How do I add a compiled .a library to SV + DPI-C cosimulation?

I use UVM+SV+HDL test environment, and an existing C application. I intend to to run a cosimulation. 

The C app is ANSI C, has existing make file but it calls an 3rd party .a library. And it generates stimulus to HDL testbench and and checks the HDL simulation results. 

I had some experience with SV and C using DPI-C but the scale was small and I don't know how to include the .a file.