8(a) Facilities Support Lane

Questions about this lane

What NAICS code does the 8(a) Facilities Support lane cover?

The lane covers NAICS 561210 (Facilities Support Services) — the code agencies use for integrated base operations and facilities management solicitations that bundle custodial, grounds, and building services under one award. Standalone 8(a) janitorial notices (NAICS 561720) are covered by the separate 8(a) Janitorial lane.

What is a base operations support (BOS) contract?

A BOS contract bundles multiple facilities services — typically custodial, grounds, facilities management, and sometimes minor construction — into a single award at a military installation or large federal campus. BOS contracts are among the largest and most stable in the facilities niche. The primary NAICS code is usually 561210 (Facilities Support Services).

Can an 8(a) firm hold a BOS contract as a prime and subcontract some services?

Yes, but the 8(a) firm must perform at least 50% of the cost of the contract work with its own employees. For labor-intensive facilities contracts, this typically means the prime directly employs the custodial and grounds workforce and subcontracts specialized trades such as HVAC or electrical only as needed.

How does the 8(a) Facilities lane complement a firm also holding SDVOSB certification?

A firm with dual 8(a)/SDVOSB certification sees the full universe of set-aside opportunities across both programs in NAICS 561210. The 8(a) Facilities lane digest captures sole-source 8(a) opportunities that would never appear in an SDVOSB search, while the SDVOSB Facilities lane surfaces the competitive set-asides. Together they cover the full set-aside market in the facilities niche.

When does the 8(a) competitive threshold apply to facilities contracts?

For services contracts, any 8(a) award above $4.5M must be competed among 8(a) firms. Many facilities support contracts — especially at smaller installations — fall below this threshold and can be awarded sole-source. Integrated BOS contracts at large installations often exceed $4.5M and will be competed. fedlane.us flags the award type (competitive vs. sole-source) in each opportunity summary.

Do 8(a) participants need to notify their SBA district office before pursuing new contracts?

Generally no — for competitive procurements you pursue them normally. For sole-source awards, the agency and SBA handle the acceptance and nomination process. However, 8(a) participants must continue to meet program requirements during their nine-year term, including annual reviews and size certifications at each contract award.