you need professional assistance to help you get past the SBA scanner and go on to bag the coveted certificate in due course.

8a Certification Consultant

Let’s take a look at some of the high points of hiring an 8a certification consultant

• Following all the SBA rules is not everyone’s cup of tea

You might ask why? Well, to put it simply, there are scores of directives, dos and don’ts associated with the application process. Right from determining your perfect eligibility to the 8a program to actually going forward and applying for the same, you have to juggle through a lot and that’s time consuming. As well, you may not properly remember all the 8(a) rules and clauses while filling up the application form. Hence a slack might cost you the whole year as your application stands a chance of disapproval. Hiring a consultant who can guide you from day one and help you get past the selection process is the best way out.

• Authentic representative of your business

I have seen people putting up ads on the internet that say any small business can acquire 8(a) certification through them. Not really! SBA has strictly mentioned in their 8(a) directive that only disadvantaged small business owners can benefit from 8(a) program so it’s not applicable to all and sundry. Only if you are from a disadvantaged community and wish to enlist your business as a federal vendor agency by acquiring an 8a certification, you’re welcome. The directives have various other clauses that only a professional can help you with.

• Ensures that your application never gets turned down

I have seen small business owners trying by themselves and applying for SBA 8(a) certification and their application being turned down by the Small Business Administration authorities. Believe me, the process of reapplication and sanctioning gets a hundred times tougher after that. On the other hand a seasoned 8(a) certification consultant can make the process a walk in the park. Just follow his or her directives and in no time you can get your application sanctioned and claim your 8a certification.

To sum up, I would like to say one thing only, don’t take chances with the future of your small business. If you’re determined to ensure the stability of your company get in touch with a reputable 8a certification consultant. Success will be yours!

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Criteria Associated With The 8A Certification Requirement

Business procedures behold their origin to the days of ancient times and these have undergone developments in their ways and processes to a considerable extent over years. This has formed the base for the various business initiators to come up with newer trends and practices in association with this so as to carry out these procedures in a smarter and a more profitable manner whatsoever.

8A Certification Requirements

Businesses have gained grounds in almost every corner of the world and in this regard it has to be mentioned that the United States of America is globally recognized as a business country which gives in for commerce through this means to a considerably high extent, though however on the contrary, a number of business organizations who are not essentially flourished to the same level to which the mainstream business organizations are, have been rooted here. On elaborating this, it has to be pointed out that there are many small-scale business authorities in the land of United States, that have not been able to establish themselves to the extent they had desired to and this is specially on grounds of social deprivation which would include in them the racial status of the business owners, their caste, creed and also financial positions. It is here that the integrity of 8a certification gains grounds. This is an authority which gives in for the required support to these deprived authorities to get them out of their crisis.

The feature of 8a certification requirements signifies the set of distinct criteria that have to be fulfilled so as to get registered with this facility. The requirements would mainly call for the business owners to be genuine by nature along with legitimate citizenship of that country. They must produce legal evidences that prove that they are socially deprived and that another noteworthy feature of the sba 8a qualification is that it requires the business authority to exhibit scope and chances of its betterment through its agenda and strategies to a satisfactory extent, thus making itself eligible for being undertaken by the authorities of the 8a certification authorities whatsoever.

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Filing A SBA 8A Certification Application Successfully

In the US economy there is enough scope for small and medium scale enterprises to grow. Over the last few years the constant squeeze in the global economy has taken a toll on the US market as well but it has not succeeded in putting the small and medium scale business enterprises out of business. This is largely because the US economy supports the growth small and medium scale enterprises that mainly depend on the local consumers rather than aiming for the global market. The 8a certificate for business can prove to be a leverage for those who at some point of time have faced some sort of discrimination— social, political or economic. However, business owners have to be careful enough while filing a 8a certification application.

SBA 8A Certification Application

The Small Business Administration or the SBA is a federal agency in the United States, entrusted with the task of helping small and medium scale business organizations gain a foothold in the market. The 8a certificate is a special recognition to those who have been subjected to racial, ethnic or economic discrimination in the past without any fault of their own. Business owners with 8a certificate enjoy some distinguished facilities over other businesses. Those who can have 8a certificate include African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and Americans who originate from the Asia Pacific region. Business owners have to take the help of professional lawyers in order to file an application successfully and to avoid complications in future.

People who belong to the economically challenged section of the society are also eligible for an 8a certificate. Business owners with business properties whose net worth is less than $250,000 can apply for a sba 8a certificate. However, in order to apply successfully one has to fulfill each and every criterion down to the last detail. Failure to file an application successfully even once can make all future efforts even harder and so it is better to take the help of a professional law practitioner in this regard. Applicants have to fill each and every field carefully and provide authentic testimonials in support of their statements.

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Features Of 8A Certification Requirement In Business Procedures

Business procedures are commercial activities which are carried out by persons who are associated with the financial facets of functioning in the society. The basic feature of a business procedure is to deal with buying and selling of goods, commodities and services in return of cash or at times, kind. Businesses are prevalent in almost every corner of the world and that these form a major part of the economy in any kind of a society whatsoever.

8A Certification Requirement

While talking of businesses, it has to be mentioned that a significant feature which is highly attached on to business processes is the feature of 8a certification, which, in association with the term refers to an organization which works under the banner of Small Business Administration in the United States, serving the purpose of lending a hand of help to the business procedures which are existent in that land, but are not being able to flourish or compete with the full-fledged business organizations that are doing well in the same land. This is actually a status which is tagged on to those business authorities which lack in certain requisites like fund or resources so as to establish themselves as the same. This kind of a lack in business requisites may be resultant of certain social disparities like on grounds of caste, creed or financial status. Here it is relevant to mention that 8a certification requirements, in association with the term refers to certain credentials which have to be evidently satisfied by the authorities who seek for such certification. This kind of a status would require the business owner to own the business majorly and that he or she should essentially be a citizen of America. Persons who are managing the business must be evidently recorded to be a socially deprived being and that they must portray some real effective potential of success through the business strategy so as to get undertaken in the Small Business Administration. The feature of sba 8a qualification essentially checks whether the persons in charge of the business portray positive characters or not, before assuring them of their help.

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SBA Federal Contract Opportunities To Women Owned Small Business

SBA 8a certification has offered new opportunities to get more federal contracts for women owned small business. As per its final verdict on the program, it has included a new certification, known as edWOSB (Economically Challenged Women Owned Small Business). As per this new program, women business owners get increased chances of getting the government contracts.

Women Owned Small Business SBA Certification Federal Contract

Benefits of edWOSB program

• As per the new program, women business owners can also win set-aside government contracts
• 5% of these federal government set-aside expenditure is for the WOSB or edWOSB program
• Projects that are less than $3 million and $5 million can take advantage of this set-aside
• 5% of the subcontract requirements are fixed to wosb from large major contractors
• Along with other programs like SDVOSB and HUBZone, this new program has equal opportunity
• The new program also has a separate mentor protégé
• The program has no term limit
• Nearly 83 industries that are qualified by NAICS codes are enlisted in the program
• On 45 industries, rule of 2 for wosb is implied
• On nearly 38 industries there is no rule of 2 for edwosb companies

How to get 8A Certification

You can get new 8a small business certification in a number of ways, some of which are –

o Third party certification
o Using existing 8a or 8a BD certification
o Using DOT’s DBE certification
o Self certification

Procedure for Self Certification

The procedure for self certification is as follows:

1. As per the SBA final rule guidelines, you need to determine whether you are eligible for the program
2. Your business needs to have at least 51% women ownership
3. The financial threshold of the women owners should be as follows:
o Gross asset should be less than $6 million
o Net worth of business should be less than $750,000
o The annual income or salary of owners should be less than $350,000
4. You need to review 83 industries under NAICS and see whether you are meeting the standardized size
5. As per your business qualification you need to choose either wosb or edwosb program
6. You need to provide documents for the program, which are as follows:
a. Business profile – type, financial statement, tax returns, and so on
b. Owner’s (s’) profile – financial statement, personal tax return, credit history, and so on
c. Management profile – list of employees with residential details, list of officers with residential details, and so on
d. You need to fill out IRS form 4506-T
e. You need to fill out SBA 413 form
f. You need to fill out SBA guidebook’s appendix C, in case you are applying for edWOSB certification
7. You need to register or update (if already registered) your CCR registration
8. You need to complete or update DSBS database of SBA
9. You need to complete or update ORCA database
10. You need to sign all the documents mentioned above with notary affidavit
11. Then submit all the documents along with the application form to repository database of WOSB or edWOSB
12. Need to maintain a duplicate copy for company record

However, if you want to be free from the hassles of so much paperwork and stringent application procedure, you can take help of a professional consultant and pay more attention to increase your business revenue.

Please Check Video  GSA Schedule Contract & 8A Certification

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Paving The Way For A Good Business Through GSA Schedule Contract

The General Services Administration is an agency chiefly responsible for meeting the requirement of the United States government offices and employees. They arrange for all the resources required for the functioning of the government including vehicles and office buildings. The GSA Schedule Contract helps business organizations supply their product directly to federal agencies on a long term basis. Each contract is drafted in such a way that it remains in effect for quite a few years. This allows business units to enter in to a long term business relationship with federal agencies.

Business Through GSA Schedule Contract

Federal customers can buy from GSA scheduled commercial concerns in order to get products at a discounted price. There are a few advantages of shopping from GSA scheduled commercial organizations. As a result a large number of people are getting more and more inclined towards buying from these companies in order to get quality products at a discounted rate. First, buyers are always able to save a good amount while buying products from gsa schedule contract holders. It is to be kept in mind that the federal government has to buy and avail a large number of products and services everyday and so even a small save on each product and service can result in saving a huge amount annually.

Second, the federal buyers can make a choice from a large number of options. As there are a large number of contractors enlisted under the schedule. This helps buyers get the right product at the right price. Moreover, the companies that are enlisted in the gsa schedule contract are managed by expert professionals and hence are able to offer effective and efficient services and suggestions to clients. As a result the clients can be rest assured that they are going to get the best possible products and services at the best possible price.

Third, procuring goods from a gsa schedule contract holder is not a time consuming affair at all. The contracts are pre-competed and make it possible to procure even the scarcest resources within a very little time. Buyers can connect with the right industry partners and are thus able to make the best and utmost utilization of their time. Most of the procurement is done within a very few days if all the formalities are completed properly.

Fourth, transparency is another important aspect of sourcing goods and services from a gsa schedule contract holding company. The whole process is managed over the internet and so it is possible to maintain a transparent approach in the procurement process. There is no room for malpractices and both the procurer and the supplier benefit from this practice.

There are many commercial units that are currently registered under the gsa schedule contract. Federal buyers can go through the internet in order to know more about the companies so that they can select the right one according to their requirement. While dealing with these companies the buyers can be rest assured that they are going to have the best products and services in the market.

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How To Form An 8A Certified Small Business Administration

In the United States small and medium scale enterprises play a hugely important role keeping the nation’s economy running. As a result, it has become important more than ever to provide these business organizations with optimum support so that they can continue making contributions in the economy. A large number of socially and economically challenged entrepreneurs in the country are involved in the small and medium scale enterprises sector which has grown exponentially over the last few years. The 8a certificate has been introduced to provide some extra leverage to the small businesses owned by economically and socially challenged entrepreneurs. 8a certified small business administration enjoys some extra facilities from the government and are able to stay in the market competing with large business corporations.

8A Certified Small Business Administration

In order to file a successful application for an 8a certificate a business organization has to prove certain things. This certificate is for those who have been in a disadvantageous position for a long time in history due to no fault of their own. The socially disadvantaged class includes African American, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans and Asia Pacific Americans. All these people have suffered some sort of racial or ethnic repression at some point of time and the 8a certificate is designed to provide them some respite in matters of business and self employment. An 8a certified small business administration must be governed by those who are in a socially disadvantageous position. However, the business organization has to prove that it is in a similar situation if it has to earn a certificate.

8a Certification - What is 8(a) Certification Advantage?

Another important requisite for having an 8a certificate is being economically challenged. In the United States anyone having a capital less than $250,000 is economically challenged and is eligible for an 8a certificate. It is to be kept in mind that there are a large number people who are economically challenged when it comes to investing money in business. It is possible for 8a certified small business administration to gain some extra leverage in the market and be in business competing with others. It is to be kept in mind that there are a large number of people who think that when it comes to capital, small and medium scale enterprises lag far behind larger corporations. This certificate works a lot to allow the small business units enjoy certain facilities that would help them move forward in the market. Moreover, businesses managed by women are also eligible for 8a certificates.

The best way to file a successful application for 8a certificates is to take the help of professional 8a certification consultant who has quite a few years of experience in this field. There is no room for making errors in the process as if once the applications gets rejected all future efforts get even tougher. Hence, a professional consultant can help a person out in this regard and can make the filing process a successful affair. It is better for clients to contact more than one service provider and choose the right one.

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What Is GSA Schedule Contract?

Are you new to the federal market? You might then be looking for a place to learn the basics about a GSA Schedule Contract. This is the best place to start.

A GSA Contract is a government wide contract. It allows you to sell your goods and services to any government agency--local government, state government, federal government and few other organizations. The best part of it is it allows your company to get orders for services or products without you responding to the government requests, which have confusing federal contract needs and expensive federal proposals. Without this contract, you would require to bid on and negotiate with the different agencies separately. It’s a 5-year contract but you can renew it thrice. So, it’s basically a contract for twenty years with the largest client of the world.

GSA Schedule Contract

A GSA Contract has become the most preferred contracting vehicle for the procurement officers. The benefits that a company enjoys getting a GSA Schedule Contract are that it gets enlisted on GSA eLibrary and it offers the right to use GSA eBuy. A number of firms have tried convincing the technical staffs of government agencies by saying that their products or services  were great; but the only question they were asked is, “Do you have a GSA Schedule?” If their answer was yes, they were in the business; if no, they were not considered.

If you want to procure a GSA Contract, then there are few important questions you need to ask yourself first:

1. Does your firm have the resources to break in the federal marketplace? There is a GSA sales minimum. If you are unable to meet that, you may lose the contract.

2. Does your firm have a paper trail? Collecting the documents to submit for obtaining a GSA  Schedule Consultant becomes very difficult if your firm doesn’t have a sold recording system in place.

3. Why you need a GSA Schedule Contract? You need to use it for gaining profits. The contract must fit into your federal marketing plan. It must not be your plan for federal marketing purpose.

4. How many years of experience does your firm have? A minimum of two years of business experience along with a good base of projects and customers is needed if you want your firm to get a GSA Schedule Contract.

5. What will be the procedure for you to maintain your GSA Schedule Contract? You may need full-time employees devoted to your federal sales and GSA Contract. We also offer GSA maintenance services. So, if you want you can outsource your need to us.

Thanks for your curiosity to know what a GSA Contract is. Hope you can now answer the question, ‘What is a GSA Schedule Contract.’

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Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan 2012 - GSA

Are you aware of General Services Administration’s Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan? The plan outlines the strategies and policies regarding how the agency can endure Obama Admin’s commitment to cutting pollution, waste, and costs in the federal systems. Sustainability is the main concern of General Services Administration This plan reaffirms the obligation to this priority and includes tactics to handle risks arising from the major climatic changes.

Obama’s Executive Order of 2009 on federal leadership in energy, environment and economic performance highlights the persisting violent targets to reduce pollution and waste in the federal operations within 7 years. The Sustainability Plan of 2012 is to be built on three long years of progress under Executive Order and should offer an outline on the ways the agency is saving taxpayer dollars, cutting waste, saving energy and reducing carbon emissions.

 

8a Certified Business

2012 Sustainability Plan of General Services Administration comprises an action plan related to the adaptation to climatic changes, outlining the initiatives for reducing the susceptibility of the agency’s assets, investments and programs to the effects of incremental climatic change like heat waves, rise in sea level, drought, heat waves or climate inconsistency such as extreme or frequent weather events. The plan points out the actions, which address how a changing climatic condition can impact GSA operations and programs, while safeguarding the investments of taxpayer.

The plan, which Obama asked the federal agencies to prepare in the Executive Order is available for sixty days of public comment and is updated as required. The adaptation plan develops on the Admin’s commitment to marketing the climate change resilience and preparedness.

Actions in the plan include extensive efforts to continue making federal buildings more viable and to lessen the environmental effect with the cost-saving wits. General Services Administration has reduced the intensity of energy and received sixteen percent of its electrical energy from the renewable resources. The action has even reduced the greenhouse gas emissions by 20% in comparison to the levels that was noticed in 2008. Reduction in petroleum usage with the internal fleet of GSA have totaled to more than 150,000 gallons in last 7 years. Considering the present prices of the gas, this amounts to annual fuel savings of about USD 500,000.

Waste diversion has led to cutting expenses by 3.6 million dollars. With water saving, which is equal to 523 Olympic-sized pools, the action has avoided the costs of nearly 4 million dollars per year. The plan even includes the educational measures for amplifying the sustainability efforts in acquisitions. The green purchasing training for the purchase cardholders and acquisition teams is available for all to assist further drive action priorities and for a better ‘Go Green’ approach.

Other than this Climate Change Adaptation Plan, there are two more components that are included in the Sustainability Plans-- Bio-based Purchasing Strategies and Fleet Management Plans. The federal agencies keep posting the Sustainability Plans annually, giving priority to the activities, which help to meet water, energy and waste reduction objectives based on positive ROI for American taxpayer.

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How To Hit Upon The Right Growth Strategy For Your Business?

Do you feel that the surrounding market ambiance in which your organization keeps running is some sort of a green eyed monster? Well, it is pretty natural on your part if you feel so especially when things in the world of business tend to get so knotty in these days. In the midst of the culminating pressure points as well as challenges in the business world it is pretty important on your part that you hit upon the right growth strategy for your business. Here is a brief discussion on some of the strategies that you might like to consider in this regard.

If you have to hit upon the right growth strategy for your business you need to proceed the right way. So, let us just make it a point that we are going to focus on the right points with no rooms for slipups.

8a certification

Have proper and streamlined financial plan ready

In the first place, you do have to make it sure that you have a proper as well as streamlined financial plan ready with you. A financial plan should lay the foundation of your success in your respective niche or target market. So, preparing a streamlined financial plan should be at the top of your priority list. While setting up the financial plan for your company you should know the ultimate objective of the plan very well. You need to remember one small thing in this regard. Break the plan in terms of monthly goals as well as yearly goals.

Chalk out a befitting product development as well as service catering plan

If you really wish to make it sure that you are going to make a seamless entry to your niche market or your target market then it is evidently important on your part to have a befitting product development as well as service catering plan ready at your disposal. These plans are going to create the right sort o podium that you need to accomplish your objective as well as flourish in the competitive market. You should have a complete as well as a surefire process which is going to ensure that the product ranges which you propose to launch in your respective target market is going to be a big hit. In order to make it sure that your products are going to enjoy some sort of a surefire success in your target market you do need to make it a point that you are going to focus on three things quite specifically. Those three vital aspects are as follows- market analysis, market research as well as proper as well as streamliu8ned product designing procedure. A perfect combination of these three vital components is definitely going to make it sure that you are going to rest assured of the success of your products as well as services even before you rope them in the market.

Think of alterative channels

You do need to think of alternative channels in this regard. It is indeed pretty imperative on your part. These channels are more or less going to serve the purpose of a back-up plan for you. In order to figure out how to make the most out of these channels you can resort to an 8a certification program. When you get yourself engaged in a crucial task such as thinking over the alternative channels then it truly becomes important on your part that you are going to focus on proper screening as well as analysis of the target market. When it comes to the issue of alternative channels for the growth of your business you have got to think about the real prowess of social networking. Social media marketing is quite an in-thing in the present scenario. You do need to mull over the effectiveness of social media in this regard. In order to hit your target market with a bang you do need to make it a point that you are going to integrate the efforts of your sales team with your social media marketing initiatives.

Focus on intensive growth spectrums

It is really imperative on your pat to be able to think of or focus on intensive growth spectrums which happen to be an integral part of various industry verticals in the present scenario. You do need to know what your compatriots or pals as well; as your close rivals prefer to do in the challenging as well as changing business scenario.

Make it a point that you are going to cast a cautious glance at the few aspects that have been suggested to you. These happen to be the growth strategies initiated as well as followed by an array of developing or growing organizations all over the globe.

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Top Ideas To help You Achieve Success As An Entrepreneur

Winners don’t do different things. They do normal things in a bit different way. The maxim is true in its entirety. If you are an entrepreneur by profession and are in the habit of seeking constant streams or sources of ideas you should get the point that every time you might not need a concept which is as new as a new penny just out of the mint. In order to achieve success as an entrepreneur you mint have to mine a little harder. Probably you are going to find a perfect mix and match of the traditional methods as well as some mint fresh concepts useful for your ultimate objective. Here is a quick peep at some quintessential ideas which are going to help you a lot in terms of accomplishing your objectives and set your mark as a visionary entrepreneur of this era.

Overcome pessimism

Pessimism can prove to be biggest hurdle for your success as an entrepreneur. It is an impediment as well as a predicament. So you do need to make it sure that you are going to overcome pessimism at any cost. In order to overcome the problem of pessimism you can make use of the technique which renowned and astute motivators would like to describe as ‘auto-suggestions’. It is a particularly useful method which is often adopted by professionals, sports people as well as top notch sales people so that they can tide over the negative feelings that threaten to unhinge their mindset.

Go for a certification program

If your business is in a state of its formative years or in its startup phases then you do need to go for a certification program. You can consider the 8a certification program in this regard. With the help of this kind of a helpful program you are going to win your spur in your respective field of business in due course of time.

Use latest technologies

Use latest technologies such as crowd sourcing, social sharing through internet, life style apps, specific tools for enhancing productivity (TENXER, EVERNOTE). These technologies are gradually turning out to be the tools that change the way business are done on global platforms.

Take care of official red tapes

Take care of official red tapes are going to be a pain in the neck if you are not careful enough about them. Do everything in your power to make sure that the obstructions are well taken care of. If you have to pull strings, then pull strings. Use your connections. You would be surprised to know that an 8 a certification program can prove helpful in this regard. If you are 8a certified then you get to face less amount of stringency from official circles.

In order to give you a final word on this issue, you must make it a point that you are not going to get distracted while making your earnest initiatives. If you have to achieve success as an entrepreneur then you do need to make it a point that you are going to turn out to be more productive in a true sense. You need to reinstate or concretize your business vision. You have to tap into your expertise or potential and most importantly you have to keep asking questions that keep you motivated and help you brave through oddities.

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How Small Businesses Can Increase Their Sales Through Federal Contracting?

If you are an owner of a small business, you can increase your sales through federal contracting. As per the law, the federal agencies are needed to establish contracting goals. In fact, twenty-three percent of all the government purchases are intended for small businesses and these contracts goals are established for small disadvantaged businesses, service disabled veteran owned businesses, firms in HUBZone area, and women-owned businesses. So, if you are an owner of a small business, you can take this opportunity to bid on for federal contracts.

The U.S. government is the world’s biggest buyer of goods and services. It purchases about all categories of service and commodities available. It’s actually up to you to promote and match your company’s services and products to the purchasing requirements of the federal agencies.

However, not all small business owners can get an access to the federal contracting opportunities. Only the firms that are eligible for the SBA certifications can compete for the federal contracts.

How Small Businesses Can Increase Their Sales Through Federal Contracting?

http://www.ez8a.com

Getting the business certified

The first thing that you need to do is get your business certified by the SBA. If you are a small business owner who is economically and socially disadvantaged you should obtain 8a certification. If you are a woman who owns and controls 51% of a small business, you are eligible for women owned small business certification. On the other hand if you are a service disabled veteran who owns a small business, you should obtain SDVOSB certification. The small businesses that have their principal offices and thirty-five percent of their employees located in a HUBZone area are eligible for HUBZone certification. By obtaining the SBA certifications, the small business can get sole source and set-aside contracts.

Getting the business registered on the contracting resources

If you think that by getting your business certified, you can win government contracts you are wrong! You need to register on the contracting resources because these are the places where the federal procurement officers usually search for when they are in look out for contractors. As a business owner of a small business, you can register your company on the DSBS database, SAM, GSA Schedules, FedBizOpps, Federal Procurement Data System, OSDBU.Gov and USASpending.gov.

Identifying federal contracting opportunities

As a small business owner you should be able to identify the federal contracting opportunities. You need to be proactive. You should first decide the products or services which you want to sell to the federal government and look for the agencies that need your services or products the most. Remember one thing that the federal government is considered as the biggest consumer of goods and services in the world. It buys almost all kinds of products and services. You just need to find out which agency needs your product/service. After finding this out, you should start bidding on the contracting jobs available. Federal Business Opportunities website is a great place to find the federal contracting jobs.

Obtaining SBA certifications are truly an awesome idea! Especially if you are a small business looking to win federal contracts!

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7 Common Myths About The 8a Certification

Myth 1 : I can’t get certified if a family member is already in the program

The SBA has a waiver, which can be granted if the two firms are located in and market to a different territory or if they are in different industries.

Myth 2 : A majority of my sales must come from the private sector or I will lose my certification

The SBA has business mixed targets that your firm must meet in the ‘Transitional years’—years five to nine of its certification. In the years 5-9 you must have 15-55% of your sales from the private sector. If you fail to meet these targets you could lose your ability to perform on sole source 8a contracts. Automatically if you don’t make good faith efforts to correct this business mix target, you could lose your certification.

Myth 3: A firm cannot get certified unless it’s been in business for at least two years

The SBA has a waiver, which can be granted to firms that are wanting to obtain the certification sooner than two years. Typical requirements are that:

• The owner has a significant business background and has a significant technical background in the industry of the applicant concerned.
• The firm has successfully performed on at least one federal contract
• The firm has a potential for success indicated by income, profit and the firm must have at least one tax return.
Note a two year waiver is not needed if the only reason the firm is less than two years old is that it has an entity type change. For example, from a sole proprietorship to a corporation.

7 Common Myths About The 8a Certification

Myth 4 : A firm cannot get certified if it’s had a prior application rejected by the SBA

The SBA rejects 70% of 8a applications for a lack of completeness. Having your application rejected on its first attempt is very common.

Myth 5: An 8a certification isn’t that beneficial for my business

In 2011 8a certified firms received 18.4 billion dollars in federal contracts. This represents 2-3 million dollars in additional annual revenue per 8a certified firm.

Myth 6 : A company should be a well established mid-tier business before applying for the 8a certification

The SBA will certify firms with as little as $100,000 a year in annual revenue. Once certified, the SBA gives the firm the ability to enter into: joint venture and mentor protégé agreements with large federal contractors. These relationships enable the 8a certified firm to greatly increased growth by providing them with expertise, bonding, insurance, financial capabilities and other assistance.

Myth 7 : I must be a 100 % member of a minority group in order to prove SBA that I am socially disadvantaged

If an individual can show a 25% or more blood lineage to a presumed disadvantaged minority group like Hispanic American, African American, Sub-Continent Asian, Asian Pacific American or a Native American, he/she can qualify for an 8a certification. In some cases, the SBA will ask for additional supporting documentation to show that you represent yourself as a member of that presumed group in American society.

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Is Your Business Small Enough To Obtain 8a Certification?

You may own a business, which you consider it to be small. But what is most important is that whether the Small Business Administration considers your business to be small. The SBA will only consider your company to be small if it finds out that you adhere to the size standards set by them. This means only if your company meets the SBA size standards, it will be considered to be a small business by the Small Business Administration. Unless your firm is small, it won’t be able to get the 8a certification.

Now, the question is what is a small business according to the SBA. The SBA defines it either on the number of employees the firm has or on the basis of the annual receipts over the last three years. A manufacturing and mining company should not be having more than 500 employees if the firm wants it to be considered small by the SBA. A non manufacturing firm on the other hand are judged on the basis of their annual revenue, which is set by the SBA as 7 million dollars. This means a non-manufacturing firm shouldn’t have earned more than the specified amount in a year if it wants its business to get approval from the agency for SBA 8a certification.

The Small Business Administration even defines a small sized business as an enterprise, which:

• Has a business location in United States
• Is established for making profits
• Operates mainly within the United States or contributes largely to the economy of U.S. through paying taxes or using American materials, products or labor
• Is operated and owned independently

8a Small Business Certification

The company can be a partnership, sole proprietorship or corporation. Since all the federal agencies should use the size standards set by the SBA for the contracts, you must choose NAICS codes, which best describe the firm and then see if it meets the size standards for the chosen NAICS codes. If you want, you can even make use of the Size Standards Tool for finding out the size of your business.

After you find out that your business is small, there are few more things which you need to make sure your company meets. Your firm apart from being small need to prove to the SBA that it is economically and socially disadvantaged, majority of the company is owned by a disadvantaged individual, the firm has been in business for a minimum of two years and so on. To find out all these requirements of the SBA 8a certification, get in touch with an 8a certification consultant who can explain you in detail about the requirements.

Our Partner: GSA Schedule Contract

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How To Get In Touch With The Right Person After 8A Certification

If you think that getting the 8A certification is all that you need to do, to get access to the hugely funded federal projects, you are absolutely wrong. An 8A contract is all about pitching the right person the right time.

Often applicants after getting the 8 A Certification get confused where to look for feasible contracting options. If you are keen to initiate your business growths and sales efforts then it is imperative for you to get in touch with the right contracting persons. If you fail to communicate with the right person, it is quite likely that even after being awarded by the federal certification; you will not be able to reap of 8A contracts.

8 A Certification

After being awarded with the SBA 8A certification, your sole objective is to look for federal contractors and try to get access to government contracting. The section managers, program managers or functional area managers often administer such authority. Such qualified professionals take the executive decision where the dollars should be spent to earn maximum income. It is considered one of the most difficult parts of federal contracting. After being awarded, often applicants lack the opportunity to gain access to the government projects. Hence, it is imperative to implement a strategy to overcome this hurdle.

In this regard, one of the most basic things that you can do is you can consult with the contracting officers. By talking with the contracting officers you can locate the feasible project opportunities available. The primary function of the contracting officers is to monitor and control the contracts. It is the duty of the contracting officers to take care of all the legal formalities and paperwork involved to make sure that no complications arise due to lack of proper documentation. The budget of the contract plays a significant role in the federal programs; however, the contracting officers do not have any authority in regard to control of the budget.

It depends on you who will control the budget. For instance, if you are a seller of information technology services, you might want to get in touch with the OCIO- Chief Information Officer’s bureau. It is quite likely that you may have to interact with a number of people at the OCIO and find it difficult to locate the right individual. It depends on you how will you determine the right individual who monitors the appropriate budget for the particular type of service offered by you.

According to SBA professionals and business analysts, one of the best and extremely useful ways to look for the 8A contracts is by focusing on individual sales. By concentrating on individual sales along with business development efforts on particular people, you can ferry the contracts the way you wish to. This is considered one of the less-expensive and most-efficient options to look for the 8A projects.

Preparing for the federal programs and acquiring the certifications successfully is just a small part of the federal projects. The most important part is acquiring the project after being awarded with the 8a certification. Hence, it is recommended to devise effecti8ve business strategy and look for feasible options to reap the advantages off 8A programs.

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