Legistorm: Transparency's Sidekick

The Small Business Administration's (SBA) 8(a) program is intended to develop and promote businesses that are owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged persons. Members of Congress have raised concerns that weaknesses in program management and administration may make the 8(a) program vulnerable to exploitation by individuals or corporations that have used illegal or improper means to participate in and benefit from the program. To develop case studies, GAO initially selected four firms for investigation on the basis of indicators, or "red flags," of potential regulatory violations and criminal misconduct. Due to time constraints and the destruction of records resulting from the Oklahoma City bombing, this report focuses on the following two firms: I-NET, Inc. of Bethesda, Maryland, and Technical and Management Services Corporation of Calverton, Maryland.