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Tool Name: AI-Powered FAR Navigator Tool by CLEATUS AI
Purpose: To simplify and accelerate the process of understanding the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) for government contractors.
Key Features:
- Provides AI-generated, plain-English summaries for all FAR clauses.
- Highlights relationships and dependencies between different FAR sections and clauses.
- Offers a searchable, browsable, and interactive interface for the entire FAR document.
- Includes a free-to-use search and navigation tool.
Target Audience: Small-to-mid-sized government contractors, proposal writers, and compliance officers who need to quickly understand FAR requirements.
Primary Benefit: Reduces the time and effort required to interpret complex legal and regulatory language, improving efficiency and compliance.

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19.602-4 - Awarding the contract | FAR Navigator

19.602-4

Awarding the contract

Contracting officers must follow strict procedures when awarding contracts involving SBA Certificate of Competency referrals, ensuring small businesses receive fair consideration and timely decisions.

Overview

FAR 19.602-4 outlines the procedures contracting officers must follow when awarding contracts involving small business concerns whose responsibility has been questioned and referred to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for a Certificate of Competency (COC) determination. It details the steps to take if new information arises, if the SBA issues a COC, or if the SBA does not issue a COC within the specified timeframe.

Key Rules

Reversal of Nonresponsibility
- If new information shows the small business is responsible before award, the contracting officer must reverse the nonresponsibility determination, notify the SBA, withdraw the referral, and proceed with the award.
Award Upon SBA COC Issuance
- If the SBA issues a COC, the contracting officer must award the contract to the small business, as the COC is conclusive on all responsibility elements. The only exception is if there are unrelated reasons not to award.
Award to Another Offeror
- If the SBA does not issue a COC within 15 business days (or an agreed longer period), the contracting officer must proceed to award the contract to another responsible offeror.

Responsibilities

Contracting Officers: Must follow the outlined procedures for reversing nonresponsibility, awarding based on COC, or moving to the next offeror if no COC is issued.
Contractors: Should provide any new information regarding responsibility and understand the COC process.
Agencies: Must coordinate with the SBA and ensure timely communication and documentation.

Practical Implications

This section ensures fair consideration for small businesses in responsibility determinations.
It provides a clear process for handling COC referrals and awards, reducing ambiguity and potential disputes.
Delays or missteps in following these procedures can result in protests or improper contract awards.

All contract types where responsibility is questioned

Contracts involving SBA COC referrals

Small Businesses

Award the contract to the small business if SBA issues a COC, unless there are unrelated reasons not to award.

Do not require additional responsibility requirements from an SBA-certified concern.

Document all actions and communications with SBA regarding COC referrals.

If SBA does not issue a COC within 15 business days (or agreed extension), award to another responsible offeror.

Reverse nonresponsibility determination and notify SBA if new information shows the concern is responsible before award.

Withdraw the SBA referral if reversing nonresponsibility and proceed with contract award.

References done in this subsection

19.602Procedures

19.602-4

Awarding the contract

Contracting officers must follow strict procedures when awarding contracts involving SBA Certificate of Competency referrals, ensuring small businesses receive fair consideration and timely decisions.

Overview

Key Rules

Reversal of Nonresponsibility
- If new information shows the small business is responsible before award, the contracting officer must reverse the nonresponsibility determination, notify the SBA, withdraw the referral, and proceed with the award.
Award Upon SBA COC Issuance
- If the SBA issues a COC, the contracting officer must award the contract to the small business, as the COC is conclusive on all responsibility elements. The only exception is if there are unrelated reasons not to award.
Award to Another Offeror
- If the SBA does not issue a COC within 15 business days (or an agreed longer period), the contracting officer must proceed to award the contract to another responsible offeror.

Responsibilities

Contracting Officers: Must follow the outlined procedures for reversing nonresponsibility, awarding based on COC, or moving to the next offeror if no COC is issued.
Contractors: Should provide any new information regarding responsibility and understand the COC process.
Agencies: Must coordinate with the SBA and ensure timely communication and documentation.

Practical Implications

This section ensures fair consideration for small businesses in responsibility determinations.
It provides a clear process for handling COC referrals and awards, reducing ambiguity and potential disputes.
Delays or missteps in following these procedures can result in protests or improper contract awards.

All contract types where responsibility is questioned

Contracts involving SBA COC referrals

Small Businesses

Award the contract to the small business if SBA issues a COC, unless there are unrelated reasons not to award.

Do not require additional responsibility requirements from an SBA-certified concern.

Document all actions and communications with SBA regarding COC referrals.

If SBA does not issue a COC within 15 business days (or agreed extension), award to another responsible offeror.

Reverse nonresponsibility determination and notify SBA if new information shows the concern is responsible before award.

Withdraw the SBA referral if reversing nonresponsibility and proceed with contract award.

References done in this subsection

19.602Procedures

19.602-4

Awarding the contract

Contracting officers must follow strict procedures when awarding contracts involving SBA Certificate of Competency referrals, ensuring small businesses receive fair consideration and timely decisions.

Overview

Key Rules

Reversal of Nonresponsibility
- If new information shows the small business is responsible before award, the contracting officer must reverse the nonresponsibility determination, notify the SBA, withdraw the referral, and proceed with the award.
Award Upon SBA COC Issuance
- If the SBA issues a COC, the contracting officer must award the contract to the small business, as the COC is conclusive on all responsibility elements. The only exception is if there are unrelated reasons not to award.
Award to Another Offeror
- If the SBA does not issue a COC within 15 business days (or an agreed longer period), the contracting officer must proceed to award the contract to another responsible offeror.

Responsibilities

Contracting Officers: Must follow the outlined procedures for reversing nonresponsibility, awarding based on COC, or moving to the next offeror if no COC is issued.
Contractors: Should provide any new information regarding responsibility and understand the COC process.
Agencies: Must coordinate with the SBA and ensure timely communication and documentation.

Practical Implications

This section ensures fair consideration for small businesses in responsibility determinations.
It provides a clear process for handling COC referrals and awards, reducing ambiguity and potential disputes.
Delays or missteps in following these procedures can result in protests or improper contract awards.

19.602-4

Awarding the contract

Contracting officers must follow strict procedures when awarding contracts involving SBA Certificate of Competency referrals, ensuring small businesses receive fair consideration and timely decisions.

Overview

Key Rules

Reversal of Nonresponsibility
- If new information shows the small business is responsible before award, the contracting officer must reverse the nonresponsibility determination, notify the SBA, withdraw the referral, and proceed with the award.
Award Upon SBA COC Issuance
- If the SBA issues a COC, the contracting officer must award the contract to the small business, as the COC is conclusive on all responsibility elements. The only exception is if there are unrelated reasons not to award.
Award to Another Offeror
- If the SBA does not issue a COC within 15 business days (or an agreed longer period), the contracting officer must proceed to award the contract to another responsible offeror.

Responsibilities

Contracting Officers: Must follow the outlined procedures for reversing nonresponsibility, awarding based on COC, or moving to the next offeror if no COC is issued.
Contractors: Should provide any new information regarding responsibility and understand the COC process.
Agencies: Must coordinate with the SBA and ensure timely communication and documentation.

Practical Implications

This section ensures fair consideration for small businesses in responsibility determinations.
It provides a clear process for handling COC referrals and awards, reducing ambiguity and potential disputes.
Delays or missteps in following these procedures can result in protests or improper contract awards.

19.602-4

Awarding the contract

Contracting officers must follow strict procedures when awarding contracts involving SBA Certificate of Competency referrals, ensuring small businesses receive fair consideration and timely decisions.

Overview

Key Rules

Reversal of Nonresponsibility
- If new information shows the small business is responsible before award, the contracting officer must reverse the nonresponsibility determination, notify the SBA, withdraw the referral, and proceed with the award.
Award Upon SBA COC Issuance
- If the SBA issues a COC, the contracting officer must award the contract to the small business, as the COC is conclusive on all responsibility elements. The only exception is if there are unrelated reasons not to award.
Award to Another Offeror
- If the SBA does not issue a COC within 15 business days (or an agreed longer period), the contracting officer must proceed to award the contract to another responsible offeror.

Responsibilities

Contracting Officers: Must follow the outlined procedures for reversing nonresponsibility, awarding based on COC, or moving to the next offeror if no COC is issued.
Contractors: Should provide any new information regarding responsibility and understand the COC process.
Agencies: Must coordinate with the SBA and ensure timely communication and documentation.

Practical Implications

This section ensures fair consideration for small businesses in responsibility determinations.
It provides a clear process for handling COC referrals and awards, reducing ambiguity and potential disputes.
Delays or missteps in following these procedures can result in protests or improper contract awards.

19.602-4

Awarding the contract

Contracting officers must follow strict procedures when awarding contracts involving SBA Certificate of Competency referrals, ensuring small businesses receive fair consideration and timely decisions.

Overview

Key Rules

Reversal of Nonresponsibility
- If new information shows the small business is responsible before award, the contracting officer must reverse the nonresponsibility determination, notify the SBA, withdraw the referral, and proceed with the award.
Award Upon SBA COC Issuance
- If the SBA issues a COC, the contracting officer must award the contract to the small business, as the COC is conclusive on all responsibility elements. The only exception is if there are unrelated reasons not to award.
Award to Another Offeror
- If the SBA does not issue a COC within 15 business days (or an agreed longer period), the contracting officer must proceed to award the contract to another responsible offeror.

Responsibilities

Contracting Officers: Must follow the outlined procedures for reversing nonresponsibility, awarding based on COC, or moving to the next offeror if no COC is issued.
Contractors: Should provide any new information regarding responsibility and understand the COC process.
Agencies: Must coordinate with the SBA and ensure timely communication and documentation.

Practical Implications

This section ensures fair consideration for small businesses in responsibility determinations.
It provides a clear process for handling COC referrals and awards, reducing ambiguity and potential disputes.
Delays or missteps in following these procedures can result in protests or improper contract awards.

Features

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Overview

Key Rules

Responsibilities

Practical Implications

Applicability

Compliance

Key Terms

Cross References

Overview

Key Rules

Responsibilities

Practical Implications

Applicability

Compliance

Key Terms

Cross References

Overview

Key Rules

Responsibilities

Practical Implications

Overview

Key Rules

Responsibilities

Practical Implications

Overview

Key Rules

Responsibilities

Practical Implications

Overview

Key Rules

Responsibilities

Practical Implications