SBA Information Notice: SBA Form 994 Update and Corresponding Capital Access Financial System (CAFS) Enhancements
Summary
SBA Information Notice, Control No. 5000-873990, effective February 13, 2026, to SBA employees and SBA Sureties, announcing the revised SBA Form 994, Application for Surety Bond Guarantee Assistance, and corresponding Capital Access Financial System (CAFS) enhancements released in September 2025. With the enhancement, fields in Part I, Section 14 correspond to the guarantee percentage determination in 13 CFR 115.31, and Part II management information no longer determines the guarantee percentage and is collected for statistical purposes only. The revised form adds a Manufacturing (incl. fabrication) project type to help SBA track Made in America contracting, and requires obligee address details and reporting of direct and indirect ownership.
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Full text
SBA Information Notice
TO: All SBA Employees and SBA Sureties CONTROL NO.: 5000-873990
SUBJECT: SBA Form 994 Update and EFFECTIVE: February 13, 2026
Corresponding Capital Access Financial System
(CAFS) Enhancements
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is announcing the issuance of the revised SBA
Form 994, Application for Surety Bond Guarantee Assistance and corresponding Capital Access
Financial System (CAFS) enhancements, released in September 2025.
SBA Form 994 collects information regarding organizational structure, certifications or
designations as recognized by SBA, history of SBA services or assistance, Principal information
including partners, equity holders and decision makers and contract information. The form is
completed by the small business concern and submitted by its Surety. CAFS is the electronic
application system Sureties use to transmit SBA 994 information and certified documents to
SBA.
CAFS ENHANCEMENT
The CAFS enhancement ensures that fields selected in Part I: BUSINESS INFORMATION
Section 14-Application correspond with the guarantee percentage determination as described in
13 CFR 115.31 Guarantee percentage. Information collected in Part II: MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION will no longer determine the guarantee percentage. SBA Form 994 states that
the information collected in Part II: MANAGEMENT INFORMATION is collected for statistical
purposes only. It has no bearing on the credit decision.
Additionally, textual changes were made to this section of the form including adding an “is not”
selection field.
PART I: BUSINESS INFORMATION
Section 14. Applicant
☐ is ☐ is not: an SBA 8(a) Certified Contractor as defined in 13 CFR Chapter 1, Part 124.
PAGE 1 of 1 EXPIRES: 2-1-2027
SBA Form 1353.3 (4-93) MS Word Edition; previous editions obsolete
Must be accompanied by SBA Form 58
Federal Recycling Program Printed on Recycled Paper
☐ is ☐ is not: an SBA Certified HUB Zone Contractor as defined in 13 CFR Chapter 1, Part
126.
☐ is ☐ is not: a Veteran-Owned Small Business as defined in 13 CFR Chapter 1, Part 115.
☐ is ☐ is not: a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business as defined in 13 CFR Part
115.
☐ is ☐ is not: a Federally recognized Tribal Entity or Native American small business as defined
in 13 CFR Chapter 1, Part 124.109.
☐ is ☐ is not: a socially and economically disadvantaged small business as defined in 13 CFR
Chapter 1, Part 124.103 and 124.104.
SBA FORM 994 REVISION
The revised SBA Form 994 will include a Manufacturing (incl. fabrication) project type selection
ensuring that contract and small business data is captured CAFS. This data collection form
enhancement will assist SBA with efficiently tracking Made in America contracting.
PART III: CONTRACT INFORMATION
Section 5. Project Type:
☐ Construction ☐ Manufacturing (incl. fabrication) ☐ Service
☐ Supply ☐ Other Click or tap here to enter text.
Additionally, in Section 15 respondents must record the obligee’s street, city, county, state and
zip code information.
OTHER MINOR TECHNICAL OR TEXT UPDATES
PART II: MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
• Direct and indirect ownership, including Employee Stock Owner Plans, must be reported.
• Trust Tax Identification Number must be recorded, if applicable.
• Respondents must provide street, city, county, state and zip code information.
PART V: INDIVIDUAL CERTIFICATIONS ON CITIZANSHIP AND CHARACTER
AND OTHER MATTERS
• The sentence structure for individual certifications was edited for clarity.
• ESOP is added to individual certifications as a reportable owner.
This second version of SBA Form 994 dated July 2024 will expire on July 31, 2027.
PAGE 2 of 3 EXPIRES: 2-1-2027
SBA Form 1353.3 (4-93) MS Word Edition; previous editions obsolete
Must be accompanied by SBA Form 58
Federal Recycling Program Printed on Recycled Paper
Application for Surety Bond Guarantee Assistance | U.S. Small Business Administration
For applications currently in process, SBA Sureties may continue to use the previously approved
version. 60 days after this notice, SBA will only accept the renewed version of the form.
Questions concerning this Notice may be directed to SuretyBonds@sba.gov.
Jermaine Perry
Director, Office of Surety Guarantees.
PAGE 3 of 3 EXPIRES: 2-1-2027
SBA Form 1353.3 (4-93) MS Word Edition; previous editions obsolete
Must be accompanied by SBA Form 58
Federal Recycling Program Printed on Recycled Paper
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