Government Asset Tracking (via 8A set-asides) PDF  | Print |  Email
The US federal government has a large number of assets that require tracking and telemetry services. However, the traditional process of preparing and submitting “competitive bids” through the GAO and various agencies strongly favors large companies – small firms rarely win. As a result, the Federal government created a process to intentionally “set-aside” a portion of nearly all federal budgets to be awarded to small businesses. More specifically, they intentionally favor “minority-women-veteran-tribal 8(a)” owned businesses.

GAC has retained Oak Creek Capital (“OCC”), a recognized expert firm in the arena of finding government contracts that can be fulfilled through set-asides directed to 8(a) contractors. Under this arrangement, OCC will recruit 8(a) firms to become the “prime” contractor (with GAC as their teaming partner), obtain the government set-aside, and fulfill the contract through GAC. The 8(a) firm receives a fee for their administrative work in obtaining and reporting progress against the contract. GAC receives a contract for services to be performed at “market-rates.” These contracts can span all of the market sectors (vehicles, containers, fuel tanks, fishing vessels, etc.) described herein. However, selling and fulfilling services to this market is a distinct strategic focus for GAC.

As an indicator of potential demand and benefit to GAC, please notice:

  • The Federal government “Set Aside” $285 billion in fiscal 2007 to be allocated to small disadvantaged businesses.
  • Not one Federal Department met their “Set Aside” quota for fiscal 2007.
  • The Federal Government has increased the “Set Aside” quota for fiscal 2008 to over $400 billion.
  • California has recently passed a law requiring that 5% of the state budget be spent with Veteran Owned Businesses (“VOB”); Texas and Florida are likely to pass similar laws this year.


OCC has been helping small to mid-sized businesses successfully compete for Federal and State “Set Aside” contracts for over seven years. “Teaming” a leading technology company like GAC with an 8(a) partner gives the “team” a distinct advantage in competing for Federal and State contracts.

Several years ago the Federal Government established Minority Business Assistance Program within the Small Business Administration (SBA) designated as the 8(a) program. The purposed of this program was to establish guidelines whereby Federal Agencies would be encouraged to direct a portion of their annual budget toward Minority Owned Businesses. The designated minorities are Tribally Owned Business, Veteran Owned Businesses, Woman Owned Businesses as well as businesses owned by Racial Minorities. Typically an Agency is asked to allocate or “Set Aside” from 3% to 5% of its budget for the 8(a) program. In Fiscal 2008 the amount “Set Aside” is in excess of $400 billion.

It is OCC’s intent to have a GAC team in place Washington DC and to have a Teaming Agreement between GAC and at least one Minority Owned Business by the end of 1Q 2009.