- Details
- By Brian Edwards
- Native Contracting
The Rappahannock Tribe’s economic development arm has formed an SBA Tribal 8(a) technology joint venture with Netmaker Communications, LLC expanding the Tribe’s push into the federal contracting market.
Wihōkan Technologies LLC, headquartered in Indian Neck, Virginia, will focus on federal opportunities involving the furnishing, engineering and installation of information technology and the delivery of telecommunications circuits and services.
The venture pairs Rappahannock Enterprises LLC, the Tribe’s SBA 8(a)-certified economic development company, with Netmaker, a veteran-owned small business with an established federal contracting business.
Rappahannock Enterprises owns 51% of Wihōkan, while Netmaker owns 49%. The companies said the primary advantage of the joint venture structure is the ability to pursue 8(a) set-aside and direct-award opportunities with the federal government.
HigherGov data show Netmaker recorded approximately $7.9 million in federal prime and subcontract awards over the past five years, including about $3 million in 2025. Roughly $7.6 million of the five-year total came through subcontracts.
Rappahannock Enterprises received its SBA 8(a) certification in August 2024. The certification runs through August 2033. The company is also registered as an Indian Economic Enterprise and Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise.
“The name Wihōkan speaks directly to what we want this company to represent — to protect, to guard, and to keep safe,” Rappahannock Chief Anne Richardson said in announcing the venture.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional information from Wihōkan Technologies about the joint venture’s ownership structure, federal contracting strategy and target markets.
