Book excerpt: The Small Business Admin. (SBA) helps socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses gain access to federal contracting opportunities through its 8(a) program. To participate, firms must be at least 51% owned and controlled by an individual who meets SBA's criteria of socially and economically disadvantaged. The firm must also qualify as a small business. Once certified, 8(a) firms are eligible to receive sole-source and set-aside contracts for up to 9 years. This report: (1) determined whether ineligible firms are participating in the 8(a) program; (2) proactively tested SBA's controls over the 8(a) application process; and (3) determined what vulnerabilities, if any, exist in SBA's fraud prevention system. Charts and tables.