8(a) Firm

There's a song. You know it. "If you're socially or economically disadvantaged, clap your hands!" (Repeat.) Or not. But that's what an 8a Firm addresses. Particularly when small businesses are selling products or services to a U.S. Government buyer, they get favored treatment above their non-socially-disadvantaged competitors. The goal was to force the playing field to be level and help disadvantaged Americans running small businesses...run them better. And yes, the effort is racially addressed, and politically charged.