19.202-2
Locating small business sources
Contracting officers must proactively seek out and publicize opportunities to maximize small business participation in federal acquisitions.
Overview
FAR 19.202-2 outlines the responsibilities of contracting officers to actively seek and encourage the participation of various small business categories in federal acquisitions. The regulation requires contracting officers to make every reasonable effort to locate additional small business sources before issuing solicitations. This includes consulting with the agency's small business specialist and the Small Business Administration's Procurement Center Representative (SBA PCR), or following alternative procedures if a PCR is not assigned. Additionally, contracting officers must publicize solicitations and contract awards through the Governmentwide point of entry to maximize visibility and competition among small businesses.
Key Rules
- Efforts to Locate Small Businesses
- Contracting officers must proactively search for additional small business concerns before issuing solicitations, leveraging agency resources and SBA contacts.
- Publicizing Opportunities
- Solicitations and contract awards must be posted on the Governmentwide point of entry to ensure broad awareness and access for small businesses.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Must actively seek out small business sources, consult with relevant specialists, and ensure proper public notice of opportunities.
- Contractors: Should monitor the Governmentwide point of entry for opportunities and engage with agency small business specialists as needed.
- Agencies: Oversee compliance and support contracting officers in outreach and publicizing efforts.
Practical Implications
- This section ensures small businesses have fair access to federal contracting opportunities by requiring proactive outreach and transparent public notice.
- Contracting officers who fail to follow these steps may limit competition and risk noncompliance.
- Small businesses benefit from increased visibility and opportunity to compete for government contracts.