# \#certifications **URL:** https://community.iquasar.com/tag/certifications/5.md [Latest](https://community.iquasar.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://community.iquasar.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://community.iquasar.com/tags.md) --- ## [SWaM Certification: What’s Harder - Getting Certified or Winning State Contracts?](https://community.iquasar.com/t/swam-certification-what-s-harder-getting-certified-or-winning-state-contracts/515)
**Author:** [@Saba](https://community.iquasar.com/u/Saba)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2026, 4:16pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/swam-certification-what-s-harder-getting-certified-or-winning-state-contracts/515 "2026-06-18T16:16:17Z")
SWaM Certification can open doors for small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses looking to compete in Virginia’s state procurement market. But for many businesses, the challenge starts before the application … --- ## [Are CMMC compliance costs recoverable?](https://community.iquasar.com/t/are-cmmc-compliance-costs-recoverable/397)
**Author:** [@danishriyaz](https://community.iquasar.com/u/danishriyaz)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2026, 4:21pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/are-cmmc-compliance-costs-recoverable/397 "2026-03-30T16:21:16Z")
The Department of Defense’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program is no longer a future consideration; it is a contractual and regulatory requirement for government contractors doing business with … --- ## [SBA’s 2026 Recertification Changes about M&A, MACs, and Set-Aside Eligibility](https://community.iquasar.com/t/sba-s-2026-recertification-changes-about-m-a-macs-and-set-aside-eligibility/341)
**Author:** [@danishriyaz](https://community.iquasar.com/u/danishriyaz)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2026, 1:36pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/sba-s-2026-recertification-changes-about-m-a-macs-and-set-aside-eligibility/341 "2026-02-04T13:36:58Z")
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has finalized significant changes to how size and socio-economic status recertification works for small businesses, particularly those involved in mergers and acquisitions … --- ## [Review of 8(a) and Small Business Contracts](https://community.iquasar.com/t/review-of-8-a-and-small-business-contracts/336)
**Author:** [@Mehak](https://community.iquasar.com/u/Mehak)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2026, 5:31pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/review-of-8-a-and-small-business-contracts/336 "2026-01-28T17:31:53Z")
On January 16, 2026, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that the Department of War (DOW) will conduct a line-by-line review of all 8(a) and small business set-aside contracts valued over $20 million. The ini… --- ## [WOSB Ready Program on Hold – What does it mean?](https://community.iquasar.com/t/wosb-ready-program-on-hold-what-does-it-mean/271)
**Author:** [@danishriyaz](https://community.iquasar.com/u/danishriyaz)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2025, 4:13am UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/wosb-ready-program-on-hold-what-does-it-mean/271 "2025-09-13T04:13:51Z")
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) WOSB Ready Program (which helps women-owned small businesses compete for federal contracts) is being put on hold for a short time. The pause means the program’s activities (trainin… --- ## [SBIR/STTR Reauthorization 2025: Big Changes Ahead](https://community.iquasar.com/t/sbir-sttr-reauthorization-2025-big-changes-ahead/265)
**Author:** [@Mehak](https://community.iquasar.com/u/Mehak)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2025, 12:42pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/sbir-sttr-reauthorization-2025-big-changes-ahead/265 "2025-09-04T12:42:33Z")
\*\* What’s Going On:\*\* Starting September 30, 2025, the SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) programs will expire unless Congress steps in. These programs have fuele… --- ## [SBA FY24 Scorecard: What the Numbers Really Mean for Contractors](https://community.iquasar.com/t/sba-fy24-scorecard-what-the-numbers-really-mean-for-contractors/247)
**Author:** [@Mehak](https://community.iquasar.com/u/Mehak)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2025, 9:14am UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/sba-fy24-scorecard-what-the-numbers-really-mean-for-contractors/247 "2025-08-26T09:14:50Z")
1. The Headline Numbers $183.5B awarded to small businesses in FY24 (28.8% of eligible contracts). $69.6B in set-aside awards—the highest ever. Governmentwide, goals were exceeded by ~6%. 2. Who Earned Their “… --- ## [Don’t Let Your 8(a) Certification Go to Waste — Update Your SBA Profile](https://community.iquasar.com/t/don-t-let-your-8-a-certification-go-to-waste-update-your-sba-profile/253)
**Author:** [@danishriyaz](https://community.iquasar.com/u/danishriyaz)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2025, 8:09am UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/don-t-let-your-8-a-certification-go-to-waste-update-your-sba-profile/253 "2025-08-26T08:09:12Z")
Today, I pulled data from the SBA’s Small Business Search (SBS) Portal for “SBA Certified as 8(a) or 8(a) JV.” The results were eye-opening: Out of 5,348 small business listed, 1,338 companies had an empty Capabilit… --- ## [SBA 8(a) Program: Full-Scale Audit to Combat Fraud](https://community.iquasar.com/t/sba-8-a-program-full-scale-audit-to-combat-fraud/246)
**Author:** [@Mehak](https://community.iquasar.com/u/Mehak)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 22, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/sba-8-a-program-full-scale-audit-to-combat-fraud/246 "2025-08-22T15:39:39Z")
Are you confident your 8(a) compliance can survive the SBA’s full-scale audit? On June 27, 2025, the SBA announced a sweeping review of the 8(a) program after a DOJ bribery case exposed the misuse of more than $550 mill… --- ## [Veteran Contracting Assistance Programs for Government Contractors](https://community.iquasar.com/t/veteran-contracting-assistance-programs-for-government-contractors/113)
**Author:** [@Saba](https://community.iquasar.com/u/Saba)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2025, 12:58pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/veteran-contracting-assistance-programs-for-government-contractors/113 "2025-08-13T12:58:34Z")
Download the Guide This guide explores the various federal resources and programs available to veterans interested in federal contracting. It highlights the opportunities for veteran-owned businesses, including set-as… --- ## [WOSB Certification - How and Why Should You Apply?](https://community.iquasar.com/t/wosb-certification-how-and-why-should-you-apply/87)
**Author:** [@Saba](https://community.iquasar.com/u/Saba)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2025, 1:56pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/wosb-certification-how-and-why-should-you-apply/87 "2025-08-08T13:56:37Z")
Is your business majority-owned and operated by one or more women? If yes, you may be eligible for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA’s) Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) program. WOSB is a business-level divers… --- ## [SDVOSB Certification Checklist: What You Need to Qualify](https://community.iquasar.com/t/sdvosb-certification-checklist-what-you-need-to-qualify/86)
**Author:** [@Saba](https://community.iquasar.com/u/Saba)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2025, 1:54pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/sdvosb-certification-checklist-what-you-need-to-qualify/86 "2025-08-08T13:54:30Z")
Are you a service-disabled veteran looking to expand your business through federal contracts? The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certification opens doors to exclusive contracting opportunities… --- ## [Step-by-Step Breakdown of SWaM Certification Requirements](https://community.iquasar.com/t/step-by-step-breakdown-of-swam-certification-requirements/85)
**Author:** [@Saba](https://community.iquasar.com/u/Saba)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2025, 1:51pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/step-by-step-breakdown-of-swam-certification-requirements/85 "2025-08-08T13:51:22Z")
Running a small business is all about finding the right opportunities, and understanding SWaM Certification Requirements could be a game-changer. If you are a small, woman-owned, or minority-owned business in Virginia… --- ## [Top Advantages of 8a Certification for Small Disadvantaged Businesses](https://community.iquasar.com/t/top-advantages-of-8a-certification-for-small-disadvantaged-businesses/84)
**Author:** [@Saba](https://community.iquasar.com/u/Saba)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2025, 1:48pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/top-advantages-of-8a-certification-for-small-disadvantaged-businesses/84 "2025-08-08T13:48:08Z")
The SBA’s 8a Business Development Program is a 9-year powerhouse for small businesses facing systemic barriers. Beyond levelling the playing field, it unlocks exclusive federal opportunities that drive explosive growt… --- ## [Tips for a Smooth HUBZone Certification Application and Approval](https://community.iquasar.com/t/tips-for-a-smooth-hubzone-certification-application-and-approval/83)
**Author:** [@Saba](https://community.iquasar.com/u/Saba)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2025, 12:19pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/tips-for-a-smooth-hubzone-certification-application-and-approval/83 "2025-08-08T12:19:22Z")
The HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zone) program, administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA), provides federal contracting opportunities to small businesses in designated areas. HUBZone is … --- ## [ACDBE Certification Steps and Eligibility for Small Businesses](https://community.iquasar.com/t/acdbe-certification-steps-and-eligibility-for-small-businesses/82)
**Author:** [@Saba](https://community.iquasar.com/u/Saba)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2025, 12:15pm UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/acdbe-certification-steps-and-eligibility-for-small-businesses/82 "2025-08-08T12:15:07Z")
Breaking into airport concessions as a small business can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. If you are a minority- or women-owned business looking to grow in a competitive space, the Airport Concessions Di… --- ## [Step-by-Step Guide on How to Register an SBR for Government Bids](https://community.iquasar.com/t/step-by-step-guide-on-how-to-register-an-sbr-for-government-bids/54)
**Author:** [@Saba](https://community.iquasar.com/u/Saba)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2025, 10:15am UTC](https://community.iquasar.com/t/step-by-step-guide-on-how-to-register-an-sbr-for-government-bids/54 "2025-07-29T10:15:43Z")
If you’re a small business looking to expand into state-level government contracting, Maryland’s Small Business Reserve (SBR) Program offers a unique opportunity. This guide walks you through how to register as an SBR…