DOING BUSINESS WITH US:

Business Advantages

Tikigaq Technology Services is an Alaska Native Corporation (ANC) 8(a) SDB.

Washington Technology summarized the advantages of an ANC 8(a), such as Tikigaq, in the article "Tribal Firms Capitalize on Advantages," dated January 24, 2005. An excerpt from the article is shown below:

• ANC and tribally owned 8(a)’s may receive sole-source contracts regardless of the dollar amount. Other 8(a)’s have a $3 million limit, including options, on contracts for services; $5 million, including options, for manufacturing contracts.
• A sole-source contract awarded to any 8(a) cannot be protested for lack of competition, but no ceiling on awards to ANC or tribally owned 8(a)s means that protests cannot be lodged no matter what the contract's size. Some sole-source awards to ANC’s or tribally owned companies have been as high as $500 million. Other 8(a)’s have this protection only up to their $3 million and $5 million ceilings.
• ANC’s and tribally owned 8(a)’s can own several 8(a) companies, provided each one is in a different primary North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. Each subsidiary is considered separate for size determination, regardless of how large the parent corporation may be.
• If a prime contractor to a defense agency signs on an ANC or tribally owned 8(a) as a subcontractor, the defense contractor will receive a 5 percent rebate on the value of the subcontract.

8(a) Program

• The goal of the 8(a) program is to prepare small disadvantaged firms for procurement and other business opportunities.
• The 8(a) Program is a business development program created to help small disadvantaged businesses, like Tikigaq Technology Services, compete in the market place. It is also designed to assist such companies in gaining access to federal and private procurement markets.
• The focus of the program is to provide business development support; such as mentoring, procurement assistance, business counseling, training, financial assistance, surety bonding and other management and technical assistance.

ANC’s are unique among tribally-owned concerns. Unlike other tribally-owned concerns, ANC’s can hire professional management from outside their tribe or shareholders. Also, ANC’s can self-certify for additional NAICS codes on an as-needed basis.