Contracting Solutions

Streamlined Federal Contracting — 8(a) Pending

Trusted NHO partner delivering speed, certainty, and mission-ready solutions.

Clients can contract with The Ali’i Group easier and more collaboratively through sole source contracts.  We can work with you to help develop requirements that meet your needs, and then successfully execute those contracts without the hassle of traditional competitive bidding processes.
8(a) Sole Source Contracting Process for NHOs
This process outlines how a federal agency can award a non-protestable, sole source 8(a) contract to a Native Hawaiian Organization (NHO)-owned firm. The timeline for execution typically ranges from 7 to 21 days, assuming agency readiness and coordination.
Z

Agency Decides to Issue Direct Award

The agency determines it will award a sole source 8(a) contract to the NHO-owned firm (e.g., EIS) under FAR 19.805-1 and 6.302-5. No synopsis is required in SAM.gov.

h

Agency Submits Offer to SBA

The Offer Letter and Performance Work Statement (PWS) are sent to the SBA district office responsible for the NHO.
t

SBA Reviews the Offer

SBA evaluates whether the NHO is capable of performing the contract. This is typically a streamlined review.

SBA Issues Letter of Acceptance

SBA accepts the offer into the 8(a) program and notifies the Contracting Officer (CO).

Negotiations Begin

The CO informs the NHO that negotiations can begin on cost, scope, and deliverables.

Contract is Awarded

Once terms are mutually agreed, the contract is awarded. SBA’s signature is not required on the final contract.

Regulatory References

  • 13 CFR § 124.517(a) — Non-protestable sole source NHO contracts
  • FAR 19.805-1 — 8(a) sole source award procedures
  • FAR 19.808-1 — Contracting process for 8(a) awards
  • FAR 6.302-5(b)(4) — Authorized or required by statute (supports NHO, ANC, tribal exemptions)

Key Notes

There is no dollar limit on sole source awards to NHOs. However, any award over $100 million requires senior-level approval within the federal agency.

Teaming & Joint Ventures under FAR Subpart 9.6

A Strategic Framework for Winning Government Contracts

In today’s competitive federal marketplace, contractor team arrangements are a powerful tool for businesses seeking to:

  • Expand capabilities
  • Strengthen proposals
  • Win larger government contracts

FAR Subpart 9.6 provides the regulatory foundation for:

  • Joint ventures and teaming partnerships
  • Combining strengths across multiple firms
  • Sharing resources to maximize efficiency
  • Delivering integrated solutions that meet complex government needs

Definition (FAR 9.601)

A Contractor Team Arrangement refers to an arrangement where:

  • Two or more companies form a partnership or joint venture to act as a potential prime contractor; or
  • A potential prime contractor agrees with one or more companies to have them act as its  subcontractors under a specified government contract or acquisition program.

General Policy (FAR 9.602)

Contractor team arrangements can be beneficial for both the government and industry by:

  • Allowing companies to complement each other’s unique capabilities.
  • Offering the government the best combination of performance, cost, and delivery for the system or product being acquired.

By aligning under FAR Subpart 9.6, contractors not only enhance their competitiveness but also position themselves as agile, capable partners ready to meet the evolving demands of federal agencies.