Red Cedar Solutions LLC (RCS) is an American Indian Tribally Owned Company (AITOC) through its parent company, NLT Enterprises. The company is an SBA 8(a) certified Small Disadvantaged Business with a size standard 21.5M. The 8(a) certification enhances our ability to compete in serving the federal government by providing business development assistance and the opportunity to pursue contracts specifically set-aside for 8(a) participants. The RCS corporate team has over 100 combined years of experience in government contracting and advising and representing tribal governments and agencies.
Unlike individually owned 8a companies, American Indian Tribally Owned Companies (AITOCs) that are SBA 8a certified may receive sole source awards with no upper limit (13 CFR 124.506 (b)) that cannot be protested (13 CFR 124.517(a)). Sole source awards over $25 million require a written justification from the contracting officer. However, As of March 17, 2020, DOD contracting officers do not have to issue a justification or obtain approval for award of an SBA 8a sole-source contract for awards up to $100 million (FAR 19.808-1(a)). This extraordinary benefit enables agency initiatives to get rapidly underway by streamlining the contract award process. Our status facilitates non-protestable awards in as short as five business days – saving the government time and resources. The 8(a) sole source direct award process is detailed below:
- Government Agency/Customer (Program Office/Agency) selects contractor. Customer determines that Red Cedar Solutions, LLC meets the contract requirements and provides best value to the Govemment and recommends Red Cedar Solutions, LLC to the Small Business (SB) Specialist & Contracting Officer (CO) for coordination.
- Contracting Officer (CO) completes the Offer Letter. Contracting Officer completes an Offer Letter to be sent to the Small Business Administration (SBA) containing details regarding the procurement in accordance to (13 CFR 124.502(c) and FAR 19.804-2). These details could be brief information from the SOW or PWS.
- CO submits Offer Letter (via email) to SBA representative. Agency CO submits (via email) the Offer Letter or Proposed Project or SOW to the City, State District Office at: Janett M Peralta, U.S Small Business Administration Business Opportunity Specialist (Address: Two Gateway Ctr., floor 10th Ste. 1002, Newark, NJ 07102 / Phone: 973-645-4651 / Email: Janett.Peralta@sba.gov) and references Case No. ZD3KPXT77M73.
- SBA review of company's standing in the 8(a) Program. The assigned SBA Business Development Specialist reviews the 8(a) firm’s status to determine its eligibility to receive the award as well as the firm's capability to perform the project. SBA has five working days to review and approve the request and send it back to the agency CO. This could be submined as quickly as 24 hours if requested.
- After processing the Offer Letter, the SBA will contact your group’s contracting officer to confirm 8(a) sole source eligibility. If they don’t contact you within five business days, you can assume we are eligible and proceed to the next step.
- Your agency Contracting Officer can then send the work description (or SOW, if applicable) to RCS and begin negotiations.
- RCS will submit our proposal and upon agreement, your agency contracting officer can then prepare a purchase order (SF-1449 attached) that awards the work to RCS. Your agency Contracting Officer sends a copy of the purchase order to the SBA for their records, and the contract performance can now begin.