PART 19 — SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS

 SUBPART 19.2 – POLICIES

 219.201 General policy.

 19.202 Specific policies.

 19.203 Relationship among small business programs.

 SUBPART 19.3 – DETERMINATION OF SMALL BUSINESS STATUS FOR SMALL BUSINESS

PROGRAMS

 19.302 Protesting a small business representation

 SUBPART 19.5 –– SET –ASIDES FOR SMALL BUSINESS

 19.502-2 Total small business set–asides.

 SUBPART 19.7 — THE SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTING PROGRAM

 19.705 Responsibilities of the contracting officer under the subcontracting assistance

program.

 19.705-2 Determining the need for a subcontracting plan

 19.705-4 Reviewing the subcontracting plan.

 19.705-6 Postaward responsibilities of the contracting officer

 SUBPART 19.8 – CONTRACTING WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (THE 8(a)

PROGRAM)

 19.804-2 Agency offering.

 19.804-3 SBA acceptance.

 19.805-1 General.

 19.808 Contract negotiation.

 19.808-1 Sole source.

SUBPART 19.2 – POLICIES

219.201 General policy.

(c)(10) The Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) is required to:
(i) Conduct the review of, and concur with, the DD Form 2579 prior to any public announcement or

release of information regarding the acquisition strategy, issuance of the solicitation, or

communicating with the Small Business Administration (SBA) 8(a) Program regarding a

requirement.

(ii) Review all written consolidation D&Fs, acquisition plans, and/or acquisition strategies;

(iii) Assist in market research efforts;

(iv) (S-90) The disa.meade.osbp.mbx.ditco-small-business-office@mail.mil email address shall be

used by DISA personnel to communicate with the DISA OSBP.

19.202 Specific policies.

(S-90) Contracting officers and ordering officers shall comply with the following:

(1) Complete and submit a DD Form 2579 for all acquisitions over $10,000, including modifications

that increase the scope of the contract (see 19.202(S-92) for exceptions);

(2) Obtain OSBP and SBA Procurement Center Representative (PCR) (when applicable) concurrence

on the DD Form 2579 prior to any public announcement or release of information regarding the

acquisition strategy.

(3) First, consider set-asides to Small Business, HUBZone Small Business, Service-Disabled VeteranOwned Small Business, 8(a) Program participants and Women-Owned/Economically Disadvantaged

Women-Owned Small Business prior to considering full and open competition, to facilitate meeting

the DISA and Department of Defense (DoD) Small Business goals.

(4) Document market research (FAR Part 10, DFARS Part 210, and DARS Part 10) for every

acquisition unless an exception applies. If a small business set-aside is not recommended, it shall be

fully substantiated in the Market Research Report (MRR). (reference DARS 210.001 (S-91)).

(5) Provide Sources Sought Notices (SSN) and Requests for Information (RFI) over $5 million for

OSBP’s review prior to posting.

(S-91) DD Form 2579

(1) All submissions of the DD Form 2579 require the following documentation (if applicable):

(i) Signed MRR. The MRR templates are located at

https://www.ditco.disa.mil/contracts/SampleDocTemplates.asp ; a MRR is not required for bridge

contract actions.

(ii) Signed Justification and Approval (J&A) over $5M (draft copy is acceptable under $5M and DD

Form 2579 will be contingent on J&A final approval).

(iii) Signed D&F(s) for consolidation, bundling, and no subcontracting opportunities over $5M (a

draft copy is acceptable under $5M and DD2579 concurrence will be contingent on final approval)

(see DARS 19.705-2).

(iv) Acquisition Plan / Acquisition Strategy (AS/AP).
(2) The OSBP may require additional documentation outlined below:

(i) Performance Work Statement (PWS), Statement of Objectives (SOO), Statement of Work (SOW),

or other work descriptions;

(ii) SSN / RFI responses and analysis documentation; and/or,

(iii) Independent Government Cost Estimate documentation.

(3) Place approved DD Form 2579, signed MRR, and sources sought documentation in the contract

file. If the acquisition is canceled or work on the acquisition is suspended for 12 months or more, the

DD Form 2579 and accompanying MRR is no longer valid and must be updated. If the requirement is

canceled, the DD2579 should be updated with “withdrawn” and submitted to OSBP.

(4) Review and Approval Period:

(i) Five (5) business days (not including day of submission) to provide feedback on SSN or RFIs

(ii) Five (5) business days (not including day of submission) to render a final decision on a fully

complete and correct DD Form 2579 that is set-aside for small business or less than $5M.

(iii) In accordance with the DISA and SBA Plans of Operations, all requirements over $5 million not

set aside for small business shall be forwarded by the OSBP to the SBA PCR for review. The OSBP

has five (5) business days from submission of a complete and correct DD Form 2579 to review and

forward the DD Form 2579 to the appropriate SBA PCR. The SBA PCR has five (5) business days for

DITCO Scott-Area 4 (Midwest) and DITCO PAC-Area 6 (Hawaii), and seven (7) business days for

DITCO NCR-Area 2 (East Coast), to review the DD Form 2579 and accompanying documentation and

render a final decision. Allow for a total of 12 business days for a final decision.

(iv) Requests for expedited approval of the DD Form 2579 shall be submitted directly to the personal

email account of the Director, OSBP, and Cc the disa.meade.osbp.mbx.ditco-small-businessoffice@mail.mil box, by a Branch Chief or higher. Insert “Expedite” in the subject line of the email

and provide an explanation of the urgency in the body of the email.

(v) Additionally, all requirements in DITCO Scott-Area 4 for Women-Owned Small

Business/Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business set-asides shall be forwarded

by the OSBP to the DITCO Scott-Area 4 SBA PCR for review. The approved list of Women-Owned

Small Business/Economically-Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business set-aside North

American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes can be found at the SBA Federal

Contracting Website

https://www.sba.gov/document/support--qualifying-naics-women-owned-small-business-federal-contr

acting-program .

(S-92) DD Form 2579 Exceptions:

(1) The following actions may be taken without an DISA OSBP signed DD Form 2579:

(i) Publishing synopses, SSN, RFIs and requests for white papers for conducting market research,

provided the posting does not indicate the government’s decision regarding method of acquisition;

(ii) Funding modifications or modifications that do not increase the approved value of the original

DD Form 2579, scope of the contract (including exercising a contract option, which is within the

scope of the existing contract provided the basic contract has an approved DD Form 2579); and,
(iii) Solicitations and contracts when contract performance is outside of the United States or its

outlying areas.

(2) The following actions may be taken without an OSBP signed DD Form 2579 providing the

contracting officer or ordering officer completes/signs a new DD Form 2579 for the contract file with

the following justifying statement in Block 11a:

(i) Orders against a DISA-awarded single award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ)

contract, provided the work is new, unencumbered work or specifically designated in the AS/AP. If

the work is currently being performed on another vehicle, this exception does not apply and a MRR

and DD Form 2579 must be submitted to the OSBP: “Orders placed against a DISA-awarded single

award ID/IQ contract shall not require a signed DD Form 2579 by the OSBP based on the approval of

the DD Form 2579 for the overarching contract with the Control Number #____________.”; or

(ii) Orders against a DISA-awarded Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)/Basic Ordering Agreement

(BOA)/Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) Catalog: “Orders placed against a DISAawarded BPA/BOA/SEWP Catalog shall not require a signed DD Form 2579 by the OSBP based on

the approval of the DD Form 2579 for the overarching vehicle with the Control Number #___________

.”; or

(iii) Total small business set-asides under the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT): “IAW DFARS

219.201(c)(10)(A), actions under the simplified acquisition that are totally set aside for small

business do not require a signed DD Form 2579 by the OSBP (set- asides for a socioeconomic

category shall be considered prior to using a total small business set- aside).” This does not apply to

the 8(a) program and the DD2579 shall be provided to OSBP for review and concurrence; or

(iv) Requirements for commercial software and related services, such as software maintenance, in

accordance with the DoD Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI) shall not require a signed DD Form

2579 by the Office of Small Business Programs providing the contracting officer or ordering officer

completes/signs a new DD Form 2579 for the contract file with the following justifying statement in

Block 14: “Purchase of commercial software and related services, such as software maintenance, in

accordance with the DoD ESI shall not require a signed DD Form 2579 by the OSBP based on the

mandatory source requirements at DFARS 208.7402.”; or

(v) Orders placed against a mandatory-use Joint Enterprise License Agreement (JELA): “Purchase of

requirements against a mandatory JELA shall not require a signed DD Form 2579 by the OSBP based

on the Procurement Services Directorate’s mandatory use policy.”; or

(vi) Orders placed for urgent White House Communications Agency (WHCA) temporary

communication services: “Orders for urgent WHCA temporary communications for “switched voice

services” that can only be provided by the Local Exchange Carrier do not require a signed DD Form

2579 by the OSBP due to the urgent nature of the requirement.”; or

(vii) I/Q/O Orders under $750K: “I/Q/O orders will be competed in accordance with the annual

Strategic Market Research Report and do not require a signed DD Form 2579 by the OSBP due to

the volume and repetitive nature of these requirements.” (Note: Changes to the original acquisition

strategy will require a new DD Form 2579.)

(viii) Orders issued to mandatory Government sources. “Orders issued to mandatory Government

sources shall not require a signed DD Form 2579 by the OSBP based on the requirements at FAR

8.002.”

(3) Blanket DD Form 2579 approval.
On a case by case basis, a blanket DD Form 2579 may be approved for similar orders on contracts

that exceed 250 procurements per year (e.g., Agency Catalogs, EIS). Blanket DD Form 2579’s will be

updated yearly when the option is exercised and inserted in every order file. Advance coordination

with the OSBP is required. A yearly Strategic Market Research Report shall be coordinated with all

Blanket DD2579s.

(S-93) Procedures.

See DARS PGI 19.202(S-93).

19.203 Relationship among small business programs.

(d)(2) The OSBP will recommend targeted contract actions for socioeconomic groups in support of

DISA’s small business program goals based on current and past achievements.

SUBPART 19.3 – DETERMINATION OF SMALL BUSINESS

STATUS FOR SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS

19.302 Protesting a small business representation

(c)(1) The contracting officer shall notify the OSBP of any protests concerning small businesses prior

to forwarding the required documentation to the SBA.

SUBPART 19.5 –– SET –ASIDES FOR SMALL BUSINESS

19.502-2 Total small business set–asides.

(b) When determining a “reasonable expectation,” a lack of responses to a SSN and/or RFI is not

adequate justification to rule out a small business set-aside. Additional market research is required

prior to making that determination.

SUBPART 19.7 — THE SMALL BUSINESS

SUBCONTRACTING PROGRAM

19.705 Responsibilities of the contracting officer under the subcontracting
assistance program.

19.705-2 Determining the need for a subcontracting plan

(c) The OSBP shall review and concur, in writing, on any determination made by the contracting

officer that no subcontracting possibilities exist. A Determination and Findings (D&F) shall be

prepared in accordance with the format titled “Non-inclusion of SB Subcontracting Plan” located at

DARS PGI 19.705-2(c).

(d) See DARS 15.304(S-90) for guidance/requirements of a Small Business Participation/Utilization

Plan or Commitment Document.

19.705-4 Reviewing the subcontracting plan.

(d)(7) The contracting officer must obtain the written concurrence of the OSBP and the SBA PCR, as

applicable, prior to incorporating a subcontracting plan into a contract/order. Exception: Approved

commercial and comprehensive subcontracting plans need not be submitted to the OSBP nor the

SBA for concurrence as they have already been approved by an authorized government contracting

officer.

(S-90) Procedures for Submission of a Subcontracting Plan for Review can be found in DARS PGI

19.705-4(S-90).

19.705-6 Postaward responsibilities of the contracting officer

Email a signed copy of the subcontracting plan to the relevant Area SBA PCR and the SBA Area

Director, Office of Government Contracting where the contract will be performed, with a copy to:

disa.meade.osbp.mbx.ditco-small-business-office@mail.mil . (Note: For assistance in determining the

SBA Area Director, see https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/counseling-help/contracting-are....)

SUBPART 19.8 – CONTRACTING WITH THE SMALL

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (THE 8(a) PROGRAM)

19.804-2 Agency offering.

(a) Sample offering letter is located at https://www.ditco.disa.mil/DITCOContractingTemplates/

under Small Business Guides and Templates.

(S-90) Prior to requesting release of a requirement from the 8(a) program, coordinate with OSBP.

Sample 8(a) release letter and package requirements are located at

https://www.ditco.disa.mil/DITCOContractingTemplates/ under Small Business Guides and
Templates.

19.804-3 SBA acceptance.

(c) When selecting an 8(a) firm for a sole source award, the contracting officer should attempt to

locate a firm with multiple socioeconomic categories.

19.805-1 General.

(S-90) When a requirement value falls between the competitive threshold in FAR 19.805-1(a)(2) and

$100 million, the contracting officer shall first consider competition between 8(a) small business

concerns prior to offering the requirement to the SBA as a sole source effort. Sole source efforts

exceeding the competitive 8(a) threshold only applies to Alaskan Native Corporations, Native

Hawaiian Organizations or Tribally-Owned contractors. Approval to utilize the 8(a) program for sole

source requirements exceeding the competitive threshold shall be obtained from the Head of the

Contracting Activity (HCA) with concurrence from the Director of the OSBP.

19.808 Contract negotiation.

19.808-1 Sole source.

(a) The justification is included (in the template) in the 8(a) Sole Source Market Research Report.

(b) If a sole source requirement exceeds $100M, a J&A must be executed in accordance with DARS

PGI 6.303-1 (S-90)

(c) If a sole source exceeds the competitive 8(a) threshold, the HCA will coordinate the request with

the Director, OSBP. HCA approval will be provided via email, copy furnished to the Director of the

OSBP. The Director, OSBP will concur on the DD2579.