How is a small business defined or categorized?
What are NAICS & PSC codes?
How can I certify my company as a small business (Small, Small-Disadvantaged, Woman-Owned, Veteran-Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, HUBZone)?
What is the difference between 8(a) certification and SDB certification?
Who do I contact if I have questions about my contract?
Where can I find Navy & DoW contracting procedures & clauses?
How can I obtain assistance or training to prepare bid proposals?
How do I contact other small businesses?
The PAE MC OSBP serves as the principal advocate and gateway for small businesses. Our primary role is to support the Commandant’s mission of equipping the warfighter by ensuring the Marine Corps maintains a robust, competitive, and successful Small Business Program.
Federal acquisition relies on two primary classification systems to identify what your business does and what the government is purchasing:
• North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes: These six-digit codes classify businesses based on their specific industry, economic activity, and production processes. NAICS codes are utilized by the SBA to establish the size standards that determine if your firm qualifies as a small business.
• Product and Service Codes (PSC): These four-character alphanumeric codes describe the specific products, services, and research and development (R&D) activities being procured by the Department of Defense.
While NAICS codes group companies by their industry type, PSC codes target the exact end-item or service the military is purchasing. Small businesses must identify both their NAICS and PSC codes to successfully locate, target, and bid on relevant PAE Marine Corps contracting opportunities.
To compete for set-aside opportunities within the federal acquisition process, businesses must obtain the correct certifications:
• SBA Certified Categories: The 8(a) Business Development, HUBZone, Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB/EDWOSB), and Veteran-Owned/Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (VOSB/SDVOSB) programs require formal certification directly through the SBA. Please note that self-certification is no longer accepted for Women-Owned or Veteran-Owned designations for set-aside programs.
• Self-Certifying Categories: Standard Small Business and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) designations are self-certifying. You must complete and maintain this self-certification within your SAM.gov profile and ensure your profile in the SBA Small Business Search is fully updated.
Representations made during self-certification are legally binding and can be formal targets of competitor protests during the source selection process.
While both designations support eligible businesses under specific SBA criteria, they differ significantly in their operational requirements and benefits:
• 8(a) Business Development Program: This is a formal, nine-year business development program administered by the SBA. It provides certified firms with structured managerial, technical, and business training, as well as exclusive access to sole-source and competitive set-aside federal contracts.
• Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB): This is a status designation used primarily for federal procurement tracking and meeting agency small business goals. Businesses do not apply to the SBA for SDB status; instead, they self-represent as an SDB directly within their SAM.gov profile if they meet the SBA's established economic eligibility criteria.
All active 8(a) program participants automatically qualify and are recognized as Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs) in federal procurement systems.
Your primary point of contact is the Contracting Officer (KO) or Contract Specialist assigned to the specific award. They are the only individuals with the legal authority to modify, interpret, or provide official direction regarding your contract terms.
If you require additional assistance, you may also contact us here.
Note: To help us assist you as efficiently as possible, please have as much contract-related information as possible (such as the contract number, KO/CS name, awarding PM, and any associated task or delivery order details) readily available before reaching out.
All foundational rules, procedures, and contract clauses for federal and defense procurements are contained within three primary regulatory documents:
• Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR): The primary set of rules governing the federal government's purchasing process.
• Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS): The specific supplement that governs Department of War (DoW) acquisitions.
• The Navy Marine Corps Acquisition Regulation Supplement (NMCARS): Department of the Navy-specific rules and policies that directly govern PAE Marine Corps procurements.
You can view, search, and navigate current versions of the FAR, the DFARS, and the NMCARs online at the government's official regulatory portal: Acquisition.gov.
While the OSBP does not write or review bid proposals for businesses, there are excellent federal and state resources specifically designed to provide you with technical assistance:
• APEX Accelerators: APEX Accelerators are the premier resource for businesses interested in selling to federal, state, and local governments. These local centers provide free or low-cost technical assistance to help you determine your readiness, navigate complex registrations, evaluate certification eligibility, research past opportunities, and develop competitive bid proposals.
• Small Business Administration: The SBA offers extensive resources through the SBA Learning Platform. Eligible businesses can also take advantage of specialized programs like Empower to Grow (E2G) which offers customized, high-level training in federal contracting, bid preparation, and contract compliance.
Whether you are looking for teaming partners, subcontractors, or joint-venture opportunities, you can locate and research registered small businesses utilizing the SBA's official database:
• SBA Small Business Search (SBS): You can search for firms by geographic location, specific NAICS codes, socioeconomic certifications, and core capabilities using the SBA Small Business Search Tool.